ladyredfan

I was very impressed with East and their effort - what a contrast from the past couple of years! If East could make an entry pass to the high post - Orrick would be unstoppable in the low post. Even when East went down double digits a couple of times - they didn't quit. Orrick is still on my top player list in IMAC. She forces teams to adjust to her and thus leaves holes in the defense. Could be a difficult tournament team to play. As impressed as I was with the East varsity, I was more impressed with JV. I was a bit surprised that more of them didn't see more V minutes. Once this crop of seniors graduates from the IMAC - East could be the next powerhouse. Really good to see Jalasse assert herself in the last couple of ballgames. Morgan made several good leadership decisions. We made freethrows! Shannon is just consistently good. We have played 2 "more complete" games since the Seymour game and had a much better effort. Good win against East.

Musings and thoughts on last night and on the "end of the IMAC as we know." Game 1. For 5 years I have watched Nicole Dickson with a bit of awe. She left the IMAC as she came in, dominating. She simply carried G'ville in the 3rd quarter and into the 4th when the game was in doubt. Even against us, she has been a joy to watch. I would be curious to know where she stands in the list of all-time scorers in the IMAC, I would think that she has to be in the top few. I would assume that she is in the 1600-1800 points category. I am sorry that she is going across the state to play as it will be difficult to watch what she does at Memphis. I would also add that I was wrong about this game - I thought G'ville would be more intense especially on defense and they weren't. Outside of Nicole I saw very little energy or intensity from G'ville which is their trademark. They will have to handle the athleticism of SH, but with better defense than they had last night. Jeff you played very well at home this week. Your game appears very dependent on making 3's. Against us 3 weeks ago, you could not put it in the ocean, but you did during the tournament. You caught a bit of break, if you can make some 3's you can win at SC. We won at SC, you can too. Game 2. What on offensive performance by Mo West! In our last game against West, we did not take anything away from them - nothing. Last night we had a solid defensive plan. Double down on Taylor; don't let Smith have 3's and keep Fanning and Goins in front of you. We did that, except Watson went ballistic and Goins instead of shooting 3's went mid-range and made them. And Fanning said, you don't want to guard me, fine and she drained her shots. However, what impressed me most about Mo West, was their ball control offense. They have 3 people - Hall, Goins and Fanning (and maybe Smith) who can beat you off the dribble. They get a lead, make you come guard them and drive around you. If some one comes to guard you, just pull it out and do it again - eventually you will score. This game was over at 37-22 at 6:30 to go in 3rd quarter. They played ball control after that and we just aren't quick enough to challenge them after they get a lead. In our last game against West, Gaylon called 3 time-outs in the last 3-4 minutes, after that game was over, and was really going after his team about his ball control game - last night it paid off. Incredible team performance from all 7 players. We are not a bad team and you made us look silly. The only "chink" could be once an offense gets beyond the perimeter defense, I think that you are a bit vulnerable on the inside - maybe not to scoring but to fouls - see Jalaese, who should have been on the floor much more last night and Allie S. from last night. When we did that in the first half, Jalaese scored and Goins and Hall both had 2 fouls. We just refused to do that more. Mo West fans and students, not just parents only, you need to get behind this team. Do not take them for granted - they are something special! I have searched for a word or phrase to describe the Lady Red over the past month. The confidence of beating Webb, Science Hill, DB, Sullivan Central, Heritage, Pigeon Forge, Shelbyville and G'ville is all gone. We have been beaten soundly in 3 of the past 5 games. Against a good defense our offense has struggled all year. We simply refuse to run our offense and then when we do create mis-matches or one-on-one situations, we become very passive. Teams get better as the season goes on and with our lack of discipline we can't match them. The only phrase I can come up with is we have lost the "courage to compete." We still play hard, but we don't make the hustle plays we did. We still want to win, but give up if somebody makes a couple of baskets. And we are quick to blame officials, Wade, parents, . . . anything. We just want the easiest way out - like not having to play G'ville to get to the finals. I am so disappointed for (not in, but for) them (especially the seniors who were pretty distraught last night), b/c they believe still they are better than what they have shown the past 3 weeks and especially last night. Wade is close to losing the attention and focus of this team. The only advantage we have is that we are playing at home against Tenn where we only lost to Mo West. I would disagree with some of the awards last night. Why did East get 2 All-Conference players - I'm sure there was a tie somewhere? A case can be made for either but not both. If we are going to award a number based on end of the year team positions, then Cherokee and Jeff got cheated. I am not sure who got left off the all-tournament team from Mo West, but I could make the case for all 7 or at least the starters. Goins would have been my tournament MVP. I believe that 9 of the 11 All-Conference are underclass(wo)men. I am a bit sad to see the IMAC go. I think picking up Sevier will be good for CCHS - Sevier, Jeff, Mo West and G'ville should be our natural rivals. I am sorry to see G'ville go, especially to 2A. While it may be a good move in football, I doubt that it is in other sports. I would not be surprised if G'ville does not lose a boys coach over this and the fiasco last week (and some may like that). Being a Newport native, Billy D has always been good to Newport kids including mine. Since I suspect we will all move to a region board now and as my girl graduates, and the end of this board is near, I want to thank those of you who actually read my long rants and responded in kind. This is the only board of any kind that I respond to and it has been cathartic for me and allowed me to enjoy my daughter's playing days a bit more. It has been a good ride. Thank you.

2 interesting match-ups tonight. Game 1 - I believe you will see a very focused, angry and determined G'ville team. If Jeff can hold Nicole in check for the 1st half, it could be a close game. And the longer it goes, Jeff will have a better chance and a better chance for G'ville to implode. But I don't think that it will happen. It will be to hard to make that many 3's again for Jeff to win. Furthermore, I simply don't buy losing tonight gives you a better match up in the regional. I look for a solid G'ville win tonight and at Sullivan Central Friday. I look for Jeff to play hard at Science Hill, but it will be tough to win there. Science Hill is very athletic. I expect G'ville to be a very tough out at the Regional. Game 2 - In Dec, after we lost to Mo West, Wade said that no one will remember this game come tournament time. After we lost in Jan, Johnny shot back and said, we will play each game and not look down the road. Well, it is time. In the 4 losses since Christmas for the Lady Red, we have given up 26-32 points to the star of the team (and 2 of those 4 are Miss Basketball finalists and one of the others is Nicole). Simply cannot happen tonight. We can't let Taylor or Sidney have big games. I believe that we will have to hold them under 60 to have a chance, b/c I don't think we can get to 60. We must do the things that at times we struggle with: 1) rebounding - we can't get out muscled or in tonight's case, "out-quicked" to the ball and we can't let Taylor have defensive rebounds where she turns down court and becomes the point guard; 2) we have to finish - the quick hands of Mo West have deflected and intimidated us around the basket that we have missed so much in close in the 2 previous games; also we have to make some 3's to off set their strong 3 point shooting and we have to make free throws; and 3) while I believe all 9 in the rotation have to contribute for us to win and I believe strongly Shannon and Morgan will have to play big for us to have a chance. Both teams need to play with focus - b/c Tenn High awaits the loser - a very good basketball team will go home Friday night. As always, I hope for a 2-4 point game with 4 minutes to go. If so, I like our chances. I will go out on a limb (at least in CCHS's case) and claim a win for both on Friday. Let's have no injuries and hope for consistent officiating.

Jeff did make it a game last night. Congrats to them. And the Jeff boys beat us tonight. Our boys scored 90 on Jeff 3 weeks ago and 50 tonight. CCHS missed maybe 20 free throws tonight. Can't blame that on anybody but us. Now after all the ruckus and emotion of this week back to the girls games. From where I sit, I would say this to Mo West, CCHS, Science Hill and Sullivan South - don't lose Monday b/c seeds will hold in the consolation brackets, and there are 2 very good, and I suspect, very angry and embarrassed teams waiting - in Tenn and G'ville.

To join the fray . . . I will personally support, stand by and encourage any administration that establishes and enforces any rules, boundaries and common decency. Harsh - without a doubt. I will add, I know only part of the story, that is, if what I read here is true. I suspect that the whole school got the message, though didn't basically the same thing happen to the G'ville QB?!?! If so, then maybe it is not as harsh - but I am from the outside and know very little. That kind discipline is greatly needed at CCHS. I am sorry for Nicole and any other senior (and Coach Duncan and the Sr. boys) b/c they will pay the biggest price - no way to play for a district championship. I will say, since last summer when I watched Mo West scrimmage and definitely since they beat us the first time, I sensed that our season would really be decided in one big game - tonight's game against G'ville. Our girls, while not playing well of late, were anticipating this game. I'm sorry it won't happen, it would have been a great game in a great atmosphere - not sure about how high the level of basketball it would have been - but it would have been a great game. I hope that the GHS administration will go one step further and make a major financial contribution from their athletic fund to the IMAC. The loss of the CCHS/GHS game is a financial blow to the conference b/c those two teams travel the best. G'ville seasons is far from over, especially with DB out of the picture. On the road at SC or SE or home to TN or SH? As someone earlier posted, maybe a 3 seed is better than 2 - BUT you still have to play the games. Which lead me to . . . . An open letter to Jeff Co. Tonight you have an opportunity that very few in our state will have and very very few have in their entire high school career. You have the opportunity to play in a game that matters in the tournament against the #1 rated team in the state on your home court. Two years ago, G'ville, rated by AP as No 1, came to the Hen House for a semifinal district game against the Lady Red. We were a bunch of freshmen and sophomores. The house was rockin and we had the lead in the 4th q, then G'ville showed why they were No. 1 and drained some big shots. We lost by 1 with a shot at the end and didn't get that call at the end. Amazingly, after that loss, we were actually rated No 10 the next week. That game in the evolution of this team is a big marker - we realized that we could be very good - we have won 42 games since that night. Jeff - tonight is your night. Mo. West is heavily favored in our district, will battle TN High for a region title and battle Oak Ridge for the best in East Tennessee. But tonight, on your court is your night. Go watch your movie of choice Miracle on Ice, Remember the Titans. If back to back 3's will fall in the last 20 seconds, then why not tonight!

In hindsight, I was really thinking more about a big crowd/gate than quality of opponent in losing G'ville. G'ville is a big game/gate for us. I don't think Seymour or South Doyle will make up that gate in basketball just b/c of distance. Seymour is already been on our schedule in football. Sevier Co, though could be another story and another natural rivalry. Still hate losing the G'ville game. The Lady Red had another very un-inspiring performance last night. If Jeff simply makes lay-ups and free throws, this is a very different game. Very nice honor for Shannon recognizing her 1000 points. There are lots of seniors graduating who are very active at school. After talking with PTS, I agree, there is an up-side to the G'ville-CCHS coin toss this weekend either way. If we win, we will not play from Friday until Friday and have a bye into the regional. If we lose, we still stay in our regular routine of games during the week and not be off for a whole week and West made a great run last year from the bottom spot - though the down side is you have to win. So we will see. I'm out of town the rest of the week, so even though we have 1 more conference game tonight, I thought I would give my end of the year district awards. My opinion only. Based on only what I saw and not averages. I saw all 6 teams play at least once and West and G'ville at least 4 times. I will give each team a member though I think two out of Fanney, Ramsey, Story, Suggs, Sprouse or maybe even Shelby May lose out b/c of that decision. I will give Mo West as champs 3, CCHS and G'ville 2 and the rest 1 for a total of 10. My choices would be: West: Hall, Goins, Smith - though I really like Fanney and May CCHS - Depew and Buda. I thought mid-way through the year, I would not know who else to add to Depew b/c no one else stood out and team level was pretty high. Last 3 weeks, Morgan has played her best and actually, is the only one holding our team together right now. GHS - Dickson and for much the same reasons as CCHS I am not sure who else b/c the team concept is good. I think b/c of her scoring against us in the second game, I will take Christopher, though they struggle w/o Ramsey on the floor and Story's presence and rebounding was a big difference in the two games we played against them. Jeff - Kyle over Nelson Cherokee - Ryans, who I really like East - Leeper over Orick, though Leeper had very few points against us. That is a pretty good all-star team. Coach: Gaylon. For 2 reasons. I am one who believes you still have to coach regardless of how high the level of talent is, b/c the game is more than X and O's. Second, when Mo West had the game won against us in January with 2-3 minutes still to play. He called 2 time-outs on successive plays angrily fussing at his team for not controlling the game the way he wanted. It appeared to me that he was trying to get his team to play better and that was as important as winning a big game in January. Wade and Crumbley have both done a very good job. MVP. This is actually hard for me. Shannon has become a very consistent well rounded ball-player. Her mid-range jump shot is the best in our league. Her rebounding and ball-handling are very strong. She has a good basketball mind. Defense is solid. Does not have lateral quickness but is a very consistent player. Sidney Goins is very fast and very quick to the goal. Great to see her recovery from last year's injury. Always running in our games. Not a consistent outside shooter. Solid defense and good rebounder. Shannon and Goins will tie for 3rd in my mind. 2nd goes to Nicole Dickson. A very good shooter from any spot on the court. Quick release. She has especially hurt us with last second shots at the end of the quarter or half for 4 years. When she wants to, she can get every rebound. Only downside, she tends to take plays off. She has represented G'ville and the IMAC very well for 4 years. I don't know what G'ville does to recognize big time players, but she is one and they should. This is a close call in my mind - but - to the winners go the spoils. So, my MVP is Taylor Hall. Inside - outside. Rebounds. Defense. Undefeated in our league. I don't have the experience that many of you have in watching players for years, but for me, she is as complete a high school player as I have seen.

I failed to mention one another thing yesterday. As of last Friday, CCHS and GHS could have played their last games against each other on a regular basis. Going to an expanded schedule next year means 14 conference games for CCHS, plus I assume we will keep our games with GP, Pigeon Forge and Grainger which adds up to 20, plus a couple of tournaments gets us to 24 games. And we need a couple of Knoxville games, like Bearden or Heritage, like we have had each of the past 4-5 years. So I am not sure that we will have G'ville on the schedule. Since some of our athletic people read these posts, let me encourage the G'ville series to continue, even if we have to drop GP or Pigeon Forge. Both G'ville boys and girls are measuring sticks of how own team stands, that is why wins against them are such a big deal. Most of us have teams that fluctuant from year to year, G'ville has programs of consistency each year (yes, even after they lose Nicole). We need to play them. We need to play them, on a Friday night at home, if for no other reason, than a big gate on both ends, as we both travel well and a crowd will come to watch G'ville play. G'ville may not need our gate as much as we need them. We need 4-5 big gate games during the basketball year to pay our athletic bills b/c recent football at CCHS cannot pay the bills alone. I don't know about G'ville's restructured schedule if they could play us or not because, again I assume, that G'ville will want to keep the Mo West game first. I hope that we get to continue to play each other.

Congrats to G'ville for Friday's game against CCHS. If you were not there, do not be deceived by an 8 point game. We were soundly and throughly beaten. If not, for some unexpected good outside shooting from the Lady Red, this would have been a 20 point loss. While I don't have a stat sheet in front of me, these are the numbers I heard. 3 assists, no baskets made and only a few attempted inside 6-7 feet and out rebounded 36-15. We were out muscled, out hustled and out played. We played with little desire. Very, very disappointing game. I posted 3 things had to happen to win: rebound and not give up second chance points - maybe half of Nicole's points were second chance points - she alone equaled our rebound total. We had to hold Nicole under 25 - she had 29. We had to make shots. On the outside we did, but didn't make anything underneath. My confidence is a bit shaken, b/c this team has played hard from game 1, but did not at all Friday. We played with the mood that we have been in. Didn't play well at Cherokee, starters until the end of the game. Didn't play well against G'ville. Hopefully, the attention will get off the "I" and back on Wade and "the team." If ever there was some Nikki Anoiskie Senior Leadership needed, now is the time. Don't quite agree that we are down to a one game season, yet. Remember, these seniors girls were a 1 win team as Freshmen and won the play-in game against a very good Jeff Co team - the Kyle girl's (at Carson Newman)senior season. So anything can happen. But I do totally agree, if we are facing the rubber game against G'ville, it will be a season making/breaking game - b/c we have gone on the road for the Regional 1st game the last two years and played well and lost. And it appears that the top end of District 1 is getting stronger. I also want to say that in watching G'ville play the past 4-5 years and having seen them 4-5 times this year, I have always thought that they played hard w/o alot of emotion - almost like robots, like they expected to win and everyone to roll over. That was not the case on Friday night. They displayed lots of emotions, high fives and laughter - very much like a team. Very supportive of each other. I really like that very much. On the other hand, maybe they were too emotional and thus the lost the next night - I don't know. To briefly shift gears, on Monday night, the Lady Red will say thank you and good bye to 3 seniors - Alex Suggs, Courtney Lewis and Kelsey Lloyd. In the 4th grade, these 3 helped win a rec league championship; in the 5th grade, with the help of Megan Cleavenger (South Greene and now Mars Hill), I don't think they lost on the 5-6 grade team at Newport Grammar; in the 6th grade, Shannon and Morgan joined forces with these 3 to have another great season on the 5th-6th grade team. In the 7th grade on the 7th-8th grade team, they lost 3 games in the County Elementary league - all 3 to M. Cleavenger's Bridgeport team. The next year at NGS, with Shannon and Morgan, they had a 21-0 season and won the County championship game by 45 points and the best games that year were the two scrimmages with Nicole and GMS. We were so strong that year, the county kicked out Newport Grammar which allowed Shannon and Morgan and Nicole Ball and Jayla Lane's 8th grade team to win the Small Middle School District and Sub-Regional championships. Alex and Courtney made the Varsity team as freshmen at the beginning of the year, and Kelsey would join them by Christmas - all became starters during the year. They won 2 games that year and have been mainstays on the Lady Red since winning 18 games each of the past two years. This week Valedictorians were announced and this year there are 3 at CCHS - Alex and Kelsey are two of them and I think Courtney will be in the Top Ten. Courtney has some desires about continuing to play basketball and Kelsey, providing her complete recovery from ACL surgery, has settled in on playing soccer which will be announced soon. I have 2 sons on either side of Kelsey who have played sports on all levels through college. There has been a joy to be with my boys and their endeavors. But there is something very special that daddies get to share with their girls on the athletic fields. From tears of joy over winning and celebrating to tears of sadness over losing and injury; from the hours of kicking soccer balls, traveling all over East TN or just rebounding free throws; from the endless lessons of strategy and sportsmanship, to just enjoying being with your daughter on a ball field and being grateful that through sports in a difficult age and transition in her life, she allows me to be part of her life. Just the hours spent in a car driving back from a game and conversing about the game and life, is just special times. Playing ball was fun, being a parent of one who plays ball, is so much more. It has never been about wins and losses, just play hard, do your best and have fun. We may or may not make that ultimate goal of getting to M'boro, but what an incredible ride it has been for me. Thanks, sissy, for letting those bonds run deeper and for letting me in your life at such a wonderful time in your life. What a joy! A toast to Ricky Suggs and Gary Lewis who have shared these years together with me and our three girls. We three will be the emotional ones on the court tomorrow night. However, the season is not over and it is time for our girls to show some leadership - all three of them. Sorry for the very long post.

Difficult game for the Lady Red tonight on the road. All schools will have to deal with the weather and being out of a routine - we are still out of school today. Haven't really been challenged since West 3 weeks ago. What could make this interesting is that there is a good chance that CCHS and GHS will play again in a couple of weeks after the play in game, though with tournaments you never know. Morgan has played her best ball this season in the past couple of weeks. If she makes shots and doesn't throw the ball in the stands, we are a much better team. To be competitive tonight, we must rebound well and not give up second chance points, we can't let Nicole have 25+ points, and we have to make shots. The Lady Red continue to reach goals - getting 20 wins, and winning at both East and Cherokee - something that no one on this team has done. I heard that 24 wins is the most wins in school history, but don't know if that is accurate - if so, then that would be 4 more wins with 5 guaranteed games to go, though at G'ville and at Heritage are on the schedule. Don't know if a loss might not help though - get their attention back on Wade b/c we just seem at times to be going through the motions with some petty bickering going on. Just don't know b/c I don't think losses in Feb. are good unless you can learn fast from them. Even though I have been around girls bb for a while, I have a whole new respect for coaches after this year as we are playing at such a higher level than we have played before. X's and O's are only part of the game. The mental and emotional side of the game - from boys to playing time, to just getting along and to just being nervous as well as parents - is just so demanding for a coach. A good coach is so much more than just someone who knows basketball. And it does have an impact on the court. Then, again, maybe its just the end of the season and the pressure of the tournament is starting to build. Who knows? I do know that we need to play competitive basketball tonight and, win or lose, I expect that we will. Sorry for rambling Look forward to a good game tonight.

Should be a great fun night in the "henhouse" regardless whether or not we win. It terms of "moments" of getting to play in a great environment, it does not happen very often. Should be fun. To win, the Lady Red will have to stop Mo West's transition game. Somehow South Greene has - getting games in 40's and 50's. Can't let Goins get behind our defensive for any reason. Can't let the their press cause turnovers and force us into making mistake prone passes. Can't let Hall rebound and drive the length of the court to the bucket or dish to Smith or Watson for 3. Can't leave Smith or Watson open for the 3. Can't let Fanney or Goins drive around us. Can't let Hall take over the game. That is all an impossible order. We must pick our poison but we must take away something. We must also score. My wife always thinks that is a dumb statement - we have to score. But my thinking is that Mo West has so many offensive options that we are going to have to match their scoring to some degree. I think a magic number is 55-60. The more we can keep them under 60 the better chance we have, the more over 60 they get, the less chance we have. We will have looks, good looks tonight. We have put it in. Also, we are not a good 3 point shooting team. We need a couple tonight to match their 3-5 per game. Shannon must be consistent, Morgan must score and have less than 5 turnovers, and we need a major 3rd scorer tonight - Courtney, Alex, Jaleese or Alley. I have a couple of hopes and a couple of fears. My hopes: 1) Shannon can match Hall. She could pass the 1000 career point total tonight; and 2) they can't match our posts in Jaleese and Alley - Jaleese b/c of her very quick first step and Alley b/c of her size. My fears: 1) fouls, especially Shannon, not necessarily for points, but for all the things she does; and 2) getting behind big early and then forcing everything in trying to come back. A tendency for this team is to get down early and come back. Against upper level teams, we can't come back, i.e - Mo West and Wilson Central. And actually a third fear, it seems that Mo West's defense has improved - holding teams into the 30's since we last played them. Could be a problem, as we are a good, maybe a very good offensive team, but not a great one. I hope that with 4 minutes to go, it is a 3-4 point game and Shannon and Taylor are not in foul trouble and the refs are calling a consistent game. If so, we will be treated to some great girls basketball. Hope Goins can play and everyone stays healthy. To all "fans" - on both sides - behave and enjoy the moments.

Sorry, I probably should let this one go, but can't. There was another girl in street clothes Friday night, who has not played all season, and told the Lady Red girls in the locker room before the G'ville game, if she could, she would be happy to trade places with any of them. Being a senior and a two year starter, she desperately wanted to be on the floor for that game. She would have struggled with the quickness of a Mo West, but in the defensive struggle with G'ville she would have be in the thick of it. Kelsey's recovery is progressing, she is about a month from beginning to run.

FINALLY! In what is believed on CCHS's side, for the first time in at least 15 years, yes, I said, 15 years, the Lady Red defeated G'ville. AND, it is rumored to go back to the early 70's, since both boys and girls won on the same night. At least those were the rumors floating last night. In a very physical defensive game, we matched G'ville in defensive intensity, we did not fall behind early, we made stops at the end, made free throws at the end and threw off a huge monkey off our backs. Outside of twice not covering the off-side giving them two easy baskets, we contested shots and we rebounded enough. Jalese Pruitt, who last year could not stay on the court for her lack of rebounding and defensive play, was simply a warrior last night, even in foul trouble. Her rebounding and her defensive play was stellar. She would get my game ball. For all the "girl-haters" who don't believe that girls basketball is real, please see if you can try to get a rebound last night. It was a battle. I saw lots of ice bags after the game. Offensively it was still a struggle for us, mainly, because G'ville is so strong and they play such great team defense. And because we are a good, but not great offensive team. The atmosphere with a huge crowd was the best I have been in, in a non-tournament game. I thought Nicole, as always, had strong game as did Paige. I also thought G'ville struggled a bit last night w/o Nicole on the floor, especially at the end. I thought Coach C. was gracious at the end and she has a real beef in not getting the TO quicker, though I don't think it was 30 seconds, but it was very loud at the end. We also have a beef in Shannon not getting Nicole on a charge. In the grand scheme of things, this win does only two things. First, it accomplishes a goal - the very first goal that Wade set on media day - to beat G'ville b/c these girls had never done it. Second, as I said yesterday, it is all about confidence. It is just a game on the schedule, but it says we can win. Yes, I think it will be very difficult to win in G'ville, but if we should meet again in the tournament, we know as does G'ville we can win - the intimidation factor is gone. Granted, doing it will be another thing. I simply cannot overemphasis among these girls how big that elephant was. Last night was a clean sweep - freshman boys, both JV's and both varsities. By the way, the boy who made the buzz beater in the JV game, was told last year after two major knee injuries he would not be able to play basketball again. Lots of things went our way last night. Now a week to get ready for Mo West. As we matched defensive intensity last night, next week we will have to match their offensively intensity. We will have to be able to score. It will be "Breast Cancer Awareness Night" and our girls will be wearing pink uniforms. It will be homecoming and the band is coming. It will be packed, maybe standing room only, so come early. It is a totally different mindset against Mo West. MO West is quicker and has better offensive skills at each position, and while, very very good - maybe the best in the state, they won't scare us. And, if we get a little love from the AP, maybe a battle between 2 top 10 teams in the state. What a schedule for Mo West - on Thursday at South Greene and on Friday in our house!

I was not at Tuesday's game. But I can say that Wade worked them hard over the weekend after playing in G'ville's tournament last week knowing that the district season/seeding for us is the line the with the next two games at home against G'ville and Mo West. The general thought is that we didn't play well and looked tired - I think Jeff had something to do with that, though. Tonight's game is b/w 2 very good teams. For 5 years I have watched these same girls battle since their days at GMS and NGS. We have yet to get over the hill. I again look for Shannon to off-set Nicole - two ballplayers who are just fun to watch. Morgan has to outplay the guards though that will be tough - she will have to create some defensive pressure with some steals and make their defense respect her offensively. Those will be our strengths that will have to over come our match-up problems with them on the inside. We will be taller, but G'ville will be stronger. We have to be able to score inside. If we can't, it will not be close. Our bench must contribute b/c their bench will. We just can't let Nicole have a 25 point night - like she has so often against us. We can't let G'ville make end of the quarter/half shots like they have so often against us. And we have to relax enough to score. We can't let their defense dictate the game. I look for Shannon and Morgan to score. I look for us to play very hard defensively. Courtney Lewis and Jalese Pruitt are keys for us tonight - they have to score. Alley simply can't get out muscled. I believe certain foul trouble will be more difficult for us than them to overcome. Over the last three years, I have said here that beating G'ville is not about talent, it is about convincing yourself that you belong. Over these past 3 years, especially this year, we have proven that we belong in everyplace except one - against G'ville. Outside of the district tournament game at our place, when our girls were sophomores and freshmen, these games have not been close at the end. If we want to have the confidence that we can win in the tournament at the end, we have two shots against them in the season to win. If not, we will win maybe 25 games this year and go on the road for the 1st round of the regionals to DB or Tenn and have lots of trouble. Without a doubt, a very big game for the Lady Red at "Black Out Night" tonight in the Hen House. Should be lots of fun.

Did I just read that Sullivan East, a sub-500 team, beat MW at MW, the #4 team in the State? Someone please explain.

Interesting game for CCHS tomorrow at Jeff. Between an important program win over Shellbyville and with G'ville and MW the next two games at home, which could define the season, the Jeff game could be easily overlooked. Jeff apparently had a nice win over William Blount in their last game. I expect a close game, and a game that if we expect to compete with MW and G'ville, then a game we have to win. What I am most interested in seeing is, if we can build on the confidence of winning against a big name basketball program? The Greenville Tournament gave CCHS several things: it exposed more clearly some weaknesses - interior defense and rebounding and some decision making and playing the 1st quarter. But, it also gave us some confidence of playing, playing well and winning in a big time basketball environment. While we are a very experienced basketball team, we are novices as a team at playing at that level, (yes, some individuals have played at a very high level, this team has not). I look for confidence to have an impact on our play. One other thing I learned last week - even without Nicole, G'ville is good, with her they are better. Not big, but typical strong defense and many more options, especially off the bench, on offensive. But good is all relative. I look for some high level of basketball over the next couple of weeks in the IMAC.

A couple of thoughts on last night's Mo West and CCHS game. Mo West is just relentless, with their size, speed and Hall crashing the boards they just keep coming and coming. On a hot shooting night and against a team that wants to run with them, they could crack 100. I don't believe we are overrated. We already have three double digits wins (two away games and one neutral court) against District 1 (that would be 3 of the top 4 in the preseason coaches poll) and a win over Webb in a straight up scrimmage. As with G'ville in years past and now with Mo West, when we play against a team better than us, we become very tentative and revert back to our undisciplined days. We scored very little on breaks or out of our offense last night with the exception of Allie in the 3rd quarter. When they adjusted and put Hall on her, we did not readjust. As with G'ville in the past, we play physically hard and try to keep it close - like last night a 3 point game with under a minute to go in the 3rd - but we just can't get over the top. I just believe this is mental challenge that we have yet to overcome against G'ville, districts tournament games and now Mo West. I believe 4 points total last night from Courtney, Alex and Jalese off about about a 25 point combined average. While very athletic, this is not G'ville's shut you down 30 point a night defense - we had many 3-6 ft open looks. And we actually out rebounded them. So I have a bit of hope. But Mo West is very very good. While I am not the most seasoned girls basketball guru, I have watched a lot of AAA girls bball in the past 3+ years, and this is by far the best offensive team I have seen - at least 3 great scorers on the floor with a very good point guard. A brief scouting report would be - make Fanny go left, rarely had the ball in her left hand even when penetrating; only send 4 offensive players to the board - someone has to account for Goins as she had 4 or 5 break away baskets where Hall rebounds takes a dribble and throws the ball to the basket to let Goins outrun everybody to the goal; easier said than done but allow Hall only one shot per possession, box her out, as she had 4-5 baskets on 2nd and 3rd shots. And then score in your offense as I don't believe you can out "defense" them. And when you go to Mo West, don't run with them as we tried to do, play a possession game. That's my 2 cents. A point of reference - a reasonably officiated game though Wade could have had a T for standing in the middle of the floor questioning a call. Also, lots of scouts in the house. I saw Walter State and LMU and was told Vandy was there, though I didn't see them. I know this is a not a boys post, but I have a rules question about the boys game. In the boys JV game, the officials lost control of the game in the 4th quarter, and one official got in the face of the Mo West head varsity coach and from what I could tell was verbally abusive to the coach - I was on the other side of the court and have no idea what was said before and after the T. From the way it looked, the official lost it and T'd and then tossed the coach, who then bucked up and wouldn't leave until others coaxed him to leave. Here is my question - if tossed don't you have to miss a game? Do JV games not count, or does he have to miss a JV game? My question comes when I saw him coach the boys Varsity game and wondered why he was allowed to coach? Does it matter or not since it was a JV game not matter, and if it does then when? This is not b/c I am from CCHS and he is from Mo West, I am just curious about the rule and JV games.

Lady Red built a 20 point lead by the time the starters will pulled with about 1 minute to go. But CCHS was behind 27-26 with about 4 minutes to go in the 3rd. Then Shannon took over and put the game away. PTS will have the stats but we shot something close to 20-25% in the 1st half and most were within 6-8 feet. I would think that our turnover number was very high. It seemed we like we were playing too fast - just a bit out of control. We gave up many shots out of their offense - many close range that just did not go it. Our defense was not strong, though it was a very physical game. We had 2 new officials that I had not seen before. There was not lots of energy on the court as there was in our first game. We might have been looking past Pigeon Forge to Science Hill this afternoon the first of 3 with SH and DB on Saturday. I suspect if we play with the same energy as last night against SH and then DB, it will be a struggle for us, though I look for us to play very hard against both of them. By week's end I think we will have a better picture of where we stand early in the year.

I'm sitting in my office waiting to go watch CCHS and MO West on Sr. Night. I just hope no one gets hurt. We have some really good and hard working guys, especially the Seniors, but we are just not very good. We have had some long years, but I'm not sure that anything has been this long. CCHS has just not figured out a football program yet - though we do have a good guy trying. My two cents worth for girls basketball. Based on what I saw this summer, simply, MO West is scary good! In fact, they reset the score in 2 of the games I saw - b/c the scores were so lopsided. Hall is the real deal. Big, strong, fast - both inside and outside. I am sure, that someone will figure out as the season progresses how to slow them down, but if they stay injury free and if they realize there is only 1 basketball, this will be a very good team with 3 legitimate scorers, lots of speed and a very solid coach. I will take G'ville at the top b/c nobody has defeated them for the titles in a bunch of years. They are still the champs, but Mo West will be close. We do have a new coach. We will be more fast paced, more aggressive/gambling on defense, more disciplined on offense, and, I think, not so predictable. The girls are very excited. Looked very strong this summer. The one area they still have to over come, is a losing mentality that is built in at CCHS. While I expect them to be good, even very good, clearing that hurdle still remains to be seen. Coach Wester is a promoter. Expect a big student section at IMAC games. He wants a home court advantage. He wants to build a program. He has had multiple activities for the girls through the summer and fall. He has remolded the girl's locker room and it is very nice. He has never coached girls before nor varsity basketball. He is finding that girls are not easy to coach. He played at Tennessee Tech. We continue to upgrade our schedule. We have added h/h with Heritage and Science Hill to go with Pigeon Forge, GP and Grainger. We are in the Chop House and Greeneville Christmas tournament. Courtney Lewis who missed the last half of the season is back and will add another consistent scorer to Shannon Depew. If this team will learn to play better defense, they could be very good - but good is relative to what we play. On a side and a sad note, Kelsey Lloyd, one of the seniors, my daughter, a three year varsity member and about a half-time starter - not much offense but a scrapper - tore her ACL on Sr Night for the girls soccer team. She will have surgery in about 2 weeks at UT and hopes to be back with her soccer club team by the state championships in May. Injuries are painful, but mostly, they are just sad. She has a desire to play soccer at a small school and everyone - from surgeons to colleges - are most hopeful. I expect a fun and exciting season.

Some thoughts and observations from last night's games. First, it seems that an award was overlooked last night. Since paid adults were recognizes as Coaches of the Year, then why not recognize the All-IMAC Official of the Year. Use whatever criteria you would like - my pick would be the young black headed man who called the second game last night. Second, which would be a better all-star team: the tournament team or the season team? I think the tournament team would be a quicker team, so I would take them. Third, in my pre-season thinking, West was not on my radar screen. From last year through last summer even into this year, I just didn't think that they could compete. My apologies. To watch them last night to see how far they have come was incredible. My hats off to West and their coach. When Goins returns, watch out. Fourth, I know no-one would want to change the personalities of their teams, but what if you could change a player or two. What if Ryans moved into the post for West? Or if Fanney or May moved into the backcourt for G'ville? Fifth, defense wins championships. 62 points in 2 games. It is still G'ville and the rest of us and the difference is defense and coaches coach defense. Sixth, congrats to 2 seniors - McIntyre and Collins who were very good offensively last night. G'ville is not Dickson and everybody else. Also, congrats to the G'ville crowd - you were actually excited last night. And I might add, so was the team. When Dickson scored early in the 4th quarter, she must a jumped a mile in the air - I have never seen her excited on the court. Seventh, the best match-up was Dickson guarding Smith. Smith already is a good offensive player with both inside and outside skills. She worked very hard last night to score and she did. But Dickson's defense was awesome. Eighth, while I believe it was very unfair to play the tournament in G'ville since we were there 2 years ago, G'ville does have the best PA and PA announcer. Ninth, after watching the second game, did you feel like the first game was the JV game? (No disrespect Cherokee, but we were just going through the motions playing out the string). If the Rogersville Middle School girls can be productive next year when they become freshman, Casey Ryans could dominate our league. She was very good last night - a double-double with several blocks/or altered shots. Finally, in a season that began so promising and so full of hope and expectation for the Lady Red, it ends with the traditional whimper. Ending on a low note and with last week's decision by the school board to close the school to personal trainers (most coaches do very little in any sport at CCHS during the summer), PO will have a difficult task holding this team together through the summer into next fall. BTW, if Travis Kelley can stay on the floor tonight and be productive and if the G'ville guard is held under 30, I'll take CCHS. If not, the Newport native Billy D. will win another conference title. How we ever let him get away is for another day.

I wanted to add my congrats to the West girls for Friday's win. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the game b/c sometimes parents have to make difficult choices. We were with my oldest son who was swimming in his university's conference championships. His "butterfly" is still a beautiful stroke considering that it and his brains are providing for a very rigorous and expensive education. The CCHS girls were very disappointed after Friday's game. They had pointed to this one game all year - knowing how hard is to win on the road in the regionals after last year at Boone in a game they thought they could win. It seems that we were simply outplayed. I don't think the girls overlooked West, even though they won both games this year. And it seems that we have a great star that we get to watch over the next 3 plus years. We have had difficulty against strong guard play and guard oriented teams - Sevier, Fulton and GP who took us to overtime last week. While we have several strengths and can make plays to win ball games, we just have to many holes in our team game. I am disappointed that we didn't handle the zone better. We simply allow other teams to dictate the game. We could not make West play our game. They are also disappointed in that while this team is still young in age, we are not in experience. Suggs and Lloyd have around 70 games of varsity experience and Buda and Depew about 57 games. I thought, and still do, that we could win a home regional game. I didn't think that we could go much further unless we just got hot. It will be very tough now to go on the road. I don't know what to expect tonight. You hate to see a team win 12 of 13 and then go in the tank. But it will take some real leadership tonight to get a win. I still expect both Greeneville and West to win Friday night. Our conference has to prove that it can play. Good luck to everybody tonight.

I have a question that I don't know the answer. How many games can you play in a season? I understand that TSSAA allows 24 and HOF games don't count toward that 24. A reduction of 2 games from last year. Tonight we will play our 25th game. 1 HOF game. 10 districts games. 8 non-conference games. And 2 holiday tournaments of 3 games each for a total of 6 games. Somewhere I think I heard that holiday tournament games count as 2 games regardless of the number you play. If that is the case, could we have played 2 more games this year? I ask this because I would have liked for us to have had another 2 games against more 3A teams and in light of Greeneville who will play their 31st game tonight. I am not complaining toward G'ville, I am just curious how they played that many in order to encourage our AD for us to play more next year.

Courtney Lewis had successfuls surgery yesterday to repair a torn minicus. Crutches for a week. Rehab 4-6 weeks. Total recovery expected! Her surgery was done through KOC. Watching Courtney as a close friend of the family, I have learned a few things that rural schools are missing. She and her family were told the Knoxville schools have trainers associated with orthopedic clinics and assigned to schools and not employed by schools (i.e., not someone who had to go back and get a teaching certificate) whereas we can't keep trainers b/c they have to be employed in the school system requiring them to return to school to recieve a teaching degree/certificate. I admit I do not know who actually pays their salary - ortho clinics or school systems. As teachers/trainers they are in the classroom all day, then on the field/court for all sports all year long. In Knoxville, when injuries take place, the students are immediately sent to orth clinics and not private family doctors or ER rooms. We have had good trainers but can't keep them because they are not teachers and don't want to go back to school. What do others schools do?

My final of three installments on post seasons awards. I debated on how to name a team: 1st five and 2nd five at positions. Or best 10. Or making sure every team is represented. Actually, I don't know that there would be much difference, though if I chose best 10, I would probably put 4 on the team from Greeneville. I have decided to have all 6 teams represented with Greeneville getting 3 spots, CCHS and East being 2nd and 3rd respectively, getting 2 spots. All IMAC: Greenville: Collins, Dickson and McIntier (?sp) CCHS: Buda and Depew East: Leeper and Orrick Cherokee: Price (over Ewing) Jeff: the hardest decision reducing this to one person. I am going with a senior who has given us fits: Elliot. West: Smith Honorable Mention with a bullet climbing fast: Prewitt from CCHS Freshman of the Year. I really like the offensive skills of Ryans from Cherokee and the defensive presence of Sprouse from CCHS. Both tall lanky girls who both really contribute to their respective teams. However, the winner for me is Smith from West. A great shooter and a very polished player. I look for big thinks from her. She and Goins are two very good talents for West. Special Recognition and Best Wishes to quick and healthy recoveries: Goins and Courtney Lewis. Best Games: (though I saw neither) 1. The East/Jeff overtime game 2. West over Greeneville Thanks for the Memories Awards: Kelsey Elliot and Ashley Price. For three years, these names have been banished around our home and at school like we know these girls and I don't - just by a number on a uniform. We played Cherokee 7 times in 3 years and won 1 game - all close and Ashley Price made free throws, got a rebound, or got a loose ball or something in the last seconds of those games to seal the win for them. I don't know her plans, but she is much like a coach on the floor, can keep on playing if she wants and then become a good coach. I have two memories of Kelsey Elliot that remind me that these are still somebody's daughters and that this is still just a game. First is when she was a sophomore playing against us at Jeff and she made 5 or 6 3's that night. After the last one she was so excited she must have jump 2 feet in the air. The second one was last Friday night after her last home game after she was recognized and after she had spoken to the crowd as everyone was leaving the floor and the boys were warming up, there was a very long, very emotional hug between her and her former coach - Coach Potts. Best wishes to both and to all seniors That is enough awards. I apologize if I spelled names wrong. If you actually read all this, thanks (it was raining and the pre-Super Bowl wasn't interesting to me.) Best of luck to all teams to finish strong. I expect a good tournament next week and while Greenville is favored, I expect somebody to challenge them. I also expect the winner of West/East (I don't think West will win against Greeneville this weekend but if they get to the finals against Greeneville who knows?) and CCHS to play on Friday night and for it to be very close. The winner of that game will get a home regional game and I expect them - whoever it is - to win. Our conference needs to step up and have someone besides Greeneville win a regional game. On an update. CCHS defeated G-P in overtime last night to go 16-6. We had a big lead in the 2nd quarter and just made silly mistakes. First game in quite some time where many fouls both ways were called. Buda, Prewitt and Sprouse were limited in playing time due to fouls. We shot 29 free throws and GP shot at least that many. We hit a better percentage but not nearly enough. Played well in overtime.

Continuing with the post-season awards. Please remember these awards are biased, based not just on watching CCHS play, but also I saw everybody else only twice. Coach of the Year: Patrick O'Neil. Yes, PO from Cocke County! I base my decision on the following factors: 1. He developed depth. PTS pre-season newspaper article stated correctly that the biggest question mark of the season for CCHS would be depth. The season started with 5 players (3 returning starters) who had lots of experience and no one else who had any significant varsity minutes, only one other had even dressed on the varsity team. And, then after 8 games, your 3-year double-digit scorer starter has a season ending injury. He has added 4 people to the rotation including 2 freshmen and 2 sophomores. All of them have contributed. His choice to include Nicole Ball as the third guard was a bit surprising early on, just because there are 3 or 4 good freshman guards. Nicole has justified his choice of her with several big time baskets and has not hurt the team on the court. She has done very well. PO developed depth. We, too, now play 8 people with no seniors - 2 jrs., 4 sophomores and 2 freshman. 2. He changed the offensive. When Courtney got hurt and then we lost and looked lost, he changed the offensive and brought Allie Spourse and Jalese Pruit into the mix and we have won 9 out of 10. I cannot overstate the fact that when Courtney got hurt we were in serious trouble - to quote my post following our loss to Pigeon Forge - our third loss in four games - when we only scored 38 points in regulation - "this is frightenly similar to our 29 loss season." 3. Game Decisions. In the last 2 conference games, when Cherokee was making a run and they called time out to set a play, PO changed defenses and Cherokee was confused, didn't score, we stopped their run and won comfortably. Against Jeff, their cutters scored early on our man defense, and he changed to switching on the cutters in the second half. Jeff had to do something else to score. PO has not always had many options to work with, this year he has shown he can make in-game decisions. 4. Most importantly, we have won. 2 years ago, some of these girls lost 29 games and there were many calls for a new coach. PO and these girls are trying to change the idea about Cocke County. With 1 win in the last 3 games, we will match last year's regular season win total in two less games in a more demanding schedule (last year's non-conference schedule was not very strong). We have won our six district wins by 9.6 points, lost our 2 non-Greeneville games by a total of three points. There are still many holes on this team, but he has brought this team to the point of respectability. He is a man of few words, not a lot of intensity and has treated our girls very well. He is a good coach who will become a great coach when he can convince himself and his team they can beat Greeneville. Runner Up: Coach Crumbly, Greeneville. While I want to put Coach Gaylon here because a healthy West team is a very dangerous young team, I just can't ignore one of my convictions that especially on the high school level where coaches teach, good talent still needs good coaching. And Greeneville is still the best in our conference. I just love the way she teaches defense especially help defense. And she has created (or perhaps continued) an attitude that they are just going to win. No different this year. They have had a very demanding schedule. This is not just a Dickson and everybody else team. Dickson and Collins sat out most of the first half in our 2nd Greeneville game and they did not miss a beat Honorable Mention: Johnny Gaylon, West. Not for overcoming injuries, but because he is the only coach who believes that he can beat Greeneville. He has done it often, done it once this year and may do it again this year. Tomorrow: All Conference Team and Specialty Awards

As the district season is now over(almost), it is time for awards. Granted these awards are bias, not so much tilted to Cocke County, but on the fact that I have only seen everybody else play twice (3 times with East) this year. I will do this over three days, so not to bore you with long posts. Player of the Year. Hands down to Nicole Dickson, Greeneville. Best player on the best team. Sweet mid-range jump shot, quick off her feet, helps bring the ball up the court, and guards our best player as well as a good help defender. Since the days of those Newport Grammar and Greenville Middle scrimmages, she has just been fun to watch. She had 23 points in one half against us this year. I am not a good evaluator of higher schoolers playing in college. I am not sure on a D1 level where she will play. I assume a 3 or a 2. If she is going to a 2, I think her range needs to improve or she just may need to take more 3s than I see. If she is going to a 3, I thinks she needs to get closer to the rim with her shot to go along with mid-range shot. I think I see her as a Alexis Hornbuckle kind of player. Runner Up. Shannon Depew, CCHS. Based purely on the second half of the season. Through last summer and the fall into the early season, Courtney Lewis and Shannon were becoming a good 1-2 punch. When Courtney went out, lots of focus of our offensive went to Shannon and Shannon just struggled and we lost three of four and in two of those losses Shannon had point blank shots to win or tie at the end and missed both. She lost her confidence. When Coach ONeil changed our offensive over Christmas and got more people involved, Shannon regained her confidence. Makes her mid-range shots, brings ball up the court against pressure, guards best offensive big person, blocks shots, and a strong rebounder. Though CCHS is getting better without her on the court, she has to be on the court for us to be consistent. Last half of the year a very solid player with much of the same attributes as Dickson. Honorable Mention. Kayla Orrick, East. Perhaps a surprise pick. I believe she is the what makes East go. She has size and strength. She has a nice close in shot. Maybe does not have the statistics of others, but is very key in East winning. Made a basket with 2 seconds to go to beat us. She literally plays behind the basket and draws at least 1 defender if not more, allowing Leeper and Swagerty (?) the lane to drive. She also rebounds well and her outlets are to mid-court allowing East to run and when they can run, they can put up lots of points. When she stays on the court and out of foul trouble, East is good offensive team. Tomorrow: Coach of the Year