ballobserver

Interesting result. It is hard to tell if it means Unaka is improving or if Happy Valley continues to be hard to get a read on. These two teams have been the hardest for me to figure out all season.

A little of both. The Warriors can't seem to get enough girls to "show up" all in the same game. They seem to have a couple girls on one game and a couple different ones on the next....if they all were ever on at the same time who knows their potential. I guess that's the story of everybody's game! Too much inconsistency!!!

No matter how I've stated it previously you try to make it about who scored what and who's kid it was. Not my intentions at all. All I'm stating is that any team, whether it be HV or whoever cannot rely on one player...whether it's for a game or an entire season. One player can drive a game, but they need assistance, they can do all they can and may change a game one way or another, but with help, not only in points or shots....it makes life easier and games more winnable. That will help HV in the future. They just haven't had anybody consistent...it's Banks one night, Ward, Bowling, Toni, Byers another...if more than one of them on any night would have a good game it would change the Warrior's game tremendously. It just always seems to be one or the other.

Always a sore spot with parents and folks who believe "team ball" means everybody takes an equal number of shots. When you have a low post the caliber of Pietrowski, the offense should run through her. She takes high percentage shots and is hard to stop when she gets it on the block. If an opponent guards her man to man, 15 shots is not unreasonable. Even against a tight zone or double team she should never get less than ten shots. She is also a good passer and can dump off to the other post or kick out to three point shooters when doubled. Our most successful teams were inside out teams and we force fed the posts at times, but it always opened up the outside. I don't look for Coach Dugger to allow Pietrowski to have anymore five shot games in the tournaments.

Not aware of those issues...guess it's only at HV....Maybe they need to hire some the PERFECT clock keepers from UH or Hampton. Never....heard of any issues from either of them....RIGHT! I don't know about the prior issues...but I think Friday's game was merely the guy being hung up in the game...if you knew him, you'd understand. Like I said earlier, HV was losing and he didn't stop it the first time the refs called him on it....how would that benefit HV.

If this were as bad as you make it sound...HV should've won every home game.........give it a break. We're all human and make mistakes....just maybe not you! Clock mistakes are made all the time...they just get attention when something like this happens.

That's not the first time it has happened at HV this year. Ask the Univeristy High girls about their late game issues with the clock where they apparently had the game won only to find out different and there were several issues during the HV/Hampton game of the clock not starting/stopping. Talk about your home court advantage. Sorry, but facts are facts.

I still think everybody is hung up on that last shot. I don't think it's the overall issue. I agree with the post the clock keeper "hosed" it up...He stated "AGAIN" like it always happen on Warrior...I don't think that's the case.

Like I stated earlier...the guy had the clock wrong the whole game. The refs called timeout 2 times to change the time on the clock and they still let him stay on the clock....allowing him to be there for that last shot...again.... I'll say he messed the clock up more than once that could've changed the game to either team's favor...I guess the last shot is everybody's issue because it was the final game breaker????

True, but the clock operator is not an official, he/she cannot make a judgement call as to when the ball is touched. That is the official's job, therefore the clock operator doesn't start the clock until the in-bounding official drops his/her hand.

Us "folks" from Carter County would rather not be judged by the actions of one person. I'm sure a high percentage of the schools across the state have parents keeping the books, stats and the clock and do a fine job! The schools try to save money, and they're are plenty of capable parents to do it, but noone will step up.

I was at this game and the last shot may have been questionable, but there were several other times the clock keeping would have made a difference in the outcome and nobody but the man above knows how it would've changed the final score.

The clock operator failed to stop the clock at one point letting about 20 seconds run off as HV was getting ready to shoot a foul (HV was down). The ref called time and added time back to the clock, then Betsy in-bounded the ball (HV still down) and ran the length of the floor and he never restarted it...that happened twice. Not stopping it when HV was down would maybe show that it wasn't intentional...but then.....not starting when they were still down did.

I think if the clock were correctly kept the whole game it wouldn't have come down to a .6 shot, but that's just my opinion.

Bottom line is none of us will ever know if he did it intentionally, but let's not dis the entire county or school for one's actions. I'm the first one to say it was BAD!!! But I get so tired of people from one county or city to another trying to trash talk another county (stuff happens everywhere).

All of us from Carter County are not rotten toothed, poor, ignorant inbreds, so let's not go there....and the Barney stuff (all communities have Constables) and stick to basketball.

What is new? It has always been that way at Happy Valley. You folks from Carter County should know that by now. Usually the officials give Charlie's teams all the breaks when you play on the hill at the Valley. Then there are the Barney Fife constables that hang out at the games and try to intimidate the visitors. Oh I am sorry, I jsut dissed Barney.

I agree that Banks can control the pace if the other team will allow it. I didn't say balanced...I stated the others need to contribute more. As you stated the Cyclones let her control the game, had they shut her down and nobody else stepped (like last night) where would they have been?

I will agree that Fritz and Pietrowski are class acts. I also agree that Happy Valley needs contributions across the board to be effective, but I do not think it has to be balanced every night. Banks, as I stated in an earlier thread, is the key to the Warriors. When I coached against them, Banks was a jv player and we game planned to stop her. She has the ability to drive to the goal hard and create her own shot. If you do not stop her she can have a big game. She also has the ability to drop it off to Ward inside or kick it out to Byars, Toney, and Bowling for open threes. Apparently, the Cyclones did a poor job of stopping her last night. In my opinion, she is the only Warrior player who can control a game with her ability to handle the ball and create her own shot or create open looks for her teammates. Bowling has similiar potential, but as a freshman has been tentative at times this season. The Warriors are dangerous and in my opinion will go as far as Banks can lead them.

Although Happy Valley pulled a win over Elizabethton...I don't think they've quite put it together yet....tonights game saw Hannah Banks with over half the Warriors total. The Warriors need contributions accross the board to be effective and that hasn't seemed to happen yet. It was good to see Hannah have such a wonderful night for her Senior Night, I just hope some other ladies start dropping some shots to help her out.

Tonights game was a very good, clean game and it could've went either way.

A side note...Fritz and Pietrowski are a class act. Heard the Betsy Pep club was screaming obsenities at one of our players and they personally came to her and apoligized. That was very nice...Fine young ladies!

Scoreboard says Happy Valley 45-40 over Elizabethton. I knew Happy Valley had good players and it looks like they finally put it together. If I understand the tie breaker correctly, this is a significant loss for Elizabethton, as they will get the #3 seed and have to play an improving Chuckey-Doak in the first round of the District. I would have much rather they played Johnson County. Congratulations to the Warriors. The Cyclones need to regroup fast. Go Cyclones!!!!

Missed another one, but heard the Lady Warriors beat Johnson County. Not sure the exact score, but heard the Warriors were all over the Longhorns with like 5-6 3's in the 1st quarter. Warriors lead big at the half, but it was a new game in the second half....Johnson Co. started making some buckets they were missing in the 1st. Warriors hung on for the win and I think they play Boone tonight.

has anybody seen any scores from the rest of the tri

Didn't make this one. Talked to someone who stated that they were up by two at the half and came out of the locker room like a different team. Heard one of the players looked as if she wanted to foul out and did. Was told they didn't act like they wanted to play the second half at all....all of them. The Warriors problems are a hot head or two and a little bit of selfishness, I don't think the selfishness is intentional, I think they get down and feel they have to shoulder the burden alone and don't see the team...when they drive and are covered by several opponents they don't always think of the open team mates. If the Warriors stay motivated and can keep their cool, they should be very competetive with anybody in the rankings...but lately that doesn't seem to be happening. They've lost the fire they had and I don't know what can get it started back or if it's too late.

The ole saying of "What have you done for me lately" seems to apply here. Unaka did just recently beat the Highlanders so in a head to head match up they must be ranked above them. Unicoi has been playing a lot better over the past 2 weeks so their move up to number one is deserving. Like I said before they might not be the best team but as for now they should be number one. The Cyclones are probably the team hardest to rank because they do not play many common opponents. With their big win against South Greene is enough to keep them at the number 2 spot for now. The bottom 3 teams will remain in those positions for the remainder of the year. Cloudland has the potential to move back up in the rankings with their remaining games with Unaka and Unicoi, which they did defeat at the beginning of the season (they have not beat Greeneville, which I'm sure you meant Unicoi). The top 4 teams are pretty close at this time of the year. But will stand by my rankings of dropping to Cloudland to 4th.

 

ballob, did you watch the game with South Greene? If so any idea what seems to be the problem with the Warriors. Know their weakness is the post game in the past have seemed like they were capable of upsetting one of the top teams. Not sure that is a possibility now.

Lady Warriors lost at South Greene tonight. Not much of a surprise to anyone. As some earlier posts suggest the Warriors are not holding up as the season goes on, nor have they played with any enthusiasm the last few games. I don't think they were expected to win tonight, but these ladies just don't have that fire they had early on. Something has to get these ladies going...not sure what can. They are hanging in for a half and losing it in the second lately.

Agree it was a good clean game and the only roughness I saw was when the ball got tied up, thought the jump should've been called a little sooner. Like you stated the Warriors were tired and it showed. Not sure how much difference not playing Thursday would've made, but sure it would've been some.

ote name='CycloneFan' date='Jan 11 2008 - 08:24 PM' post='826693955']

Cyclones win 51-43. HV led 12-8 when EHS went on a 15-0 run in the second quarter to take control. HV closed to within two in the third, and to within 4 in the fourth, but EHS answered. Jasmine Jefferson turned an ankle in practice yesterday and didnt play. Pietrowski had 15, Culler 13 and Fritz and Treadway 9 each. For HV, Hannah Banks hit 3 3's in the second half to keep HV in shouting distance; and I think Byars hit at least 2. HV was tired, and it showed. They didnt press alot and when they did it was not as spirited as usual, and the Cyclones got some easy buckets on it. Physical game with lots of jump balls but I didnt see anything out of line on either side. Coach Dugger should send Coach Chambers a thank you card as there is no question that HV didnt quite have their legs tonight. Good win for the lady cyclones.

Thanks for the input. I can also agree that we've all been guilty of poor judgement and our kids are probably no exception. Not sure of the details, but I'm glad it's over also and hopefully all the kids on both teams have seen that these types of activities make them as well as their parents and community look bad. Things done in the heat of the moment are usually not thought out and regreted afterward.

uote name='UNAKAMOM32' date='Jan 11 2008 - 03:45 PM' post='826693831']

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I am a mother of one of the Unaka Lady Rangers and just thought it should be said that our girls wrote a letter of apology to the Principal of Happy Valley High School for their part in the locker room "smashing". I would like to say that it was poor judgement on their part, but it was not retaliation for losing a ballgame. A game is just that, a game. I believe there was so much soda pop poured on the floor of the locker room and on the walls that our girls were in, that they had to go out to the gym floor to put their shoes on. I also believe one of the girls got her hair caught on the wall when she turned around. Perhaps our girls were not the only ones who showed "poor judgement" that night. But, you are right, it's over, and I can honestly say that I think our girls have learned a good lesson from this incident. I would like to say Good Luck to all the Carter County teams this season. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

Topics like this make you wonder where some of these ladies are today. I know specifically Kadie O'Dell, Becky Sells, and Angie Fickes attended college, obtained degrees and have turned into fine, productive, tax paying citizens...Some still even around basketball coaching and assisting. One other on the list I know for sure went the total opposite direction. Have most of these ladies excelled?

the game between hv and unaka was a well played one both teams did what they need to that allowed them to stay close and exciting i was wondering what was wrong with the hv shooter that was on crutches i have seen her play a few times and her shooting may have pulled unaka out of the zone earlier in the game any insite as to her problem and when she may be back

HV was without 2 players...one of them a starter and the other a JV player that plays some on varsity. Byers is the starter for varsity and she tore her ankle ligaments in the Sullivan North game last week. Deaton is the JV player and she hurt her back....don't know details on either one.

It evidently looks like you didnt attend the game last night. Because clearly the officiating was terrible both ways. Oh and the incident with the no count poor excuse of an official and that johnson girl, clearly if you were at the game you would have seen HANNAH BANKS (thats the HV player) and Johnson, who was riding her tail all the way down the floor smacking and hacking at her, finally banks being the type of player that she is got fed up... she elbowed her,, if im correct basketball is a contact sport, and dont get me wrong she may have went too far,, but the unaka and hv players were like that the whole game... And those same official didnt see those times either... Like when bowling got an elbow from scott or winters throwing countless elbows or even when hv threw some too like ward and banks threw a couple more.. they only caught it once and it just so happened to be on an unaka player... This is how a game is played when two county rival teams play.. your just going to have to deal with it...its going to be a battle.

All I'm saying is a game that close is going to get heated even if they're not rivals...I don't care if they're from the same county, state or country...or not....

With all the respect in the world to everybody who posts here....I enjoy reading the varied opinions. I read them all the time and seldom reply; however, I don't want anybody to get the wrong opinion of the Happy Valley/Unaka game.

Nothing should be taken from either team or any of the players. They all played well!

When you read some of these posts, and didn't see the game you might be lead to believe that it was some kind of blood bath. To say we nearly sent a promising player (not that she isn't promising) to the hospital and another's teeth across the court is a bit of an exaggeration. The elbows I saw flying were the "get off of me" elbows and I think there were 4, 2 from each team....I think TSSAA calls these "clearings" they should be called, but aren't always.

The last one was an attempt of the HV girl who was teetering the line to get free and was in retaliation to one she received....but while it was going on the HV coach was yelling for a timeout to save his girl from being cornered....he was granted the TO and neither girl was called a foul. Unfortunate, but I think it was ignorance rather than favoritism.

It was a close game, very closely matched players...everything about this game was neck and neck, from the fouls called to the fouls not called. This game was to the wire and could've been anybody's. Anytime a team loses a heartbreaker like that, they feel cheated. Had HV lost they would have been able to say the same things the Unaka fans were saying...only HV won...we've all been on both sides of a game like this one and their tough to lose.

I saw most of the game and it was one of the best games I've seen in a long time. Now that everyone has had time to cool down, surely we realize that last nights game was not atypical of any game that was as close as this one was the entire time.

Let's not fool ourselves and think that it's just in a county rivalry. I will agree Unaka/HV is a rivalry, but any game that was as good as this one was will get heated the way it did. I don't care where the teams are from...if it's that close all the way, goes into overtime, girls are tired, fans are frustrated....stuff happens and it doesn't always look fair to everybody.

This was a near perfect match point for point, foul for foul, player to player...it couldn't have been any closer.

GO HV AND UNAKA!!!

yeah, please, somebody give us an update.

 

And while we are on the subject, just saw the latest Wellmont tv show, and they did a great piece on the player from Sullivan North who was nearly killed in the car wreck last year, a remarkable recovery for this strong young lady, and another example of the fine young people we have in this area.

North played Happy Valley last night and Marissa dressed and played about 2 minutes. She also got to play 11 minutes last Saturday. I was impressed with her movement and was told she normally moves a little better, but she was tired. She still has a very long road, but is doing very well.

For those who did not see the latest Wellmont hospital weekly tv show this week, it had a great story on Merrissa Williams, the Sullivan North standout who was nearly killed in a car accident last February. She has been down a long road, but her recovery so far has been amazing, and her strength and courage are inspirational. If you get a chance to catch the show this week, it airs at various times on the local cable outlets.

 

Hats off to Merissa, and keep up the good work. You inspire us all............

Her hope is to get to be in a game this year, since it is her senior year....I hope the HOMECOMING QUEEN'S dream comes true!

Marissa played in the North/Warriors game last night for about 2 minutes. She also played about 11 minutes last Saturday. Marissa is making a remarkable recovery.

Happy Valley is pretty good. They're in-conference with Elizabethton, Unicoi County, and South Greene, all pretty good teams with a shot at Murfreesboro. With a half-dozen matchups with those three, it will be most difficult for the Lady Warriors to finish above the expected fourth place spot. And that's no knock on Happy Valley.

 

For comparison, Unaka and Happy Valley often go down to the wire, but the Lady Rangers, who also play Unicoi County twice, and lost to South Greene in Baileyton, can lose to the Warriors, Lady Blue Devils and Lady Rebels, with no negative bearing on their post season seeding. And if you're new to reading these threads, you're unaware that we have the, "Why won't they play us," discusion each year. There's simply nothing to lose.

 

For what it's worth, I expect the Lady Warriors and Lady Rangers matchup to be a thriller.

I think you and coachh are on the money with your comments...and...right...It will be fun to watch the Warriors and the Rangers.

Don't think there are many non-believers out there about Happy Valley. Most people have made them 4th in the rankings and picked them to finish in the top 4 in the conference. At this point and time that is where they are. They must be behind Unicoi, Cloudland and South Greene because of the losses. Elizabethton will probably be a hard match up for them. Yes they are playing better basketball. They seem to be playing more inspired. Could they beat any of the above teams, I think so but they must prove it. I think the other teams know they must come to play when facing the Warriors.

I think the rest of us that have seen the Warriors agree. Some had speculated that the rest of the schools should blow the Warriors out, and that shouldn't be the case if they play to their ability....they don't always do that. They've proven they can play with anyone, but should not get blown out as some had predicted. (not on coach T)

Elizabethton should continue winning tonight at home against West Greene.

 

Unaka faces the unknown in Damascus, Virginia against Holston High School.

 

Cloudland won last night, and will stay in Roan Mountain against Cosby this

Friday.

 

After last week's heart-breaker in Erwin, Happy Valley plays at home tonight

against South Greene tonight. The Lady Warriors have another home game

Friday versus Sullivan North.

 

The Lady Longhorns host Sullivan North tonight.

 

Unicoi County plays the first of this week's three winnable road games tonight

at Chuckey Doak.

 

Hampton plays in Avery County tonight.

The Warriors played South Greene tonight. The final score showed SG winning by 20, but let me tell you that was not at all indicative of the game I watched. It was a battle on both offense and defense for all 4 quarters with the Warriors hanging right with SG til the end of the 4th quarter. The last 10-12 point deficite came from forced fouls. I think we've all underestimated what the Warriors can do if they continue to play with the intensity they've shown the last 2 games.

Coachh, happen to catch the game. Unicoi is not as good as I thought they might be. Guard play is very week. Had a very hard time of handling, passing and controling the basketball. Happy Valley's pressure, and it wasn't great, gave them a really hard time. Unicoi did take advantage of their size by offensive rebounding. They didn't take advantage of it through their offense because they had a difficult time in finding the open post players with their guards. Unicoi let Happy Valley stay in the game with turnovers and missed foul shots. Give Happy Valley credit they did what they had to do to stay in the game, made some big three pointers and made most of their foul shots. Happy Valley had free throws to go ahead and missed them both and then fouled, allowing Unicoi to take the lead. A turnover by Happy Valley at the end of the game ended their chance of a game winning try. Unicoi proved it doesn't matter what kind of post players you have if you can't get them the ball. Elizabethton and South Greene seem to be a little better than the rest of the conference. Unicoi might match up a little better with Elizabethton. Happy Valley showed some improvement but they must shoot the ball from the perimeter well each night to compete.

Agree with Coachh's assessment of the game between Happy Valley and Unicoi. As stated, the bottom line for the Warriors is they must shoot well from the outside. Not to take credit away from the Warrior's inside game, they just don't have the size at the post positions to compete with teams like Unicoi and Cloudland....second shots kill!!!

The Lady Warriors played Crockett last night, it was an ugly game...but the Warriors hung on to win by 1. Crockett played stall the last few minutes of each quarter and it was nip and tuck the whole game with the Pioneers doing all they could to shut down the Warriors' outside game. Their inside game and a few outside shots kept them in it. Down by three late in the 4th Byers hit a three to tie it up. The game came down to the end tied up and a Pioneer was brought to the foul line, she made the first one and a lane violation was called on the second giving the Warriors the ball with like 13 seconds on the clock....a beautiful play from Banks to Ward for a lay up to put the Warriors up by one without giving the Pioneers enough time to score.

thanks to all that showed up to support merissa and her family last night it was a great service

QUOTE(pgsg10fr @ Feb 19 2007 - 08:43 AM) 826378895[/snapback]That's bull we have been called the armpit of Greene County and you have talked about our kids and you have downed Coach Ricker who by the way kick him while he is down. May God bless you all . I love Basketball and so does my daughter and I honestly hate that all of this has happened but we are actually good people at SG and we have a group of good girls.

go back and read i dont think i have ever said anything about coach ricker but support for him during his times.