Morton

Well said, and very true.

Congrats Ellen - You are not only a great ball player, but an outstanding young woman. Good luck in the tournament!

You are right. It was a great game. Canady looked to get stronger every minute of the game, and looked like her old self again by the end of the 3rd quarter into the 4th and OT's. Jackson also had a great game. When she fouled out at the last of the OT period, I believe everyone in the gym (both sides) gave her a hardy round of applause. Yep...they are going to be a tough draw in the Districts. Eubanks was definitely the star with that 3 pointer at the end of the 4th, along with her play in the paint. Congrats DL on another win, and good luck against Ezell on Tuesday.

Thanks for the information. I'm sure everyone will have them both in their thoughts/prayers.

Has anyone heard how Mcallister is doing? I read that she was injured with possible concusion in the East Lit, game but this is the first I've heard mention that it is severe enough that she is not playing. This is also the first I have heard about Ezell's point guard. It seems inevitable that either the flu, mono, injury, etc... inflict teams this time of year. It is a shame, especially when it is a players senior year. Best thoughts to everyone in staying healthy and injury free through the home stretch.

I'm on the 'great to have Cannady back" bandwagon. This is her senior year, and she deserves to be on the court with her teammates (win or lose)! Face it folks, in 9AA...any team on any night.... Ezell has proven they are beatable. Hume Fogg has turned out to be the physical powerhouse in the district. East Lit ...so much heart, you cannot help but root for them. Lipscomb, solid as usual, but very unpredictable. Their two losses in the district came in OT to Ezell and double OT with HF. If Lipscomb would use their athletism and speed, they could be a strong contender for the district. Everyone has figured out Lipscomb...run a zone defense, and you have a defensive battle vs. an offensive battle. I still think that if DL went to their run and gun style of past, they would be dominating the district. CPA has Hardiman. I cannot believe that she is not the primary go-to-girl for that team like McCallister is for Ezell and Ross for DL. CPA is a lot like Lipscomb this year, but they aren't utilizing Hardiman like they should. If the ball is in her hands, she makes things happen. Ezell presses, and relies heavily on their 3 point game. The district tournament is really going to depend on how the refs call the games. Ezell and HF are both very physical teams. It will depend on how the games are called and if foul trouble changes the line-ups and style of play. I'm all for a good old fashioned physical game (within reason). It should be interesting. I really think the reffing will determine this tournament. So much for my arm chair 3 pointers. Good luck to all. 9AA does not get the credit they deserve, and I hope one of these teams make it to the Boro.

The win over Ezell is exactly what East Lit needed to gain confidence. Both teams are physical, but I would give the 'physical edge' to Hume Fogg. I read all the posts about how physical East Lit was with Ezell. I have seen them play twice, and they did not appear overly physical to me. Hume Fogg was more physical than any team I've seen play this year. Wish I could be there to see this one. I think this will be a great match-up. East Lit is going to have to rely on their outside shooting, because Hume Fogg has a great zone defense. I saw HF on their home court, and they are deceptively strong in the lane. Again...if it comes down to who is more physical...it will be HF. I am personally pulling for East Lit. I think they are a great group of kids with an excellent coach. They will be a strong contender for years to come in 9AA.

My daughter plays basketball and soccer. She would typically 'roll' her ankle a couple of times a year in school and AAU basketball. We bought a drug store 'cheap' brace for one ankle that seemed particularly prone to the sprains. This year, she had a severe sprain in soccer. Her Orthopedist told us that she has 'loose' ankles, and recommended some high dollar braces. Vanderbilt measured her foot and got her the correct fit (which is also important). They have been worth every penny. Not one ankle roll this year, and she's probably playing the hardest defense of her life. There definitely is a difference in the protection of the more expensive braces. If you see your child's Orthopedist as often as I do, it might be worth asking him/her to give you an evaluation of your daughters knees and ankles. They can usually tell where they are going to be vulnerable, and recommend gear, stretches, etc... to help prevent injury or repeat-injury.

Congratulations Lady Mustangs!!! Ross, Eubanks, and Simmons are not only great players on the court, they are wonderful young women off the court. They set an example for the underclassmen on the basketball team about sportsmanship, the importance of academics, and being a true team. We will surely miss you next year! Can't leave out Piper. She's a manager this year, but has been along for the ride with this group of seniors since elementary school.

It really was a good game. These teams are well matched, and I predict close games the rest of the season between these two teams. DL did not play as cohesive as they did in their last two outings. The rematch on February 5 ought to be good one. Good luck to both teams for the rest of the season. Playing each other will only make them better for post season play. As always, District 9 is great basketball.

Falcons, the David Lipscomb community has nothing but respect for you. This game was the most exciting of the entire BC/BS series. It took two teams to make it such a great game. You have a great team, community, coaching, program, and fans. All the respect to all of you. Here's to a seeing each other again next year!!

Congratulations David Lipscomb. No one gave you credit, and you showed what all your fans knew you could do!! What a game??? It was like watching SEC football vs. a 3A HS championship. Thanks to both teams for an incredible game. You both deserved to be there, and I sure know that DL wanted it.. bad! Fulton, you were a class football program and school. I sure hope we face each other again next year.

Station Camp is the real deal. I saw the Lipscomb game, which was pretty close at the end. The SC girls can flat out shoot, and their point guard is fantastic. I cannot believe how much that program has grown/changed in such a short amount of time. Congrats to the Lady Bisons for what looks like to be the start of a winning season. I'm a DL fan, so I'll be rooting for them this Friday, but know they will have their hands full once again.

David Lipscomb is graduating one senior.

Lipscomb beat Clarksville Northwest handily, beat JPII, and tied Brentwood Academy. Ezell-Harding also looked pretty solid. Hard to tell on a playday as coaches are still fine-tuning their line-up, etc... It was a great day of basketball. Good luck to all the teams.

I like Lipscomb, CPA, FRA, and Ezell. I, too, think their will be some parady. Lipscomb graduated five strong seniors who all started, but will have Ross and Eubanks who have both seen a lot of court time their entire high school careers. FRA will come back with Jackson and Canady, Ezell has McAlister, and CPA looked really strong at the end of last season. I think the early season may be shaky for all the teams, since a lot of the girls for these schools play fall sports (soccer and volleyball). It will take those players a while to transition back to basketball. I would not put too much stock in the early district games as any type of indicator for the district tournament. It ought to be a great year!!

My daughter is playing soccer (as a Junior) for the first time since 5th grade. She has played basketball all these years. I have never seen so many injuries in one season on one team. Our team has had a concussion, knee injury, several sprained ankles (including my daughter). The sport has become much more physical at the high school level. I agree that there are teams that play dirty, but that the refs need to call them on it early in the game to stop the trend from happening. I see the same thing happen in basketball (games getting very physical when not corralled). The coaches own part of it also. I'm fortunate that our coach does not encourage nor allow 'dirty' play. I also think another factor is the disparity in size of girls on the field. You can have a 4'10 ninth grader going head-to-head with a 5'11 to 6'0 junior/senior. Don't know the answer, but the sport is certainly more 'dangerous' that I had anticipated as a parent.

I'm glad to see Goodpasture made the list in A/AA. They are very impressive. They had an all-out battle with Lipscomb last week ending with a 1-1 score. This has to be one of the toughest districts in soccer with FRA, CPA, DCA, Lipscomb, and Goodpasture. This week holds some key district games with Lipscomb - CPA tonight and Lipscomb - FRA on Thursday.

My daughter has been a basketball player for years. She gave up soccer in 6th grade, so she could focus on AAU and play fall league ball with her school team. The TSSAA ruling about banning organized fall ball for basketball is exactly why she is back into soccer. Her team now has three players that would not have played soccer if the fall rules had not changed for basketball. At first I was angry about the rule, and now I am thrilled. She is getting to play two sports. Both help her with the other. Our soccer team is more 'athletic' than they have ever been due to the migrations of basketball players back to soccer. I know this is not everyone's experience, but I wanted to shed some positive light on the situation. Back on topic, I would say that less than half of our varsity team plays club soccer, and we are a pretty successful program. I think it comes down to athletic ability, commitment on the players to continue conditioning, and most importantly - coaching.

I disagree with TSSAA interfering. With that being said, I have to say that my child has picked up a second sport for the first time since early middle school. She gave up soccer in 7th grade, so she could play AAU and (more imporantly) play ball in the fall with her MS and HS teams at the various leagues and play days. Since fall ball is no longer 'legal,' she is playing soccer again. We discussed it, and while she could have spent that time with private coaches, shooting in the back yard, or playing pick-up games, she really wanted the organized competition. Right or wrong, my kid is playing a second sport, and really enjoying it. She is going to stay in shape, gain more experience at team-work with a different group of girls, and more importantly have fun! Needless to say, her conditioning will be excellent. She will increase her speed and endurance, and gain the all important ability to 'see the floor'. I still disagree with the TSSAA for interfering, but we are making the best of it. Life is short, and high school is just four years. Ninety plus percent of our basketball players are not going to get basketball scholarships. Let's fight the battles we can win... Teaching our girls that exercise, competition, and making the best of any crappy situation are part of life skills that will help them with all of the trials in life. TSSAA puts all our teams and players at a disadvantage to many of our peer states. Our whining won't change that. My daugher decided to 'make lemonade' from the situation. She is truthfully having more fun than she has ever had with organized basketball, because it is just for fun and conditioning. With all the sports available to our girls (soccer, volleyball, softball, track, tennis, bowling, cross-country, cheerleading), there is a fit for most. My child is happy being in a second sport, even it it was imposed by TSSAA's restrictive rules. I can't argue with that... If your child does not want to pick up a second sport, put them in a rec league at the YMCA, or be their trainer yourself. I've spent many an hour under the goal rebounding, catching passes, etc... Just wanted to put a different spin on this whole ruling in that our kids will prevail if they really want to compete and progress. Don't let the TSSAA stop your kids because of your frustration. If you do, THEY win.

I am so excited to see Smyrna play this year. I understand that they got a stand-out player back on the grass this year that had been focusing on basketball the past few years. I think she can make up for at least one graduated senior. Good luck Bulldogs!!

USSSA has been strong in travel baseball in TN for a while. Their tournaments are usually some of the best. I will be glad to see another option for travel basketball. AAU ends for the non-national qualifiers very early. It would be nice to see some options for the teams that want to keep playing (locally) in June/July. I hope it takes off! USSSA has been strong in travel baseball in TN for a while. Their tournaments are usually some of the best. I will be glad to see another option for travel basketball. AAU ends for the non-national qualifiers very early. It would be nice to see some options for the teams that want to keep playing (locally) in June/July. I hope it takes off!

What 16U teams are playing in the Cookeville Tourney this weekend?

Do you plan to keep playing after Memorial Day? I sent you an e-mail. Some of the Div II 16U players that end after the State Championships may be looking for a team in order to keep practicing and more tournaments. If your girls are willing to keep playing, I would bet you could pick up some more players and money to keep going. You've got a strong group of players, and I think as a new club, you have just scratched the surface of your potential. I'm so pleased to see a new club starting on the south/west side of Nashville. So much tallent on this side of town, but not many clubs to play with that want to keep playing through YBOA, USSAA, and showcase tournaments.

I agree Phargis. I'd love to see this turn into a true tournament next year with medals/champions. Great mix/variety of teams. Very well organized, and a great kick-off to the travel season.