nosebleedsection

Very well played game tonight by both teams. I agree with Krich Unaka brought a very tenacious defense to the table tonight contesting about every outside shot Santana Clawson shot and kept Brooke Johnson from hurting them inside the 3 point line because we all know when you allow her to penetrate and shoot uncontested 15 footers and have easy looks at the basket it is hard to stop her. But Unaka did a good job of knowing where she was at on the floor and not allowing her to get into the flow of the game very good defensive scheme by Unaka. I believe people are starting to realize that even though this is a young Unaka team they are starting to grow up more as the season progresses and you cant underestimate this team because they have so many things they can throw at you defensively and offensively and it confuses alot of teams. And truthfully I am not a Unaka fan nor Cloudland fan at heart just love watching good basketball games like last night and I have to agree with this guy that sat behind me in the stands and I said the same thing Unaka just has better athletes and shooters plain and simple and I belive that King is in for a rude awakening come 2 weeks from now because deep down Birchfield knows and if the King was smart enough to realize that Cloudland can not match up with Unaka. Dont worry Highlander I believe that biker jacket of his is cutting off the circulation to his brain P.S hows the stock business treating you.

Once again King you have proven your ignorance. First off there is no more blowout wins for your Lady Highlanders exspecially if they are going up against North Greene or Unaka maybe even Hampton. It is almost tournament time the games will get a whole lot tougher than you may think King and there is no easy wins come mid February early March.

I would put both Cloudland and Unaka up against Elizabethton any day of the week. And thats not just to stir up a County vs City school rivalry it's just the truth. Everyone saw what happened last year when Elizabethton went up against Cloudland up at Lees Mcrae and im not a Highlander fan either just get sick of hearing about how Elizabethon is this somewhat great of a team yea they are good but can they make it happen in the post season are they that good.

I have watched Elizabethton play time and time again through out the season and I still believe they are one of the areas most overated teams. On the other hand they do find ways to win basketball games so you cant say to much as long as they are getting W's. The most underated team would have to be Unaka. To be where they are at right now compared to where they was at the start of the season is pretty surprising. I would have said they would have been a below 500. team but I think alot of people dont realize that this team is basically playing with one senior one junior and the rest freshman and sophmores. So that should tell alot of teams what this program has in store for the next few years. Cloudland I still think that they have reached there peak in progressing. Like someone questioned my response to the Lady Landers in one of my previous posts. Yes you can practice all you want but you are missing the point. There is a difference between x's and o's and defensive schemes you can practice that till the cows come home but overall playing wise I dont think Cloudland can play any better than what they are playing right now Unaka has progressed and Cloudland has stayed at about there same pace from where they started out at the first of the season. Now I am going to tell you why Unaka will defeat Cloudland "King" (pay attention) When it comes tournament time I am not really sure where the district's or regionals are held this year I am pretty sure they will be held at Chuckey Doak or Milligan possibly Lincoln Memorial but everyone knows Unaka's strong game is there post Cloudland cant guard Unaka on a big floor exspecially in a man to man set nor can they run the floor to much speed in Unaka's advantage and I still believe they are a whole lot better shooting team than the Lady Landers the question is though can Unaka contain Brooke Johnson thats the key to Unaka winning if they can do that then Unaka wins easy but if not then I can see the Lady Rangers having there hands full. P.S King I am glad to see you have came back to your old self I believe everyone liked you better that way

I am still going to say North Greene and Unaka will both be playing in a substate game come early March. Cloudland can get no better than what they are right now Unaka and North Greene is showing alot of signs of being a great team come late February and thats scary....

Agree to disagree. I have yet to see a team in this county who has been consistent. On paper and talent wise Rangerbook yes Unaka is the best overall team but by far have they played up to there potential and I dont see them progressing any the remainder of the season. Hampton seems to be coming along big win against Unicoi the other night and against a good Harriman team a couple weeks ago. Elizabethton is making progress to be winning with the players they got not alot of talent but they play hard as a team. Unicoi is very unpredictable they can play like worldbeaters one game then come out the next against Hampton and shoot thereselves in the foot so inconsistency is the key there. Cloudland is the team that I believe is going to make noise come playoff time they are a really well coached and patient basketball team no superstars just gel really well together as a team and they know how to make key adjustments for each opponent they face. When it comes March though I believe you are going to see Hampton and Cloudland playing in a substate with Cloudland playing at home and Hampton playing on the road. Region 2 is pretty watered down this year so I dont think there is to much to worry about. On the other hand I do believe It could be a battle between both Unicoi and Johnson County for first and 2nd place in there conference both teams are capable of playing a substate game but they will have to start being more consistent in the win collumn. Good luck to all teams this half of the season

I agree King where Unaka stands in the rankings. the Unaka team I got to witness play last night is nothing like some of the teams I have watched play in the past because they flat out quit last night when Temple jumped out to a big lead not only did the players quit but the entire coaching staff quit and thats not like some of the teams I have seen in the past. Now having said that I do believe Unicoi is the best team around this area at the moment yes Unaka did beat them but when your 6'6 post players Ike Weaver is out who is probably one of the most dominant post players in the game then that has to be a big difference. On the other hand Unaka has lost two games back to back and at home to beat it all once to Univerity School which Elizabethton beat this week and a 30 point loss to Temple last night as well. Johnson County and Cloudland has to be two of the most impressive teams around this area this year to be playing with what they have alot of these teams are winnning just because pure athleticism but Cloudland and Johnson County just plays smart fundemental basketball. Austin Atwood does a good job with those players and wins to be playing with what they got and even though Cloudland did lose last night I loved the effort they put out on the floor trying to come back from a 10 point lead in the fourth. But based on watching some of these teams play this week I will try to rank them the best at possible. # 1. Unicoi- # 2. Cloudland # 3. Johnson County # 4. Elizabethton # 5. Unaka # 6. Hampton # 7. Happy Valley

The way I look at these rankings alot of people base them on who has beat who and the number of loss and wins I do agree some what but then again match ups are a big key as well. I had Unicoi first just for the fact all around I think they are a better team than Elizabethton. The Lady Cyclones truthfully have 1 or 2 players that can maybe hurt you if not just one and that is the Petrowski girl very dominant post player by the way. But if you want to get technical and pick a little bit than you need to ask yourself one question do you think Elizabethton can actually play with Cloudland or Unicoi I mean you gotta think Unicoi has so many weapons offensively as does Cloudland if I am a coach and I am playing Elizabethton everyone in the gym knows who the ball is going to because they struggle hitting shots from the outside you double down on Petrowski and make her force something inside or make them beat you from the outside plain and simple. Sure both Cloudland and Elizabethton has lost to South Greene which dont surprise me because they are a good ball club. But it's like I said who is the best between these teams right now from a head to head stand point and thats just the way I see it either one of these teams are worthy of being number one but hey what does it matter it's not like our opinions are actually getting published or anything right........HAHAHA

I figured since I am being introduced to this site I could throw my two cents in a little bit. But this is just my opinion on teams so far. 1. Unicoi- They are one of the best teams around this area all around that is when they come to play. Very good guards and very physical inside players who can score when the ball is in there hands coach Fisher does a good job with this bunch and I believe when is comes post season time Unicoi will be the ones who will come out on top but we will see where they stand tonight against Gatlinburg Pittman. 2. Cloudland- Cloudland is one of the most explosive teams around this area they play hard night in and night out and they got the weapons to score on the offensive end and the quickness and size to get after you on the defensive end. The Johnson girl is probably one of the top 10 sophmore players in the state. Look for this team to be in Murfreesburro come March. 3. Elizabethton- Yes I know there record is good but in order for this team to be successful they are going to have more scoring and work out of there guards because when you play a good team like Greeneville as you saw the post game isnt always going to be there and when teams key on this than Elizabethton will be in trouble but I believe that is the only thing stopping the Lady Cyclones from transforming them from a good team to a great team. 4. Hampton- Very young team but very well coached. They play really hard on both ends of the floor and I think that will help them out tremendously through out the remainder of the season. 5. Happy Valley- Very athletic took Science Hill down to the wire in overtime that should let you know what they are capable of on any given night. 6. Johnson County- The Mccloud girl is about the only weapon offensively they have if they could get maybe one or two more players to step up than they could be a tough team to play with. 7. Unaka- What can you say right now 1-7 big conference loss at home to North Greene on Friday by 20 at home. Basically this team is struggling to find ways to win right now. Cloudland should beat Chuckey Doak they are pretty down after losing some seniors off last years team and there stud post player the Jenkins girl. Another big game will be between Gatlinburg Pittman and Unicoi should show some people around this area where the Lady Blue Devils stand.

Congradulations to Jarfly on being inducted very good softball player back in his days very nice man to. And FAN12 to answer your question things do seem to be pretty down on the creek right now for the time being and until they decide to make some changes I dont see things getting better. I havent heard that much about the off the court incidents maybe you can fill me in on that but I do know that if they dont pick up a win this week against a very weak University School team than the outcome may not look so bright for the Rangers and the rest of their season. Krich how is that Eltorito by the way havent had the pleasure of eating there yet is it worth wasting a paycheck on.

Sorry to hear about the loss Krich my condolences.. But from a basketball stand point North Greene is hands down a good ball club atleast that night they was. They hit there free throws they knocked down alot of big shots when they were open and they played very well on the defensive end. The starns girl makes that team go as well as the other two guard and not a bad post game from there other too girl either. All around very good win for the Lady Huskies which puts them 2-0 in the WVC. Now as far as Unaka goes sure they are a young team but from the stands it seems like these kids are having no fun for some reason but it is kind of hard to have fun when you have a 1-7 record dont you agree Krich? Some seem to think it's a coaching problem up on the creek I belive from just hearing the rumors if the parents would quit trying to coach there kids from the stands and let them take there knocks on the court and allow them to be coachable than things would fall into place. I mean if they dont like the way he coaches I am sure there are plenty of schools around this area that would love to have him. I mean the mans record speaks for itsel'f he is part of the reason that program is where it is today and the parents on the creek need to realize that patients is the key for this team being successful give this team another year or two and you are looking at a state tournament competing team.

I know the Lady Rangers are young right now Krich and I agree it will take time but what seems to be the problem this year even when they had younger teams before they found ways to win. Now I was at the game the other night and and from a good basketball fan's point of view not only are they young but this team doesnt get up the floor that well at all in transition. They seem to be out of shape to be as guard oriented as this team is and I agree with you Krich coach Buchanan seems to be a fine fit up there coaching the Lady Huskies he does a great job with them because if you can win at Unaka than you have accomplished something. Krich maybe you can fill me in and let me see your point of view because I dont see what the problem is at all right now. Congradulations to the lady Cyclones on a big win against Chuckey Doak last week Did you get to attend the Cloudland game Krich on thursday I thought Mitchell was supposed to be rather weak this year?

This team will struggle early and late through out the remainder of the season. They are getting no production out of there bench,They are turning the ball over way to many times in crucial parts of the game, There is no defense believe it or not atleast not in the halfcourt and the shot selection from two or three players is just killing them on offense. If some changes arent made and I dont know how the players will respond through out the rest of the season than I wouldnt be surprised if Unaka doesnt' make it out of the regionals once again. Yes it is tough facing a major coaching change through out the season but you have to face the music and play through it and I dont think most of these kids are responding to the change and if that is the case slow start or not than this program is in for some major problems. And to answer your question "BlueEagle" I havent had the chance to see any of the freshman play this year but they had two or three good players out of Hunter Elementary last year and one from Unaka I believe.