dontknowmuch

PFDAD, I think it is hard to rate Pigeon Forge much higher than the above posts have them. They are a very good team (and a good shot for the state), however, the teams in front of them have played much more difficult schedules. Farragut, for example, has played Maryville, Powell, Oak Ridge, Fulton (twice), Bearden, Austin East, and Red Bank already. Fulton, Austin East, Oak Ridge and Bearden have all played similar schedules. Knownothing's ranking looks good except that Powell is not in the top 5. I would leave them ahead of Halls, but probably move them behind Bearden. Looking forward to the rest of the season.

Bearden has one of the best coaches in Tennessee, an a team that is improving every game. They have good size, however, the big guys are all sophomores. The will continue to improve and be a dangerous team by February.

Oak Ridge, Maryville, Halls, Farragut and Powell can give Greenville a game. I have not seen them play this winter, but I did see them play in some camps this summer. While they are very good, I don't think they are dominate.

The KNS, as usual, has not watched enough games to really rate teams. They are going on reputation and not performance. For example, while Powell has beaten Farragut and Halls, they have lost to Clinton and Seymour. How do you rate them sixth? They probably deserve to be ranked but not that high. Maryville is being ranked again on perceived potential rather than performance (Let's give them a month. By the end, they could be the best team). I believe that they have lost to Fulton, Farragut and Bearden. Halls has no quality wins and is rated too high. On the positive side, Greenville and Fulton deserve the top two spots now, and it's hard to argue against any team in the top ten being there.

Let's start the new year with an update (this ranking does not include Bradley Central in the PrepXtra area) : 1. Oak Ridge (First Place is hard to rank. Based in their performance in Fla.) 2. TIE - Fulton and Greenville - Fulton continues to play the best defense in the area and has solid scoring in Gallman and Minor. Greenville still performing at a high level. 4. Farragut - only losses to Fulton. The team is deep with 9-10 solid players. Play Powell, Oak Ridge and Maryville over the next 2 weeks. 5. Marryville - Maryville and Farragut play Jan. 16. Maples is back and will make a difference. 6. Pigeon Forge (still unbeaten) 7. Austin East (playing very well - Play Fulton Jan. 5) 8. Halls - Guard play still keeps them ahead of Bearden 9. Bearden - Young guys starting to step-up. Simpson had a strong Super 16. 10. don't know - Loudon, Seymour, Catholic and Anderson County all are playing well. It's between one of these four.

The game was a fun game to watch. Both teams played well, the players on both teams gave themselves chances to win, and both coaches coached excellent games. However, the officiating did not do the game justice. Frankly, the game was above the officials head, but, all that said, the officiating did not make a difference in the outcome. Fulton beat a motivated Bearden team the night after beating a deep Farragut team. Fulton had to fight back in each game to win showing great chatacter. I'll be surprised if they don't get to the state tournament.

Top bracket combined records of all teams - 22-23 Bottom bracket combined records of all teams - 32 - 11 Wow - what even brackets LOL.

Based on peformance to date, I'd suggest the following: 1. Greenville (14-0) Not the strongest competition, but undefeated and beat BC 2. Bradley Central (Strong posts to go with Oglesby) 3. Fulton (Undefeated and has beaten Farragut, Bearden and Maryville) 3. Oak Ridge (similar to Fulton, bigger team, don't shoot the ball as well) 5. Farragut 6. Maryville (still ranking on potential- could be the 1 - time will tell) 7. Pigeon Forge 8. Halls (guard play is much better than Bearden and they are a tough team) 9. Bearden (still too early to tell - if young guys improve could be dangerous) 10.Austin East 10.Claibourne County

I haven't seen Pigeon Forge play this year, but i was very impressed with them in the substate game against Catholic last year. They are one of the best coached teams in the area, and they really get after their opponents. Do they have many of last year's players back?

Currently: Farragut (5-0) Bearden (4-1) Lenior City (3-2) Maryville (2-2) William Blount (2-3) Heritage (2-3) South Doyle (1-3) Sevier County (0-5) The district is shaping-up to be very competitive after the Christmas break. Maryville is starting to fire on all cylinders, Lenior City has been a big surprise, William Blount is playing their usual tough and disciplined game, and Heritage is starting to win games. And, as always, Bearden should continue to improve. Does anyone want to predict a finish?

William Blount is a very disciplined and aggressive team. However, I don't think that they can handle Maryville's inside game. Maryville by 15. South Doyle has solid players and has played Farragut once already. In that game, Farragut shot the ball extremely well. IFarragut cannot shoot the ball that well every night. This will be a close game at South Doyle. Farragut by 5.

Farragut has not played William Blount this year. They have played South Doyle.

It is difficult still to rank teams that don't have a lot of common opponents. But here is a shot: 1. Oak Ridge - Athletic and play great defense 2. Greenville - Performed well over Thanksgiving 3. Bradley Central - Team has good size and probable the best scorer in ET. 4. Farragut - Still unbeated and very deep - Firday game with Bearden 5. Fulton - Playing great ball and they have beaten Maryville. 6. Science Hill - Concerned with a close game against Lenior City 7. Powell 8. Bearden 9. Austin East 10. Maryville - Should improve once FB players are in BBall shape.

Maryville will be missing Maples (last year's district tournament MVP) and Douglas (6'6", 255). These two are difference makers. That said, however, the game should still be a very good game.

In the early going, Maryville, Farragut and Bearden all appear to be playing well. Maryville will have their football players back soon and will be very tough. The other teams all have potential. Lenior City is young and will be up and down (they played Science Hill to a very close game but lost to CAK). On a given night, they could probably play with most teams in the district. They are well coached and will be very good the next few years. Sevier County has started strong and plays Pigeon Forge later this week. That game will be their toughest challenge to date. Wiliam Blount and Heritage will be rebuilding this year. South Doyle could be a good team or in the bottom half. They had a good tournament showing over Thanksgiving in the Chop House beating Kingsport DB and finishing second. I will be interestng to see if any of the 4AAA teams will match-up well with Oak Ridge and Halls in 3AAA.

The championship is tonight at 8:00.

Farragut beat Ausitn East. The score was 73-61. Farragut started the game sluggishly, but they played a very solid second half. South Doyle won the other semi-final.

Maryville Farragut Bearden William Blount Heritage South Doyle Sevier County Lenior City Each of the top three teams is capable of winning the district depending on the development of their younger players.

Stone Memorial really struggled at Oak Ridge. They appear to be a very young team, however, they may have missing football players. They did shoot the ball well, but they should finish near the bottom of the district this year.