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For the average Lincoln Journal sports editor, last Tuesday would have been like old-home week. Fortunately for me (and you, dear reader), I am not your average anything.

Simply put, I am a great believer that small schools are better in rural communities. Thus, I oppose nearly all consolidation - and definitely was adamantly against it for Lincoln County.

I firmly believe, but could never quite prove, that a plot was hatched at the state capitol to close Lincoln County’s four former small high schools. I think the idea was to make sure both Hamlin AND Chapmanville retained high schools in those communities for the foreseeable future.

No money was saved by closing the late Duval, Guyan Valley, Hamlin and Harts highs. The buildings were not safety hazards. The student bodies of the four, with the possible exception of Hamlin, were growing each year.

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In speaking of personal prejudices, I can tell readers I never liked Hamlin from the day I first laid eyes on it. I don’t like it any better now than I did then.

If I never set foot in the place again, I’d be happy.

Realizing my prejudice, I generally refused to cover the former Hamlin High or the new “Hamlin High,” dubbed Lincoln County High by school administrators.

Instead, I covered the other three former schools and, after they closed,

Chapmanville Regional High School where the Harts district students attends classes.

Thus, it wasn’t much of a reunion in Madison last week when LCHS came to town.

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I did joke with LCHS Head Basketball Coach Rodney Plumley that I had waited 30 minutes on the Madison Middle School parking lot waiting for the game to begin.

When Plumley asked why I would do that, I responded, “Well, I knew you downgraded your schedule and when I saw you’d won six games, I figured you were playing middle schools.”

Plumley did manage a bit of a chuckle at my dark humor.

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Several LCHS fans have told me they understand why Panther schedules have been downgraded. (Former Head Football Coach Corey Beck always saw diluting his schedule as a key to success. After five losing seasons, including going 0-10 last year, I suggested LCHS apply for membership in the Boone Midget Football League to see if they could win there).

My response to those who think reducing the level of competition is a good idea is to disagree. I point out that highly-successful former Guyan Valley Coach

Duane Estep would have played the New York Knicks during the season to toughen his guys up at tournament time. He successfully took his final two Wildcat teams to the state tournament using this method.

Likewise Scott coaches were anxiously awaiting games with top teams Bluefield and Wyoming East to judge the strength of their own squad.

Triple A LCHS is kidding itself by thinking scheduling AA and Single A teams will help them come playoff time.

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Scott coaches should have been pleased with the team’s showing against East and Bluefield. They gave both teams - perched atop of AA - tough contests.