FastGunFIfe

I know you are mainly talking about football, but I have to disagree with you concerning basketball. For the past 5 or 6 years, they have had a competitive schedule (girls- York Institute, McMinn Central, Sevier County, Alcoa, Greeneville) (Boys: Fulton, AE, Alcoa, Morristown East, Morristown West, Sevier County, Chattanooga Baylor, Greeneville) Plus, it is very difficult to balance a basketball schedule when you are dealing with two separate teams (girls and boys).

She might have used red ink in the early years, but green ink was her color of choice in the 80's. My papers in her class were always littered with her corrections. LOL

Barney, he is a junior this year. He is a great, all around athlete. His best sport is baseball in my opinion.

This will be an interesting matchup to say the least. I have watched GP most of the year. They are a very balanced team (seasoned posts and talented guards) that is well coached. GP also has a lot of recent experience at the state tournament and that cannot be overlooked. Their defense is very solid and multiple (different presses, man to man, and zones mixed). After watching a few McMinn Central games on film, I feel like I just described them in my GP analysis. All of the above applies to MC, too. Haha! Each team has a standout player #30 for GP and #5 for MC. I believe it will be a classic game between two good teams. I truly think it could go either way.

I agree with you concerning Karns this year. They have a great starting 5. The big man is deceptively skilled and can move better than I thought. The two guards out front on their 2/3 zone are outstanding on the offensive and defensive ends. The 3 and 4 have good size, play sound defense and are very athletic. The only issue I see is bench depth. Only watching them one time, I'm not sure what is past player 6 or 7 on the bench. As far as WB, I heard this morning that WB had lost 40 straight times to Bearden before this year's 4 games (won all 4). That's incredible! I do think Karns and WB would have a better than average chance at making the state tournament. I cannot speak on DB, but I have seen Sevier County play a few times this year. They are extremely young with only 1 senior, 1 sophomore, and 3 freshman starting. The Smoky Bears are very well coached and a tough out at home. They play in a round gymnasium with depth perception issues for opposing team's shooters. It definitely creates a home court advantage. On the road, they are a little more vulnerable. As far as Oak Ridge, I was very impressed with them. Sweetscience, which player is the senior? I don't know names, so if you can give me a number, that would help. Obviously, the Wildcats are well coached, play good defense, and shoot the ball well. They will have to be considered one of the favorites next year.

I was fortunate to be in attendance last night for the two games at Karns and witness two outstanding games that could have gone either way. WB is so balanced with 8 solid players. Windle and Robertson are both outstanding. As eyeinthesky, mentioned, Bearden did a really good job containing him until fatigue set in and they began to foul him. Both teams are well coached. For the nightcap, the 3 free throws to tie the game at the end of regulation were clutch. In overtime, two prominent Oak Ridge players fouled out and Karns pulled away in OT. It should be a great matchup Thursday night between these two teams. Great crowd and atmosphere!

Hey, Barney. I also attended that very first Heritage football game. If I'm not mistaken in each of the first games in the three major men's sports (football, basketball, and baseball), they all needed overtime or extra innings to complete the game. If you go to the trophy case, there are game balls to confirm it. That is crazy to me.

I might be wrong, but I think Vonore High School combined with Madisonville High School to form Sequoyah High School. Also in the late 70's, Lanier High School and Friendsville High School combined to form William Blount HIgh School in Blount County. Three years earlier, Porter High School, Walland High School, Townsend High School, and Everett High School formed Heritage High School in the mid 70's. I also think some of the Everett students eventually made their way to William Blount later.

I'm talking about the recent changes. We shall see how things go from here.

It sounds like Maryville has changed a little since I lived there 20 plus years ago. That is a shame. Earlier, you mentioned Mr. Driskell, Coach Wilson, and Coach Campbell. I don't think you can get any better than those three. I feel fortunate to have been at Maryville High School when those three were in leadership roles. Also, Don't forget Dr. Mike Dalton.

I asked my source where Gatlinburg played their games since they attended school at the Pi Beta Phi location. He told me there was a football field where the Gatlinburg Convention Center sits now on Airport Road. He said you would kick an extra point and it would go down into the main street on that end of the field. There was a hotel at the other end. I learned something new today! By the way, where can you access those yearbooks?

You are welcome. Yesterday, I was wondering where they played their games. I will ask someone who will know the answer to your question and get back with you. Here is the link for the history of the school: https://www.sevier.org/domain/1955

It was located on the campus of where Pi Beta Phi Elementary exists today (Next to Anakeesta in downtown Gatlinburg). You were indeed correct that their mascot name was Mountaineers and they were blue and white. Once the high school students moved to the current location (GPHS), the school became a K to 8th grade until 2020. It is now a K to 6th grade as the 7th/8th grade students moved to the newly created Gatlinburg Pittman Junior High School. By the way, the elementary school colors are still blue and white and they are the Mountaineers.

Before Gatlinburg Pittman High School came into existence, Pittman Center High School and Pi Beta Phi High School combined to create the existing school. I believe both were K-12 schools. You can go to Pi Beta Phi's website and read their history. It is quite interesting on how they were created. GPHS opened in the early 60's in it's current location. Hope this information helps.

I agree and should not have included them in the discussion. Maryville was the only one I really needed to mention.