dontknowmuch

Don't count out east teams like Fulton, Ausitn East, and Anderson County this year. None of these could compete well with a team like Liberty from last year, however, Anderson County and Fulton have very experienced players (both teams return 5 starters), in Fulton's case play excellent defense and in Anderson County's case have a good mix of size and quickness. Further, each team has players that are AAU toughened on very competitive teams.

Did see Anderson County, Loudon and Catholic in the summer/spring ball. They all will be good teams. Anderson County looked especially strong. They have good size, shooting and ball handling. Also, they were playing without Sharp. We must assume that Catholic will play their usual style of ball emphasing ball control and defense which is difficult for most teams to match-up with. Also, many of the key contributors are back, ao they should be strong. Looudon's new coach makes them unpredictable. I think that the district should come down to Anderson County and Catholic.

William Blount had a great defensive game against Oak Ridge. Their secondary is the best I have seen in many years. I have seen them play three times this year (Maryville, Farragut and Oak Ridge) and no quarterback has had a good game against them. With a few breaks, even Maryville's QB could have thrown 3 or 4 interceptions. William Blount is just that good. Please remember the kids on these teams are playing hard, and, they are all quite good and accompished players.

Participation (includes practice) during the school year on a non-school team prior to the season by students who will play the following season on the high school team is limited to 50 percent of the players required to play the game (three in basketball, five in baseball and softball). If I read this right, I don't think it affect$ AAU. The "guideline" $ay$ prior to the $eason - not after. Although it appear$ that it could affect participation in some of the national level events if the application date is July 1 and not the start of achool. I toeume thi$ i$ targeting fall baseball and $occer. I$ anyone on the board a T$$AA rep that could comment?

Officiating was not that bad. Powell shot about 75 percent from the 3. No joke. One of the dads kept track in the stands. Farragut fought back but dug themselves too big a hole in the first quarter. Again, the refs were not terrible. They missed one pretty obvious call and that was it. Otherwise I thought they did a good job. Powell drew more fouls because they were the more aggressive team. Farragut settled for the outside shot again and it hurt them. Maryville beat Oak Ridge by ten from what I heard.. Anybody know if that is correct?

Thanks. I would interpret the rule also as saying that if a post is fronted and a second defender comes from behind to help (assuming the defender is in a blind area less than a step from the post), if the post is making a drop step while catching the ball and makes contact, the contact is not a player control foul. If the player clearly has the ball in his possession and then makes the drop into a defender, then the play is a player control foul. Do others see it thie way or am I off base?

I think that he is correct on the rule. From the NCAA rule book: Section 22. By Screener Art. 1. A player shall not cause contact by setting a screen outside the visual field of a stationary opponent that does not allow this opponent a normal step to move. Art. 2. A screener shall not make contact with the opponent when setting a screen within the visual field of that opponent. Art. 3. A screener shall not take a position so close to a moving opponent that this opponent cannot avoid contact by stopping or changing direction. A.R. 21. B1 maneuvers to a position in front of offensive post player A1 to prevent A1 from receiving the ball. A high pass is made out of the reach of B1. The offensive post player A1 moves toward the basket to catch the pass and try for goal. As the pass is made, B2 moves into the path of A1, in a guarding position. RULING: This action involves a screening principle. B2 has switched to guard a player who does not have the ball; therefore, the switching player shall assume a position one or two strides in advance of offensive post player A1 (depending upon the speed of movement of A1) to make the action legal. When A1 has control of the ball (provided that the offensive post player A1 is not in the air at the time), the play shall become a guarding situation. When it is a guarding situation involving the player with the ball, time and distance shall be irrelevant. Art. 4. No player, while moving, shall set a screen that causes contact or delays an opponent from reaching a desired position. Art. 5. When both opponents are moving in exactly the same path and direction and the screener slows down or stops and contact results, the trailing player shall be responsible for such contact. Art. 6. No player shall use arm(s), hand(s), hip(s) or shoulder(s) to force through a screen or to hold or push the screener. Art. 7. Screeners shall not line up next to each other within 6 feet of a boundary line and parallel to it so that contact occurs. a. Screeners shall be permitted to line up parallel to a boundary line and next to each other without locking arms or grasping each other, provided that the screen is set at least 6 feet from that boundary line.

Ouoted from the NCAA 2006 basketball rule book (since the high school rules are not avaiable in electronic form) "Section 21. By Dribbler Art. 1. A dribbler shall neither charge into nor contact an opponent in the dribbler’s path nor attempt to dribble between two opponents or between an opponent and a boundary, unless the space is sufficient to provide a reasonable chance for the dribbler to pass through without contact. Art. 2. When a dribbler, without contact, passes an opponent sufficiently to have head and shoulders beyond the front of the opponent’s torso, the greater responsibility for subsequent contact shall be that of the opponent. Art. 3. When a dribbler has obtained a straight-line path, the dribbler may not be crowded out of that path; when an opponent is able to legally obtain a defensive position in that path, the dribbler shall avoid contact by changing direction or ending the dribble. A.R. 20. A player who is guarding moves into the path of a dribbler and contact occurs. RULING: Either player may be responsible, but the greater responsibility shall be that of the dribbler when the player who is guarding conforms to the following principles that officials shall use in reaching a decision. The defensive player shall be assumed to have attained a guarding position when the defensive player is in the dribbler’s path facing him or her. When the defensive player jumps into position, both feet must return to the floor after the jump before he or she can have attained a guarding position. No specific stance or distance shall be required. The guard may shift to maintain his or her position in the path of the dribbler, provided that the player who is guarding does not charge into the dribbler nor otherwise cause contact as outlined in this section. The responsibility of the dribbler for contact shall not shift merely because the player who is guarding turns or ducks to absorb shock when contact caused by the dribbler is imminent. The player who is guarding shall not cause contact by moving under or in front of a passer or thrower after the passer or thrower is in the air with his or her feet off the floor. Art. 4. The player intending to become the dribbler shall not be permitted additional rights to start a dribble or in executing a jump try for goal, pivot or feint." Now that that execise is done, can anyone quote the rules for a jump stop and "palming"? I apparently don't understand those rules well. I see what I believe are violations of both routinely in both high school and college ball.

The real problem is that the associations have no real training and improvement program. Everyone in every job needs feedback to improve their performance. I fully believe that the people that ref really want to do a very good job, and generally, most of the time they do. However, most refs never get evaluated or have a chance to be critiqued by their fellow referees. If done in the right way, such evaluations can really help to improve performance. I would propose that the associations actively manage feedback to their refs to help them improve. One can certainly understand your emotional response if you are a ref, however, please consider some kind of feedback and evaluation of your refs.

I could possibly see Loudon at 10, but no higher.

West High is in District 3.

Anderson County played a great game against Catholic Saturday night. Rorex, Gouldie, White, Longmire and Sharp (I don't want to short anyone - the whole team played very well) all had very solid games. Anderson County could win the tournament if they play that well against Loudon. Should be a great championship game.

Interesting match-ups. I'll pick Maryville over Bearden - Douglas is much stronger and more athletic than Simpson (and Maryville has very good size other than Douglas), and Maryville is deeper at guard than Bearden. As for William Blount and Farragut, William Blount has had success against Farragut this year, but Farragut is well again and clicking pretty well. I pick Farragut in another close game.

My top 10: 1. Fulton 2(T) Halls 2(T) Farragut 4. Oak Ridge 5. Greeneville 6. Austin East 7. Powell 8. Maryville 9. Bearden 10. Karns There is not a lot of difference between the AAA teams in the list. Any of the top 5 or 6 could get hot and make it to the state tournament.

Greeneville is an outstanding team with a very good coach. I only saw you play in the summer, however, you beat most of the Knoxville competition with injuries to your team. Don't worry about the posts.

Did Heritage or Sevier County end up in 6th place?

Bradley Central Lost to Greeneville, SPLIT with Red Bank (the best team in Chattanooga) and beat Oak Ridge.

Ridiculous, I hope coacht bans you from the boards for a post like this one. I assume you are an adult, so please act like one. Attacking a 17 year old kid on a public board shows no class and is nothing but a cheap shot. How would you feel if someone took a shot at your son or daughter like you just did. Shame on you.

Never count anyone out. Who would have projected that Aloca and Catholic would have been the state reps last year? The region being at Fulton will be a real advantage for that district, however. Also, don't count out Alcoa. They are very inconsistent this year, but they have a group of good players that could get hot a put a few games together.

Looks like this one is coming down to Loudon and Catholic. Catholic seems to be playing really well lately. The main question in the match-up is can Walden, Smith and Hood carry the team past a very well balanced Loudon team. Shoud be a great finish and an exciting tournament.

I think that WB is a good team that could pull of the upset. Their coach is one of the best around, and the team always plays aggressively and disciplined.

Maryville won, but I don't know the score. I think it may have been 69 to 62.

This year, Fulton (AA) will be competitive with most teams throughout the state. They are the best AA team in East Tennessee. I don't know if they can compete with a disciplined, athletic team with big post players. If they had been in last year's state tournament they would have been 4th-5th. They are probably better than Alcoa, Goodpasture and Catholic from that group. I hope that can give some perspective. As for AAA, East Tennessee is stronger this year then in the past few years. I think that the Bearden team with Alex Oliver that lost to White Station in the state semi's a few years ago (perhaps 2002?) was the best team to come out of East Tennessee in past 5 years. None of the current teams have the combination of speed, athleticism and coaching that team had. However, several teams are respectable and deserve at least to be in the top 10-15. Greenville, Bradley Central, Oak Ridge and Farragut will give West and Central Tennessee teams a good run this year.

I think the top ten should be: 1. Greenville 2. Fulton (only one slip-up this year) 3. Tie - Oak Ridge 3. Tie - Farragut (beat Maryville at home) 5. Powell (tougher schedule than Halls and has beaten them) 6. Halls (soft schedule to date - next two games could move them up - They will make noise in the region) 7. Pigeon Forge 8. Austin East 9. Maryville 10.Bearden

Having seen Red Bank play three times this year, I think player to player they are a very good team. They are very athletic and play a quick paced game. However, they do have a tendency to be out of control. If they can become a disciplined team, they could be as good as any team in East Tennessee.