Morton

I'm kind of sad to see the fall league at Hooptown (for Middle TN teams) get killed by the TSSAA ruling, but also think it will be an opportunity for players/schools/coaches to get creative?? I for one would love to see my 16 year old play in the fall...even if it is with a different bunch of girls. Let's keep the net open to forming some of those teams??

what about 16U

Congrats to Stampede for the 16U Div 2 championship. Good tournament and good competition. Stampede... glad to see those 14 and 15 year olds step it up on Sat night.

I am so glad you acknowledged the 'unselfish' play of the Mustangs. I agree...this is the key to the teams success. I'll cool my analysis at this point (so I don't give an edge to any Liberty Tech folks who happen upon this post /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Thanks again for the great coverage of the game. I almost feel like us folks at home need to pay you a salary!! Do you have plans to travel to any of the substate or state games??? I'm going to be out of state, and will log in if you will be watching and providing your thorough stats and un-biased analysis.

Congratulations Clarksville High School Wildcats!!! My alma mater - awww.... I remember being a sophomore and going to watch the Wildcats at the Murphy Center in 1981. We lost to Pearl-Cohn, who I believe won the state that year. I'm so glad to see the tradition is back. Great hard-working athletes, and Ted Young at the helm. I watched you guys play early in the season and was so impressed by your athleticsm and CLASS. You made this former Wildcat proud. I still miss the Cat's Den (William Workman Gym) and all the great memories (seniors sneaking into the rafters and dropping 'imappropriate' banners during the middle of games, Stacy Turner putting on an olympic style tumbling routine across the gym floor during time outs, and the Cardiac Cats always pulling out that list minute victory). I'm so proud of you!! I'm sure Trenton Hassle and Sean Marion will appreciate the Gold Ball finally going to their alma mater. Way to go Cats!!!! APSU and CHS winning this year...Life is good!! Keep it up!!!

I've been saying all along that Pearl-Cohn was the dark horse. They have played in one of the toughest districts week in and and week out throughout the season (MLK, CPA and David Lipscomb). They could do nothing but improve. I loved the win over MLK, and am rooting for PC to keep on going. Good luck Firebirds!!!!

Good luck to MTCS against Collingwood. Lindsey... get in there and dominate the paint. Best of luck to MTCS in substate. Shake this one off, and focus on the next game.

/rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> I bet he has!!! LOL

I love you Pageman. Thanks so much for the detailed stats and play by play. I couldn't go to the game, and this tells me everything. It looks like rebounding was the key (which would be one of the reasons why Kara Briley was MVP!!). Congrats to the Lady Mustangs. Kara, Julia, Laura, Sara, Hannah, Ellen, Caroline, Brooke, and Chelsey...you are such great players and young women. Best of luck against a very tough Liberty Tech on Saturday. Seniors...every game you win means another game playing with your best friends. I know how much that means to all of you!!! Your parents, school, and fans are so happy and proud for you! Thanks again Pageman.

Congrats WC. As a native Clarksvillian, I was hoping that Evans and team could pull this out. WC showed their true dominance in AAA by winning this game. As far as the MJ transfers... Christopher and Burroughs will be on the court the majority of the time next year. I love watching Chelsea Burroughs play, and look forward to her impact next year. Good luck WC. Now that Clarksville NE is out of the picture, I'm rooting for you all the way!

I agree with your picks! Since the vast majority of these teams have never faced each other (and scouting has probably been minimal), you just never know. It ought to be fun!! Congrats to the sweet 16!

Liberty Tech vs. Lipscomb on Saturday. What kind of match-up will this be? I hope LT fans have a safe trips to Nashville. I'll be happy to provide directions/parking/restaurant info if anyone needs it.

Final score: DL 48 MC 35 Congrats to Laura Bennett and Julia Roller for all tourney team, and big kudos to Kara Briley tourney MVP!!! Way to go Mustangs!!! Thanks for the updates Titans Fan. Hope you were there Pageman.. .would love to see your game summary and stats!! You don't know how much we appreciate your love and support of women's basketball. MC - I was very impressed with your play against Ezell. You are a great team, and are still really young. Lauren - This tournament is the first time I've seen you play since 14U AAU w/ Team Pride. You are still a great player, and I also know you are a great girl!. My hat's off to MC. Great team!! Hppefully we'll see these teams in the region again next year.

I just spent about 45 minutes reading all the posts in this thread. It is painfully obvious that people have their opinions. Some are more likely to open their minds than others... but this is America. Something to think about...Most schools/teams are cyclicle (public or private). A school gets a premiere athlete (QB, RB, Pitcher, point guard, etc...). A school may luck upon a group of talented athletes that happen to be the same age. Typically they have a successful team a year or two, then go in a slump for a few years until the next star or group of talented players come around again. For the private haters... Look at David Lipscomb, they have a couple of years where they are really strong, then they slump for a few years, then pick back up. The same goes for Goodpasture, CPA, DCA, etc... Publics can also typically be held to the same pattern. District II privates and the big (open zone) publics are a different story. Alcoa, Maryville, Brentwood Academy, MBA, etc... are always going to be powerhouses either by tuition or people moving or falsifying address information. In two years if all the division 1 privates were in their slump years, this debate would die (until the privates had another star or group or talented players). I'm opposed to a split, because of driving times for away games (especially during basketball season). Why drive two hours to face an opponent, when you have one that is comparable size 5 to 20 minutes away? This is not the NFL? Our kids have to study and go to school the next day after that game that for 99% will not lead to a an athletic scholarship,much less professional athletic career. We parents may not have a 'life,' but our kids have a future. It is most likely not in athletics. Athletics are helping them learn to work with a team, win and lose gracefully, etc... It is not about us... it is about them. I'd rather my child had time to do their homework vs. getting at home at 1:00 a.m. to play the other private or public in my district which is spread out over 100 miles. I'm sure there are some privates that put a bad taste in people's mouth. Report them to TSSAA. If they are recruiting, and reported, they will be caught.

Thanks for clarifying the origination of the article Titans Fn. It was a true sports human interest story (and women's high school sports at that). I'm a Lipscomb parent and have read so many posts on this blog that state 'all privates' recruit. I thought this was a great example of a school that does not. The girls in this article are now headed to sub-state. As you stated, they do not have a 'star,' but have five girls that are all talented athletes, good friends, and love playing together. Despite this debate, they are very lucky to have this experience to reflect upon all their lives. After reading so many posts on this debate, I was glad to have an example of non-recruiting. I know that this post will not change some deep-seeded opinions. I hope it at least shows an example of a successful private school athletic program that does not recruit. Lipscomb was lucky enough to have these five girls comes together long ago, and stay together. That is rare regardless of public or private. The same is true for Lipscomb's football and baseball teams. They have been successful due to great coaching, parent involvement, and kids that have played together (in most cases) since elementary school. I could definitely compare Lipscomb to a small rural public in terms of the school's community. Thanks again for the article clarification, and explaining its origin and that it had nothing to do with this blog and the on-going debate.

I think 9AAA definitely has the toughest district year in and year out, but this is what tournament time is all about. Clarksville NE has been below the radar, not much hype, publicity, etc.., and easily over-looked based on record alone (when two of their best players were out with injuries and they incurred some losses). The regular season means nothing (except seeding) when it comes tournament time. If you make it to the sub-state, seeding no longer matters. This blog can be a blessing (for information) or a curse (hype and preparation for opposing teams). I still think if MJ and NCE played each other in the same district and were prepared for each others strenghts/weaknesses it could have been a toss-up any game. This is why February/March Madness is so hard to predict. That little Atlantic Sun or OVC team that had little to no TV time plays a big team from a basketball/money conference and pulls out the 'upset.' How many times have we seen this happen? I think the teams left standing in 9AAA will be better prepared for the tournament because of the tough competition they played all year, but it is hard to prepare for a team that has minimal record (due to injuries) that is all of a sudden healthy. Don't you just love basketball??? I do!

While I was not at this game, I am not surprised that Northeast (now healthy) pulled this out. Dawn Evans is one incredible player, and has a great supporting cast. While I am a native Clarksvillian, I have lived in Nashville quite a while and have some close ties to Mt. Juliet. KC -You were a true leader this year. Jordan Nixon, you REALLY stepped up as a dominant post and impact player. I love watching you play. I'm so thankful you are a Junior, and I get to watch you on a HS court again next year (and AAU court this summer). Congrats to Northeast. Make Clarksville proud!! Mt. Juliet...you provided the fans some great basketball this year. So many counted you out pre-season with the transfers to WC, but you showed all the nay-sayers that you were still a force in AAA basketball. (Speaking of transfers...imagine if Montgomery County allowed open zoning...Valerie Bronson and Dawn Evans on the same team???).

Best team? I guess we'll know soon enough. That is the great thing about tournament time (once you hit the regions, sub-state, and state). You read and hear so much 'hype' about this or that team, but until they have faced the quiet teams with fans that do not read or post on this blog, you just do not know. So many times, it really depends on the way a team matches up. The best example I can come up with is the Upperman/LA district, or Mt. Juliet and Wison Central. Think about how many times these teams have played each other...they know each other (as well as the other teams A, AA, and AAA within close driving distance). When you hit the tournament, things get more interesting. You have not seen the other teams from lesser publicized districts/regions play. You just never know, and may underestimate or overestimate the prospective team. That is why I always say (of the teams I have watched) when I post. Bottom line... we have some great HS basketball in this state. Good luck to all teams that have made it this far. My 'favorites' based on my personal, hopeful, biased opinion are below: A - Summertown AA - David Lipscomb AAA - Clarksville Northeast (since Smyrna and Mt. Juliet are no longer in the picture and I'm a native Clarksvillian) Div II - BA

I think this could be Webb's year... Glory is such an impact player. Ensworth is still young, but they sure are good. If they do not win it this year... they could the next two. Very talented team with excellent coaching. BA has been inconsistent. If their guards are hitting the threes, and Dunlop is getting some good looks inside, they will be tough to beat. The key to beating BA is changing-up the defense every two or three times down the court. Don't let them get in a rythym. Their success has been their ability to go from strong post play to a solid outside game. The thing with Webb and BA is they have 'stars.' If the 'go to' girls have a bad night, it could change things. Ensworth and JPII seem to be less dependent on a star, and adapt really well defensively. My money is on Webb, but I'd love to see one of the Nashville teams win the Gold ball.

Thanks - I did not have that link. Liberty Tech and McNairy are both tough. Hope the Mustangs can play at home Saturday. Good luck on Wednesday.

Do you have the possible opponents for both of the Saturday night games?

Great recap Pageman. The Region championship on Wednesday ought to be good with David Lipscomb and Marshall Co. The Lipscomb team that won the Lewis Co. looked 'different.' They usually have quite a few three pointers, and they won this game the goold ole' fashioned way with rebounding and good defense. It really was a fun game to watch. The Marshall Co/Lipscomb game on Wednesday ought to be really good. Lipscomb may have a hard time stopping Lauren March inside unless they play zone. If they play zone, then it frees up MC's strong three point game. Lipscomb's, however, is really on a roll and has a group that plays so well as a team. Congratulations to both teams for making it to sub-state. Best of luck on Wednesday and in your games Saturday.

I really thought this region would easily be David Lispcomb or Ezell, but after seeing the score in the Spring Hill/Lipscomb, game... it looks like it might be anyone's tourney. DL faces Lewis Co. on Tuesday. Thoughts on that game? What about the Ezell game? Who makes it to the championship? Will it be another DL/Ezell match-up?

Commander - Do you plan on carrying two teams in each age group again??

While I still do not know the tournament or all district teams... I agree that Jackson and Cannady 'should' have made all district regular season (if they did not). I agree that FRA probably had the best inside game in the district (unless put in zone - due to their inconsistent outside game). I still think if FRA had run motion 90% of the time, they probably could have beat anyone in the district. Ezell had McCallister, who should be a contender for Ms. AA Basketball next year. Lipscomb had such strong, seasoned veterans, they were really tough in the district (despite injuries). I would bet that Pennington, Briley, Roller and Ross made all district and/or tournament. Breedlove from Pearl-Cohn was also an impact player this year. The sophomore from CPA should have also been on the list. If anyone has the true all district/tournament teams, please reply.. I am really interested to know who was chosen.