Trojan Fan

Ashtyn Baker, coming off back to back state championships at DII-A Northpoint Christian, enjoys a regular season Big South championship and freshman of the year honor in 17-18. Hoping to add an NCAA berth with a win in the Big South tournament final today. From the Big South web site: Baker is the second-straight Liberty player to be voted Big South Freshman of the Year and the sixth overall. She leads all Big South freshmen in scoring (7.7), assists (3.1) and steals (1.4), and ranks fifth overall in assists, fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio, and eighth in steals. Baker was a five-time Big South Freshman of the Week honoree in 2017-18, and is Liberty’s leader in assists (94) and steals (41). She averaged 12.8 points during Liberty’s five-game winning streak to conclude the regular-season, and scored 12 of her season-high 20 points during in the fourth quarter of Liberty’s come-from-behind win over Denver on Dec. 19, which included back-to-back three-pointers that put Liberty ahead of good. Baker made 70.0 percent of her field goals in five games this season, including a perfect 7-of-7 against Winthrop on Feb. 20. She received seven first-place votes and 36 total points, ahead of Winthrop’s Anika Riley (one first-place vote and 26 points).

I think the point was non-Memphis area West TN. There are certainly some other Memphis-area D1 commits and signees. Just sayin.

Correct. The church they're attached to outgrew their Memphis location and built on a lot more land just across the state line. SBEC (former name) was a long time Memphis private. There is a private league in Mississippi and SBEC played in it for several years out of a sense of obligation. The biggest problem was the closest private of its size was roughly 45 miles away and there were schools in Jackson (3+ hour drive away) in their district. Jr High teams making 6-7 hour round trips mid-week. Awful situation. Truth be told SBEC is a Memphis school in a community that's a Memphis suburb that mostly identifies itself as part of Memphis and is the fastest growing county in Mississippi mostly due to its proximity to Memphis. They've been playing Memphis schools as long as they've existed. Their rivalries are all in Memphis though it was painful to see Bishop Byrne just up the road in Whitehaven close. Fantastic rivalry over the years. Speaking as a north Mississippi native and Memphis resident I have a perspective that shows me Northpoint simply fits in the TSSAA far more than the Mississippi league. On a related note, Tipton Rosemark and Fayette Academy both used to play in the Mississippi league. Not the only TN schools to do it at various times, either. It happens as has been noted. Not nearly without precedent. In fact Mississippi has both Arkansas and Louisiana schools in the league now. I don't know if any Tennessee schools are currently. All that being said, I'm just giving explanation as to why Northpoint wanted to be in the TSSAA and likely will always want to be. I get why somebody would question it. It seems odd and probably always will. It wouldn't shock me if somebody eventually tries to push them out if they win enough games. These days, with realignment, it won't be footballl that upsets anybody into challenging the policy.

Bishop Byrne closed a couple of years ago. Enrollment kept shrinking. Im really not sure how Memphis Catholic has stayed open with Byrne closing but they did. Catholic has struggled to field football teams the last few years and haven't several years. Most of the high school Byrne kids that wanted to stay private went to Catholic or Northpoint but I think those pipelines have played out as well so not really sure where the affordable private school demographic in Whitehaven is going now. It was a sad day. Great long term rivalry between Northpoint (SBEC) and Bishop Byrne. Even sadder because of the good work done at that school. Great mission. I hate it's gone.

Veteran area coach Johnny Miller took the job. DC @ CBHS last year. Rossville Christian coach and AD before that. Other Memphis area stints both public and private before that. Definitely not a stranger to the greater Memphis coaching scene.

SBEC actually left the TSSAA for a brief time and played in the MPSA (now the MAIS) and it just didn't work. I think they felt the pressure to play in Mississippi without really wanting to. This was around the time Burney Veazey was In school (old UTenn backup QB). With Magnolia Heights in Senatonia and Clarksdale Lee being the closest district opponents it got ridiculous traveling to Greenwood, Greenville, and Jackson for games. Especially jr high mid week. Coming back to the TSSAA and the Memphis and west TN opponents was such a blessing. They'll still play some Mississppi public and private schools in MS in various sports but the TSSAA is unequivocally home.

Scott Samsel from Olive Branch, MS? He is good. He recruited really well at a public school which is more or less what got him fired. He might be okay at SBA if they'll commit to football.

Agreed. It was that conglomeration of churches that came up with that way back when. I can only assume they couldn't agree on something "normal". I'm not head over heels about the new name but SBEC needed to go. Definitely an improvement. Fortunately I'm past having kids that age. No new gear to buy.

http://www.sbectrojans.com/?q=node/4620 Go Trojans.

As head coach?...so are they keeping Ken Netherland in some capacity?

Bishop Byrne did play on their home field. It did the job. Catholic has a field but they haven't fielded a team in a few years. They did play 3 games a couple of years ago as, I guess, an independent. No idea if they plan on playing football or not or if they'll get the leftover BB students. Definitely sad to see it go. It was a nice private alternative for kids in Whitehaven. Obviously a catholic school still a good financial, private option for non-catholics, too. Really disappointed to see SBEC lose that old rival especialy from the early DII days w/ 3 classes in football. The school and athletic programs will be missed. Hope that Catholic will thrive and pick up some of those kids. They've done some nice things especially with getting their HS kids into co-op type programs w/ Memphis area businesses parts of the week. Good businesses with exposure to professional jobs.

Good info. Thanks. Interesting that it's 6 and 4 team divisions. Why not 5 and 5? Comments from November re: west districts. Still don't know if Lausanne plays a varsity schedule in 2013 or not. http://www.coacht.com/boards/index.php/topic/227936-d2-a-new-districts/

West looks pretty straightforward to me: West 1-ECS, Bishop Byrne, FACS, SBEC, Harding, and add Lausanne in. These are the westernmost schools. West 2- USJ, Fayette, Rossville Christian, St. George's, Tipton-Rosemark Sorry to see JCS leave. West 2 likely drops to 5 with West 1 going the other way with Lausanne having full-fledged football. I hvae no idea in East/Middle because I never quite understood the divisions in the first place. Welcome back to King's Academy going full-fledged DII, BGA dropping into A, and Friendship Christian making the change to DII.

In West 1, ECS looks like the division winner receiving a 1st round bye. They've already taken out Harding, the other legit contender, and neither SBEC or Bishop Byrne look likely to beat them. Harding has beaten both SBEC and FACS convincingly and is a lock for the #2 slot and a 1st round playoff host spot. The last game of the year b/w SBEC and FACS will be for a travelling #3 playoff seed. Both have dropped off somewhat from last year but SBEC looks a bit better. Definitely a drop b/w 2 and 3 this year when last year it was pretty tight within the top 3 group. In West 2, the best two teams in the West in St. George's and USJ (both have beaten ECS in tight games) are on a collision course October 12th for the #1 seed, division championship and a 1st round bye. The loser hosts at home as a #2. As in West 1, the dropoff to the #3 slot is a pretty big win. Look for the last game of the year b/w a resurgent Fayette Academy and Jackson Christian to be for the #3 travelling slot. The West seems to be generally in line. ECS, SGIS, and USJ all seem to be pretty good. Harding is behind them...not far behind but still behind that group. No clue on the East. Except for Webb who looks excellent. I see that FRA gave SGIS a good game early in the year and beat Donelson Christian but they lost to a Davidson team that was handled at home by a somewhat down SBEC squad. Hard to figure without first hand accounts.

No radio for SBEC but the games are live-streamed. The Commercial Appeal has stories here and there. http://www.sbectrojansports.com/ Just click on the link in the upper left hand corner

Went up 51-6 over Rossville in the early part of the 3rd quarter before coasting home 58-22....bu t I honestly don't think they learned a lot. Rossville Christian isn't the same challenge they face once they move into West 1 play. Very, very young team particularly at the skill positions. Good speed and quickness but it's really green. The line will have to stay healthy on both sides to make the playoffs.

Don't know. I have no clue. I hope that with the shedding of light on his actions, it can make it easier to move away from those actions with support and the pushing of his friends. God forgives and wipes away the sin from our slate through our faith in Christ. He does not remove the consequences of our actions. There are consequences in this world and he'll be dealing with and living with them. If this is an ongoing problem I hope he can get past it. I'm quite sure that were he my friend, he'd be getting a hug, probably even some tears, some scripture, and me LIGHTING HIS BUTT UP and giving him some hellacious grief over it with plans to hold him accountable...if he'd have me in that role. ...and while it's easy for me to type it here, it would be much, much harder to actually do what I just typed than it sounds and it would be even harder for me to say I'd want him to do the same for me...and even harder than that to accept a brother giving me heck and holding me accountable when I need and deserve it. We are called to be in community and to hold each other accountable...one of the toughest things a sinner is asked to do for another sinner. Agonizingly hard. I've known coaches that cheated on their wives and the community knew all about it...but he won. As far as leading young men and coaching again, if the guy is a good coach and contrite and interviews well...he'll work again if he really wants to. I'm neither endorsing it or speaking out again the idea. Just saying he can coach again in HS if he really wants to.

I really doubt that. He'll get a job somewhere. The world is generally pretty forgiving about such things after a bit of time passes. He's not getting a job at a private, Christian school in this area anytime soon, though...or ever. Since a quick google search led me to this article, I don't feel too bad posting the link but I would say that prayers are most certainly in order for Mr. Pack and his family, assuming he's married and/or has kids. There but for the grace of God, go I, may not be in the bible in those exact words but the theme sure is. Be sad for him and upset with him...but make sure and pray for him and help him as you can. Sounds like just from a couple of posts here he has friends who will do just that. http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120210/NEWS03/120210016/FRA-football-coach-resigns-following-prostitution-arrest?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

Omar Williams- SGIS- Austin Peay

Josh Kimberlin-SBEC-Samford Chris Armfield-ECS-Wofford Went brain dead on the DII-A part which is really bad since I'm an A team fan.

SBEC had two really big wins that most of you would recognize. Back to back wins against ECS (24-21) in a game that not only did they win but truly played better than ECS, a team that is almost always more talented and just simply better, was a big boost to the season. Follow that with a 17-0 blanking of eventual state champ St. George's and it represents probably the best back to back wins in a good while for the Trojans. Probably not so obvious to everyone else were two other back to back wins against Davidson, a down but historically strong program and excellent rival in recent years, and at Pillow Academy in Greenwood, MS. Pillow was down but had won their state championship in MAIS lower division of AAA. SBEC went down there and just put it on them and coasted to a big win. Those games brought some real belief and set the tone for the season. Football seasons are such a journey. It was a great trip this year for the Trojans. No doubt, losing Kimberlin and Greer will hurt a lot. WR/K Austin Wilson, WR Joseph Sparkman, and lineman Brent Thornton will all be especially missed. I won't be surprised if they throw it more next year. Back up QB is back and all the other WRs that played are back and a couple caught some passes 2 years ago when they threw it a lot more. The RB cupboard is bare. A couple of vrey good linemen come back but there will be some new faces there as well. It could be a very challenging year in 2012.

Clearly, the St. George's team I saw get shut out against SBEC is NOT the same team that just steamrolled Ezell, got a solid win on the road at Donelson, and went nuts offensively and solidly beat a good Harding team. If the team I saw was playing the USJ I saw, the Gryphons would be getting tattooed today. I will also say the USJ team has been consistently outstanding on offense ALL YEAR and they've been better than you'd think on defense and very opportunistic...reminds me a bit of the Saints (NOLA, not Briarcrest) in that regard. I think they even took it up a notch against Webb and that's saying something b/c they've dynamically, ruthlessly, cold-blooded efficient on offense all year. The game, by all rights, should be closer than 31-7 based on where the teams are right now. I don't know what's going to happen. I'd say a USJ squad that can put up a clean sheet with no turnovers will be incredibly hard to beat and I'd give them a decent advantage...but I didn't see the Webb/USJ game result coming at all (particularly not the margin) so what the heck do I know!?! I wish I could be there. Good health, good competition, safe travel to all, and play to glorify your Lord boys.

Maybe it's an East thing. Even the smallest II-A schools in the Memphis are have visitor stands. Byrne, TRA, Rossville, SBEC. They aren't all nice, mInd you, and some are exceedingly small but seems like everybody has something. Im kind of scared climbing up the ones at TRA. Makes me no difference though. My back prefers that I walk around anyway.

#1 E/M 1-Knoxville Webb Spartans 8-2 (3-0)-bye Hosting #3 E/M 2-Zion Christian Academy Eagles 5-5 (1-2)@ 7 #2 West 1-Southern Baptist Educational Center Trojans 8-2 (3-1) 42 quarterfinals SBEC@ 0 Webb 49 #1 West 2-University School of Jackson Bruins 9-1 (5-0)-bye Hosting #3 West 1-Evangelical Christian School Eagles 7-3 (3-1)@ 29 #2 E/M 2-Franklin Road Academy Panthers 4-6 (2-1) 13 quarterfinals ECS@ 41 USJ 48 2OT semifinals USJ@ Webb ------------------------------------------------------ #1 West 1-Harding Academy Lions 8-2 (3-1)-bye Hosting #3 West 2-Jackson Christian School Eagles 5-5 (3-2)@ 14 #2 E/M 1-Davidson Academy Bears 3-7 (2-1) 28 quarterfinals Davidson@ 28 Harding 63 #1 E/M 2-Donelson Christian Academy Wildcats 8-2 (3-0)-bye Hosting #3 E/M 1-Ezell-Harding Christian School Eagles 4-6 (1-2)@ 0 #2 West 2-St. George’s Independent School Gryphons 7-3 (4-1) 52 quarterfinals St. George's@ 27 DCA 22 semifinals St. George's@ Harding

http://www.coacht.com/tennessee/article.cfm?id=310396 Cool. Live streaming of both the Webb/SBEC and ECS/USJ games. With the time zone difference I'll get to watch a good chunk of both games and double up in the middle hour or so.