ladyredfan

First for the Lady Red of Cocke County the good news. They went on the road tonight and won a district game, winning now 9 of the last 10 including 5 of the last 6 district games, (losing only to Greenville) and claiming that there would be no coin flip this year. Last year, the Lady Red was 4-4 with 2 to play and in control of 2nd place only to lose both. This year, they were 4-4, not nearly as in control and won both to claim 2nd and a spot in the regionals. While I am not sure, this is the first time in at least a decade that the Lady Red have claimed an automatic spot into the regionals. While it is not always pretty, a new star is emerging for the Lady Red in Jalse Prewitt - 14 of the first 18 points and all 8 in the rotation are making some contributions to our wins. While I am still not sure how to classify us, we are making enough plays to win ball games. We are not a good outside shooting team nor a good free throw shooting team, but in the last 2 minutes tonight - we made a three, controlled the ball w/o a turnover, and went 5 of 6 from the line. Being down at least by 4 early in the 4th quarter and Jeff being in the double bonus already, we did come back. As always, some interesting calls - some went our way and some didn't, but we did find a way to win. This team is maturing, painfully slow, but they are getting better. Remember, we played 8 girls tonight - 2 Jr's, 4 sophomores, and 2 freshman and three of those girls have been in the doctors office in the past 2 days for flu symptoms. Now the bad news - I heard 8 - 23 on the free throw line (PTS will know for sure) - I didn't think we were that good. That simply will not win ball games. Actually, we had been getting better since Christmas until this week and we have gone in the tank. We have made the regional tournament, trying to win the next district game in the tournament in order to host that game, but it simply will not matter shooting sub-50%! Outside of our free throws, we played OK - we gave up a few too many offensive rebounds for my taste, we simply have to make free throws! All that said, we have three winnable games left in order to match last years win total and have claimed the bye - not bad for a team without depth to start the season and lost to injury at least its second best player for most of the season.

The Lady Red has one senior - Amanda Lowell. She is an honor student who has been a member of the basketball team for 4 years with this year being her first on the varsity team. Amanda is a good pure distance shooter and has earned time playing this year when the other team has played zone and she has had some success as being our zone buster. Amanda is also very gifted musically - she has been a member of the All-State Choir for 3 years and was the two year Field Commander for the Red Regiment Marching Band. (As opposed to our athletic programs which has a history of not being competive, our music program - both vocal and instrument - is well established for rural county schools.) The Theater Guilde of Newport and the CCHS Music Department are getting ready to perform "My Fair Lady" - it is multi-thousand dollar production. Amanda has the lead role. The last time I talked to her about her future was that she was planning on UT with a major in elementary education. She will do very well. She is not my daughter - but our community is very proud of her. Congrats to Jeff for beating Sevier. We lost to Sevier early in the year. Friday night will be a huge game. We beat Pigeon Forge on the road last night - 30-28. It was not a slow down game - just very very ugly. It seems Jeff is on a roll - they do have great talent and it may be coming together. I saw East crush Cosby tonight - not close. Finally, I don't post often - however, over the past two years, I do read this post often and I enjoy knowing a bit more about the teams that we play - that the girls that we play are more than just a number. With the exception of Greenville, we are all very balanced and the parity is great - so this thread is just a lot of fun. I have found that most of the posters are like me - a parent and a fan of basketball and of their school who want their girls to do their best. Please do not shut this post down because of personal attacks on one coach. Thank you.

A big emotional win tonight for the Lady Red. No one on the floor for the CCHS tonight had ever defeated Cherokee - at least a six game losing strength. Furthermore, with 2 games to go last year, 2nd place was ours to lose and we went on the road and played poorly at East and at Cherokee, and as a result, we went into the tournament seeded fifth. While we did not play well at times tonight, we are showing signs of maturing and winning when it matters. Cherokee had no answer for Jalse Pruitt. She is really becoming a go-to type player - 11 points, I think, tonight in about half the game - she miss some school this week with an illness and we didn't think that she would play tonight. While there are still lots of scenario's for touranment, we will play a huge game next Friday at Jeff where the past two years we have been embarrassingly soundly defeated. Is next Friday Senior Night at Jeff?

I sat with Courtney Lewis's father tonight. She will have surgery to repair her minicus (sp?) the first week in February followed by 8-10 weeks of recovery. The doctors were just to worried about taking another hit that would do more damage. They expect a complete recovery by volleyball season. She did warm up with the team tonight but will not play any more this season. Back to back solid team wins for the Lady Red over West and East. Probably one of the more complete games that we have played in terms of not having a real bad quarter even though East scored lots of points in the 2nd quarter. 1-8 all made good contributions tonight. Another solid game for Prewitt - she can get her shot off in the lane. Hard game for Allie Sprouse, she just got moved out of the lane - but she is coming on. Nicole Ball made another couple of outside shots. Kelsey Lloyd had her best game of energy in a long time. Buda, Shannon and Alex good games. We also played smart at the end. From mid-way in the 1st quarter to the end of the first half - best offensive basketball I have seen from two teams in the same game. Lots of running up and down the court tonight - and we play best that way. Big crowd last Friday for G'ville, huge crowd - maybe 4/5's full tonight for East and Homecoming. Congrats to West. My question is - did we wake the giant or did we wake up the notion (and confidence) among five other schools that even though Greenville is very, very good, they are not an automatic win everytime we all play them? Looks like we are headed to another great finish and could be a great tournament.

The Lady Red of Cocke County have finished half of their conference schedule with 2 home wins and 3 road losses and in the bottom half of the conference. With the loss of Courtney Lewis, who sees the doctor today following a couple weeks of therapy and should know if she will have a realistic shot of returning this year, and our change to a 3 guard line-up, we have moved to a very young team on the floor. When Shannon Depew went out with her fourth foul Friday against Jeff early in the 4th quarter, we had 2 freshmen, 2 sophomores and a Jr on the floor that held and expanded the lead. Our freshmen are making solid contributions. Our depth is growing. More importantly, the Pilot tourney at Catholic restored some confidence especially in Depew. Depew, Buda and Suggs have solid games and can do several things on the court. The other five in the rotation, Sprouse and Ball as freshman, Walker and Pruitt as sophomores and Lloyd as a Jr, all bring something good to the team, but all, at the moment, have some limitations on what they can do to have a more complete game. So we have lots of parts to fit together. So for the final 5 district games for CCHS, in the order that we play them, this is my 2 cents. Greenville (H). To beat them, you have to have 1) a second consistent scorer - b/c Dickson will try to take away your first - and 2) have quick leapers to rebound with Dickson and Collins and 3) an attitude that you can win. At the moment, we are lacking in all three areas. However, Greenville will have to deal with the quickness of Pruit inside and Sprouse's height as well as Depew and Buda - which should not let this game be a runaway. Lost by 14 first time - we made a run late in the first half but we never really threatened. Scoring for us still is very hard against Greenville. West (A). We have beaten West 3 straight. We won by 6 at home earlier this year. We had a big lead, then Courtney got hurt, Buda fouled out. Pruitt did not play for violating team rules. They made a big run at the end. However, they were in foul trouble very early. Goins did not play much in 1st half. She exploded in the 2nd half. Her quickness will be difficult for us as we go there. Smith can shoot. Smaller quicker good shooting teams like Sevier County have given us trouble. This will be a tough match up for us. East (H). We have split the last 4 games with East all within 4 or 5 points. All wins were on the home court. We both match up well against each other - it will be very physical - probably decided late in the 4th quarter. I am not sure that our freshman will be able to handle this match up. If my memory serves me, neither team shoots free throws well - whoever makes them in 4th quarter will win. Cherokee (H). Losing streak up to 6 against Cherokee. All within 5 points. Last game Depew has lay up shot to tie at buzzer and misses. Their tall freshman - Ryans, I think is her name - has made them a much better team. It allows Price to roam the court. My POY behind Dickson is Price. She does so many things on the court besides just score. It will be fun to watch their tall freshman play our tall freshman over the next 3+ years. At the moment, Ryans (I think) is better offensively and Sprouse is force, though a movable force, on defensive. We will have to make free throws, b/c Cherokee will, and then make plays at the end to win. We have had leads in the 4th quarter in most of these games. Jeff (A). Winning streak is up to 3 against Jeff. I don't quite understand Jeff. Changing coaches at the beginning of the season is just tough. But I thought with their speed, quickness and shooting ability they would be the team to beat for 2nd place. When we have played Jeff, Elliott is a pure shooter, Nelson has the speed to match Buda and while not big, they rebounded well. Last Friday, they reminded me of us. When we run, we can score in bunches, but when we are in the half-court, scoring becomes so hard. Jeff seems to be the same way - lots of speed to run and score but struggle greatly in the half-court. They, like us, have cutters, but have no intentions of hitting a cutter to the basket. When they do, they, like us, don't hit the cutter in stride. Bigs can post, but then dribble way to much to get a shot off. As a result, they, like us, just pass the ball around the top until someone decides to drive and force a shot or just shoot a long 3. That is why a confident Depew is so important to us. She can bail us out in a half court offensive. Jeff's coach substituted freely Friday - why he takes Nelson out and for such long stretches - is surprising. In my mind, she is one of the better players in the league. Jeff's press in the 2nd half is the first press that has given us trouble. I think he should employ that a lot more. Are we facing a 5 way tie for 2nd again? Possibly, but I don't think so - I believe that there is enough experience that some teams will win on the road. I believe that Cherokee has the most experience - and Price must be playing very well right now - so I will take them for 2nd. I still like Jeff and they have the tournament - (hosting the tournament last year made a big difference for us). They have dug a big hole and am not sure how far they can get out. I believe that we will win 3 out of five including a road conference game. That would get us to 5 wins and maybe 3rd/4th. Finally, I have begun to have a change of heart about our league. While I think we are a long way from next year's AFC's South where the top 4 AFC teams not name Patriots could reside, I think that we are better as a league than I thought. Only Jeff is sub 500. We are 3-1 against a traditionally strong AA-District 2 (GP, PF, Ruthledge, and Claiborne) and 5-1 when we have played in Knoxville. Cherokee has a win over South Greene. There is lots of good young talent in the district and while we as a league don't play the state schedule that Greenville does, I am beginning to think that we play some good basketball as a district. I believe that we will do better than 1-3 in the first round of the region this year. If you have actually read all of this thank you, writing all of this allows me enough diversion to enjoy the hobby of sports writing and analyze just for me. Hope we have some great basketball over the next 4 weeks and everyone stays injury free.

With last nights OT loss at home to Pigeon Forge, the Lady Red fall to 6-6. With 12 games in and 13 to go, it is time for a mid-season break down for the Lady Red. Biggest Event #1. By far, the loss of Courtney Lewis to a knew injury. Our most effective and consistent offensive player through the summer and the first 8 games, Courtney's injury has forced our girls to play new positions and brought into play a very inexperienced bench. This is her 3rd year as a starter and she made the All-Tournament Team at the Chop House tournament. Her 11-12 points and 5 boards and very long arms are missed greatly. If she returns this year, it will not be before late January. I expect her not to be back before the start of volleyball next fall - she is an all-IMAC volleyball player. I know injuries are part of the game. But when these kids are in and out of your home regularly - injuries just stink! We have lost 3 games by 7 points in her absence and only won at Claiborne. Biggest Event #2. Finishing 2nd in the Chop House Tournament. Beat Farragut and Karns and lost to Sevier in the finals. We played well and there was lots of excitement about the season after that tournament. Biggest surprise. With injuries also comes opportunities. With Courtney not playing, our 6.2 freshmen Allie Sprouse has logged more minutes. While the game has not slowed down for her yet, she has made an impact. She has a long way to go offensively, but has good fundamentals like not bringing the ball down and not swatting blocks. She keep us in the game at Cherokee with her multiple blocks of their post. She and the freshman post at Cherokee will be a lot of fun to watch as they develop. Also, sophomore Jalese Pruitt has stepped in offensively. She is the only one of our players who learned the game on the playground and not from coaches. That is a plus for us. When she learns to play the game on the other end, she will be a very good player. Mid-season evaluation: Missed opportunities. We had a chance to win the Chop House and came out flat and let Sevier make 10 3's against us, knowing that they could do that - we have several who play with the several from Sevier on a AAU team. We also lost at East and at Cherokee after leading very late in both games. Win both of those and then we are 3-1 with four of the last six at home. BUT - now we are in a big hole. Lackof Confidence: We have one of the best players in the league in Shannon Depew. Her rebounding is strong. Her ball handling is good. She is basketball smart (and academcially smart too). I have watched her make mid-range jump shots for years. She cannot buy a basket and really hasn't all season. Without Courtney, she is our best scoring option, but she is passing up shots, taking wild shots and has just lost her confidence. We play in the Pilot Tournament after Christmas. I would happily lose all three if Shannon could find, not her shot, but her confidnece. If she find her confidnece she will make plays. Predictions: Our defense has been better than average. I think we have given up only 50 points three times. I think that it will continue to be not great, but OK, unless we lose our desire. With Courtney, we had Buda, Suggs, Lewis and Depew who could force turnovers that leads to baskets. Without her, we don't have enough defensive pressure to score off of. But we have an OK defense. Our transition offensive is also better than average. We want to be pressed - while we may give up some possessions we have a better chance to score in transition. Our half-court offensive is just poor especially against an in your face man defense. Last night's game was very reminiscent of 2 years ago when we lost 29 ball games and out offense consisted of someone driving and forcing a shot or shooting a long range shot. It took us overtime just to score 40 points. I guess the sad thing about Courtney's injury is that for the first time for the basically 2 years that the starters have been on the floor is that they were actually running and executing an offensive. Now we are back to the drawing board - just lost. With the exception of Greenville, we will not be over matched in any game. However, unless we become committed to some kind of offensive system that gives our players good looks, I am not sure of how many wins we will actually get. That feeling is based on watching this very ineffective system for many years - we have just changed the players. Still, a confident Depw and Buda will get some wins. To close on a positive note: Long-term a Lewis-(a stronger) Sprouse-Depew line with Suggs and Buda running out front with Lloyd and Pruitt and a 3rd guard (still waiting for one to step forward) coming in could still be a very good team. I think that our JV team, made up of 10 freshman has only lost to Greenville If you read all of this, thanks for letting me vent my frustrations.

Courtney Lewis has a torn MCL and miniscus. She is out for a while.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Cocke County won 54-31

Courtney Lewis was still on crutches Thursday. The most optimistic report is 7 to 10 days. I suspect longer.

Cocke County won tonight but may have lost Courtney Lewis for an extended period. She has a knee injury - the x-ray was negative, but very a significant sprain at best. The Lady Red survivied without Buda and Lewis for a good part of the 2nd half and Prewitt did not play for violating team rules. We built a big enough lead in the 3rd quarter (w/ both Lewis and Buda) to survive the 4th. Allie Spouse made several contributions. Suggs and Lloyd both played well down the stretch. Neither team shot free throws well. The 2nd quarter was not pretty. The Lady Red won the 2nd quarter 5-1. Goins is the real deal - gets off her shot quickly. Fouls hampered her tonight. Smith shoots the eyes out. West is much better than this summer. I believe that they could be tough by February. They went a whole quarter and a half without a basket and still had they made free throws at 65-70% they probably win. If we shoot like we did in the 2nd Quarter tonight and East scores like they apparently did tonight, Friday could be ugly.

The Lady Red of Cocke County open this season this Friday against Sullivan Central with tepid optimism as 3 starters, 2 part-time starters, with all but 2 points and 5 rebounds returning from last year’s regional loss at Boone and our 18 win season. And we have only one senior who I don’t think has appeared in any varsity game. This group has lots of experienced, has won at every age group – school and AAU – and had a good summer on and off the court. Optimism was taken down several notches following last Saturday at Heritage as our weaknesses were exposed quickly and our effort every poor in a great setting of girl’s basketball. I saw Greenville play a couple of times during the summer and again on Saturday. I am sorry but I don’t remember the tall blond headed girl’s name who came in off the bench last year, but she look offensively dominant in replacing Deans in the post. My initial thoughts are that Greenville looks just as strong defensively and maybe stronger offensively. Seems like Dickson has already played about 6 years and she didn’t play Saturday. I really like Greenville’s defense and their coach. Many people over the past couple of years have been very hard on her. I just don’t see it. She is a quality coach. These are all her girls now and Saturday, their energy and effort were very strong. For the time being, the rest of us are still playing catch-up to Greenville. The rest of us have strengths and weaknesses. Saturday, Jeff looked physically very strong – those girls, especially Kelsey Elliot have been in the weight room. Jeff played an aggressive man defense and Elliot buried 2 3’s in the first minute and a half from both sides of the court. If they had either a tall or wide body post, they would be especially difficult. Curious about the timing of Potts’ resignation. I have watched him coach for a number of years and, in my mind, he is a solid coach. I saw West this summer – they have a good coach, speed outside and need some size. Saw just a bit of East. East has lots of people – I really like – I think her name is Swanger. She gave us fits last year. I did not see Cherokee but Price is one of my favorite players – love the way she controls a ball game. I think, as always, freshmen could impact any team. I think my pre-season IMAC would have to include the tall blonde and Dickson from Greenville, Elliot from Jeff, Price from Cherokee, not sure from East b/c I have not seen them enough, will have to wait on West to develop during the year and Depew from CCHS. I wish that I had had more time Saturday at Heritage. South Greene looked very strong. South Greene should be included in PrepExtra’s Top 10. Heritage and Powell also looked good. I enjoyed watching the games but I enjoyed more watching the coaches and their different styles. My favorite coaches are the teaching coaches who are on their feet - showing, pointing and encouraging. The Lady Red, like everyone else, has some strengths and some weakness. This summer the five varsity returners played very confidently and very comfortably together. Depew, Budha and to some extent Lewis are all solid offensive players. Suggs and Lloyd are very good role players. However, of the other 15 players kept on Varsity/JV - 10 are freshman, 1 junior has just been cleared from an ACL and only 1 sophomore had any varsity experience that is probably not more than 10 minutes total. Depth will be a challenge especially at wings and post. It was evident Saturday by the lack of aggressive defense that we played. There are minutes to be had on this team. We have a strong group of freshman. We don’t have an immediate freshman impact player but we have some strong potential. We don’t have the luxury of letting freshman develop – they are going to have to play, especially on the wings and posts. And there are minutes for the guards – both returning and freshman to take. And, again, I would add, there is some potential there – the well is far from empty. The Lady Red will also have to overcome size problems. We will be small in the post, though we have two good size wings (about 5’11’’ each), but we do have some size among the freshman. The Lady Red will also be susceptible to quick leapers – like Boone had last year. Our bigs just do not get off the floor quickly. Schedule also appears to be tougher - six of our non-conference wins are off the schedule replaced by the Chop House and Pilot tournaments. While the IMAC lost some quality people and basketball players to graduation and some, that I know of, who went on to play ball in college – Deans (Greenville) to Kings, Lane and Bryant (CCHS) to Converse, there are lots of very good ball players who have played lots of varsity ball who are still playing. I think we are all still chasing Greenville partly because they play better defensive than the rest of us combined and because we don’t have many/any great offensive players or systems designed to beat a tough man-to-man defense. And I am not sure that the rest of us can match up with District 1. Boone is very good – we split with them this summer. SH is very quick. Sullivan South has 2 D1 commitments. The IMAC lost 3 out of 4 first round regional games last year. That being said, I believe that we will all be very competitive in our league. Jeff worries me the most b/c of their talent and b/c they host the tournament. CCHS needs to worry about Cherokee . Cherokee has won 8 conference games in the past 2 years – of those 8, 5 of them have been over CCHS. East and CCHS played 3 games last year all within about 3 or 4 points. I believe it will be a fun and competitive year. I leave with 2 thoughts about CCHS. One, CCHS lost a hard physical game to Boone in the region last year at Boone. CCHS is a very physical team but we had it taken to us. By the end of that game we had one broken nose (Lewis), one head injury (Lloyd) and one strange technical that became the 5th foul to Depew. At times, we played like the freshman and sophomores that we were on that floor in a very exciting emotional environment. That loss stuck. Hard work guarantees nothing. But the 5 are much bigger, stronger and faster than they were last February. They have worked very hard this off-season. If there are any chemistry problems on the team this year, it will be because the rest don’t understand how much that loss hurt. They are very hungry. The other is that to my knowledge there are no juniors, sophomores, or freshman who are playing basketball outside the county who either currently live in Cocke County or finished elementary school (we have no middle schools) in Cocke Co and then moved to a relative to play ball at another school. We have a long history of losing and ball players looking for green pastures to play elsewhere. As a result, both Cosby and CCHS will field very respectable women’s basketball teams for the next several years. For those of us who love living in Cocke County, that is a good thing. Hope all teams have a great year with no major injuries. I close with a request to all scorekeepers, coaches, radio personalities, etc. Please post scores and box scores in both CoachT and PrepExtra as soon as possible. They give perspective and, more importantly, become part of a child’s history once the season is over. Thanks.

Tough night for the lady red of cocke county. They could not throw it in the ocean if they were standing right above it. Always a problem. Defensive rebounding caught up with them tonight. Great atmosphere, great crowd from Newport. For most of the game, we looked like freshmen and sophmores with the exception of Shannon Depew, like a deer in the headlights. We are just not athletic enough to play with athletic teams. We were physcially beaten. Courtney Lewis probably has a broken nose. Kelsey has a huge knot on her face. We also learned a very valuable lesson - you have to play this game at home - and we have to learn to be more physical. Daniel Boone plays very good defensive and then they just run. Well coached. It may be the first one to 30 wins b/w GHS and Boone on Monday. I will not talk about officiating tonight. I would, however, this summer when emotions are much lower like to be part of discussions with officials from Region 1 and AD's. The lady red will be back - it has been a great year. See you next year!

PTS Did you say that CCHS is no 10 in the AP poll. That poll just lost all credibility. Surely I am reading it wrong.

Congrats to the Lady Red tonight! I was wrong. I thought that they would be over the Greenville game. They made some shots and some plays, but could never put Jeff away. Did not play with a lot of energy tonight. At times, I thought we were going through the motions. We would have a lead of 6 or 8, then do silly things. Defensive rebounding will still be our downfall. But give Jeff credit. They are playing much better than when we played them in January. Much better. I think that the coach has something to do with that. Whoever has been lobbying for Nelson for Jeff is right! She created lots of offense for Jeff. I am not sure why she was not on the floor more tonight. Again, I am sorry I don’t know names but I liked, I believe, no 25, she had a quick step and could jump. I would have played her more too. This team is much more than Elliot. But they really do need some size. I look forward to Buda and Nelson for the next several years. End of the district play: CCHS 6-7 - seriously doubt with that record, we are the second best team. CCHS 2 out of 3 from Jeff CCHS 2 out of 3 from East CCHS 2 out of 2 from West CCHS 0 out of 3 from GHS CCHS 0 out of 2 from Cherokee CCHS must become a better road team. This group of players will no longer have the district tournament games at home. Went 1-4 on the road (losing to everybody except West). Went 5-3 at home (Lost to GHS (2) and Cherokee at home). In the end, the games that actually matter the most, were losing to Cherokee at home in January and GHS in December b/c we did not take care of our home court. I will not get on my official soapbox - very few fouls were called tonight either way. As a result, both teams showed some frustration and elbows were throw by both teams. If they would have connected, a girl would have been hurt and a team would have been without a player for the region. I know the arguements - we would shoot fouls forever and you have to be under control at all times and that is just the way the game is played. It just seems to me that in general, games are to physical and that kids get hurt. In my humble opinion, that is not needed at all in high school. I also know I am in a very small minority. Sounds like we get either a highly rated team in Tennessee or a really hot team in Daniel Boone. Not that summer really matters, but Tennessee beat CCHS on the last possession at GP last summer on a Saturday morning. If I remember right – they have a very good point guard and a very good and big post player. Tennessee beat us in the regional last year by about 30. Daniel Boone beat us last year in the regular season twice handily. To close, for the first time in 6 straight years of playing in the consolation game, we finally won. We have won 18 games and we are still playing. We also are playing with confidence. Good night - we win and the Lady Vols win! And, I had to leave before awards were given – how many freshman and sophomores made All-Tourney and All Conference. I suspect only a couple of seniors received awards – which means the I-MAC is going to be strong and fun to watch. Go Lady Red!

Busy day - have not had a chance to respond. Had a wonderful weekend in Charlotte. Transy gave it great ride but feel short. I know this is a basketball post, but let me tell you a swim relay race at the end of the year conference race is as pumped up a moment as any in any basketball game – apparently even the one I missed. Sometimes being a parent is just hard – choosing which child to support and watch. Great weekend, though, my son did his 4 personal best times. I am curious for any college bball expert. In swimming, D-III national cut-off times are faster than D-II b/c there are about 4x the number of D-III schools as D-II. The quality seems to be better at D-2 (with scholarships) but the high-level of quantity seems to be at D-III (with no scholarships). Is that true in basketball? Apparently missed a great game b/c CCHS and GHS. I have seen the video. First, props to GHS. I have seen GHS play better especially on defense. Dickson was not allowed to just go off as she is able to do against us. And CCHS had 4 outside bank shots. AND, I am told that it has been 20 years since there was that kind of environment, boys or girls, in the CCHS gym. AND even missing 4 free throws at the end, still found a way to win even when not playing their best. In my mind, that is the sign of a good team – to win on the road not playing your best. I expect them to win tonight, though, again they better come to play. B/c GHS is not a dominant offensive team, they will play lots of tight games. But their half-court defense can be really, really good. I am still surprised why they don’t extend their defense to traps or even full-court? Second, props to CCHS. We lost this same game 1 year ago by 30 and it was not that close. That is have far we have come. But not far enough! We had no points from our posts (Nikki/Kelsey) and the defense shut down Shannon and holding her to only three. Based on these reason alone, I would have said, it would have been another 20 point game. So some props to our defense, though we are still vulnerable on the defensive boards. And props to our guards and perimeter play. Morgan dominated. Actually in hindsight, wished that she had been a bit more selfish when she was penetrating. And some props to Coach O’Neil. He kept the girls in the game. I am still waiting for Morgan and Shannon to be at their best offensively in the same game. However, we still lost. Opportunities just don’t come that often. Now, because of losing to Cherokee at home (and to Cherokee and East when the season was on the line), we will now pay the piper and go on the road. We have not played nearly as well on the road. Tonight, first. A must win for the program. CCHS has played in the consolation game the past six years (I think) and lost them all. We need to show improvement over last year. I don’t believe the emotion of losing Friday, will have an effect tonight. Remember, these are still 15 and 16 year old girls. They hurt lots Friday and Saturday, but they are now over that. A tough game tonight for us for 2 reasons. First, in the first conference game of the year, Jeff beat us, no embarrassed us, by 28 points, the worst loss of the year. We only scored 21 points. While we lost other games, notably Rutledge and Cherokee (2), because we played their deliberate games, Jeff just destroyed us. Beat us worse than anyone else. Second, a little revenge for last year. I look for a tight game with the winner being decided b/w whoever has the better game – Kelsey Elliot or Shannon Depew. We lose tonight, it will not be b/c of Friday night but b/c a better team won.

I’ll jump back in for a second. I apologize for speaking of an official by name – he is a good friend. I will stay away from officiating. Though I think my point has some merit for future discussion. Another time. What will it take for CCHS to defeat GHS when it matters tomorrow night? Defensively. I am sure we will jump in and out of man (woman) to man (woman) and our zones. Our zones are very porous. In our first games against GHS, Dickson just went off on uncontested mid-range jump shots against our zones. Furthermore, backside rebounding is poor out of the zone. It has not changed all year. However, we can collapse the lane and force shots outside. In the second game, we were better at it, and GHS did not put us away until the second half when their guards made some 3’s. Our man (woman) is our best defensive. That would match up Depew on Dickson, (which in middle school was a great battle) and put Bryant/Lloyd on Deans (I don’t think that favors us at all!). But that will create much more foul problems for us and, at this point in time, we have to have Depew on the floor. We rebound much better out of our man defensive. In the second game, Budha and Suggs both created a little bit of havoc against their guards. We will have to have much more of that to get points of turnovers and our guards have to help deny entry passes to Deans. Our posts (Bryant/Lloyd) much keep the ball away from Deans. Then we must hope that Dickson does not make everything and their guards who will get open looks miss. Still a very tall order for us. It does not appear to me, that GHS is as dominant offense like they are on defensive. They rely lots on the set offensive and have players that can make plays. B/c of their defensive, we must match their intensity on defense and keep the score in the low 40’s or even upper 30’s b/c I don’t think we can score 45 or more against them. Actually, maybe not 40. Offensively. We have scored exactly 61 points against GHS in two games. In reality, it is worse. In the 1st game, GHS emptied their bench in the 4th quarter. We had only scored 24 points at the time. We scored 7 points in the last couple of minutes. In the second game, we played well enough to keep their starters in the game until the last minute, but we only scored 30 points. Against GHS, we will not be able to play one on one basketball that we often digress to when we play against a tough man (woman) defense. Depew will be doubled. Our offensive has improved to the point, that we can score 1 or 2 times a game out of set pieces (screens or picks, back screens). We must do more. The game will be over quickly if we cannot penetrate, if we settle for 3’s every other time down the court and if we force Depew to be the offensive. My fear is that we could match West at 14 points. Intangibles. To GHS, this is just another game on the road to the State. They have played in many “big” games. It is like watching good teams get excited about playing the Lady Vols. The good teams have no idea what to expect and the Lady Vols just go play. I expect GHS to just go play b/c they have had many big games. State tournament experience. Playing the ranked teams it the mid-state this year. Beating Webb – the no1 rank D-II team. Beating SH at SH near the end of the year. Playing Lex Cath, from KY. I am from KY and Lex Cath has dominated KY girls basketball for the past five years. They are the reigning state champ (there is only 1 state champ in KY) and are nationally ranked. My point is players and coaches at GHS have played in big games. We, as CCHS, both players and coaches, have not. (Now Budha and Depew have played in National AAU semi-final games – I think that is big but we as a team have not). Having said that, there are 5 freshman and sophomores who have played GMS in scrimmages the past two years with no posted scores and believe in their hearts of hearts they won then and that they can win now. I don’t know if the seniors and the coaches believe it. The only thing that I can count on, is that we will play hard. I just hope that we play smart. For CCHS, and these freshman especially, it is a big game – a program defining game. It is time to move past the excitement of us just winning a game. A win would put us in the same breath as GHS, Tenn, SH and DB in our region for the next couple of years. It would give our 4 seniors a massive sendoff for their efforts (again, remember, we have won more games this year (17) than in the last 3 combined (13).). The challenge is as big as it gets for us – the no 1 team in the state during tournament time on our court. You cannot ask for a better opportunity. And in life, as in sport, that is all you can ask for – an opportunity. We played GHS last year in the same game – semi of the district. GHS won by 30 in a game that was not that close. It is time to see where we stand. By the way, congrats to Jeff Co. The last time I saw Jeff they looked lost and they looked like they were brickering among each other. Losing as much as they had down the stretch plus the way Cherokee just beats us, I thought Cherokee would win. I watch more than a quarter last night and that was not the same Jeff team I had seen. Well done. I was surprised by West's defeat of East last week - they have not won much lately either so I am not sure how to pick. But Jeff did look good last night. I would like to see these games. But I will be in Charlotte for the weekend with my oldest son as he and the Transylvania University swim team compete at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center Complex in the Bluegrass Mountain Conference Championships (NCAA D-III schools). He and the Transy boys will be dueling Washington and Lee and 10 other schools for supremacy. He wants a sub-53 second in the 100 fly and sub 2.10 in the 200 fly. So, go Transy Pioneers and CCHS Lady Red. Good luck to all teams. Have a safe and great weekend.

Way to go Lady Red! Big win for program and for next year! And now we have an opportunity. Basketball is about opportunity. We are a decided underdog. My daughter plays soccer and basketball and we have never come close to Greenville in either sport. But sport is about opportunity. Tournament time, our house and the No 1 team in the state. It's an opportunity. Lady Red congrats. Shannon is just a big time player. Made several mid-range shots, had big rebounds, and made free-throws. Morgan controlled the game, made a couple of shots and was in charge at the end of the game. Nikkie (who was sick all day), Courtney L and Kelsey L had big-time rebounds and made enough points. Alex is our best athletic and played big tonight. And Jerrica was a senior on floor. Why she came out with 2:00 to go in the 2nd quarter, is beyond explaination, thought, reason, or even sanity after nailing 3 consecutive 3's. B/c suddenly her game is exploding. Good game everyone. Best thing is that we finished - which we did not do against Cherokee. We are still vunlerable on the boards and our zone defense has enough holes for passes. We still have too many turnovers (tonight I atribute to East's pressure). East, even more than Cherokee, is just a tough match-up for us because of their quickness. Congrats to East, too. I like the athletically ability of East. I am sorry I don't know their names. I like the big girl. She is a force inside. I know that you made some 3's tonight, but I would go inside with her far more often. I also like No 25 - I think, she is a freshman, she made the 4 freethrows to beat us last time. We have no match up for her. If I were an East parent and fan, I would have to wonder why she was not on the floor more tonight. I would also have to wonder why the coach went away from his 2 team approach - why do you change at tournament time! If East could stay away from turnovers, find a disciplined half-court offensive looking for size and quickness down low and then uses their athletic ablity by running, I look for East to be a great team next year. With their numbes, I am a little surprised that they don't play a full court pressure game. There were lots of freshman and somphores for both teams on the court tonight. Finally, officiating. I quess this is tournament ball. Lots of very physical play and a couple of questionable calls - that actually went our way. Though I don't think officating played a role in the outcome. But I think the officials association and the AD's put themselves at great risk that is so unnecessary. There is no logical reason that Buddy Hartsell calls that game tonight. No reason. He has major ties to CCHS. Now, hear me - I trust Buddy completley. My sons have played baseball with him all over this state, but why do you set yourself up for potential controversy, when you have someone with known ties to a school call that ball game. There is no reason to open yourself up to that complaint. I am not questioning Buddy's integrity or his ability b/c I would rather have Buddy call most games, just we have other officals that could have called that game. I just think the AD's need to take stronger leadership and not let the association control the game. Enough rambling. Congrats, LADY RED! Opportunity awaits!

First time responder. I'm just a lady red parent. I have to much time and to little to do, so some random thoughts on CCHS and the I-MAC before the tournament. Congrats to the Lady Red. Please remember this team was a 1 win team going into last year's tournament. Not only did we just win 1 game, we lost 20 of our 30 games by double digits and most were over before half time. We were rated 107 at the end of the year. Among the top 8 from last year to the top 8 this year, there was only a change of 3 girls - adding Nikki Bryant - back really from 2 full years of injury including an ACL and our 2 freshmen. We go from 1 win to 16 playing basically the same schedule. We had 10 loses, only 5 in double digits (G'ville (2), Bearden, JC, GP) - four of those have twenty+ wins. The other five loses were 5 points or less - ME, Rutledge (at home), Bearden (2OT) and Cherokee (2). Last year was the longest year, this year was was much more fun, yet still very frustrating. We go 8-8 in AAA games and then lose only to Rutledge and GP in AA games. Against teams with winning records, we beat a good Campbell Co. team, beat Sullivan Central at there place to open the season and then Mo East at AAA level. Rutledge I think is the only AA school with a winning record that we beat at their place. Plus we have 4 wins over 2 teams rated in the bottom five of the class - Knox Central (AAA) and Carter(AA) While it has been a better year, it is still frustrating 1. For CCHS we have for more talent for us that we have had in a long time. It has been my observation, CCHS usually doesn't have lots of individual talent. Down through the years, we usually have a player or two, but not much to help them. Why? A. We have a horrible feeder system - 9 elementary schools (no middle schools), and little if any summer ball. B. We have such a "culture" of losing at CCHS that no one wants to play - outside of volleyball, tennis and occasionaly softball, all our sports (boys and girls) just lose and usually lose badly - especially the past couple of years. We have some good athletes walking the halls who just don't play. C. The winning of Cosby basketball - there is some talent in the county but everybody wants to go where you win - and I don't blame them - outside of Newport Grammar, 2/3's of everybody else goes to Cosby. So when we have some talent, it is frustrating not to play better. We have as big a back line as any team. We have become so depentent on our freshman, that others have stagnated and we are just an undiscipled team - especailly when we have the ball. We lose Nikki - while not a great scoring threat, she blocks lots of shots and gets lots of rebounds. She and Shannon should have been able to create a great high/low post game. If someone could get a hold of her and teach her touch around the board, she would be a tough player. We lose Jerrica Lane - who in the last month has played finally inside the 3 point line and contributed greatly. While we have 5 players who have lots of expereince returning, we have let a season go by, where it will be hard to replace what we lose. 2. It is also frustrating b/c we play out best ball in the open court. In IMACgames, we go away from the press and run less. While our defense is better and at times good, our offensive in the half-court is so ineffective you could almost go to sleep watching it. Very, very little discipline. Our half-court offensive is "spread" and leave the middle to Shannon. She can score but she is doubled often and picks up charging fouls. Having said that, Depew, Buhda, Suggs, Lewis and Lloyd have played together for many years (5-6) and have won lots of ball games and titles. They will have 2 years together and already have lots of expereince (Suggs, Lewis and Lloyd have already had 2 full years at the high school level). They will work hard this summer. We will have to create depth. They all have weaknesses to improve. All in all, it has been a good year. But this is a tournament sport, so the season now begins. If Nikke scores 10 points and we make 4 threes a game and keep everything else equal, I like our chances. But it will be a very competitive tournament. I expect a very phsyical game against East. Officiating will be a key role, if they officiate as has been during the season and let them play, it will be a tough game for us b/c of their depth. Best teams we have played: 1 - Bearden - I really like their height and athletic abilty. 2 Greenville. Love G'ville's ability to defend. They just get after you. 3. GP - they remind me lots of Cherokee, very deliberate - with better athletes. Worst loss: 1. Rutledge 2. ME - 2 struggling teams to shot, 3 lousy officals and 4 very clutch free throws. 3. Both Cherokee games, b/c we played their game and not ours. POY in IMAC. 1. Deans - I want my daughter to play likes she does, defense first, rebound second, step out a make a shot when needed. 2 Dickson - reminds me of Holsclasw, so smooth that you don't know if see is working hard. 3. Price - I love her ability to be the point forward. Is the smartest player in the IMAC, makes her team better. 4. Depew - if she has offensive help where she will not be double and triple team, then a true All-State type performer in years to come. 5 Elliott - she has just worn us out for two years with her shooting. Tournament prediction: Obviously, I like Greenville, though I think they better come to play. I also like the way Cherokee plays. As long as they don't fall behind, their style works and their draw is away from G'ville. Also, I expect whoever gets a regional home game to win. I don't think we are as bad a conference as some think. And don't count out a regional semi-final win either- their is enough evidence to suggest that the IMAC could win against Tennessee, DB and SH. Lots of people talk about G'ville and their coaching staff. Bottom line for me, check how many points they give up. That is the sign of a well coach team. They have a great 1 - 2 scoring punch in Deans/Dickson. If their guards make shots, they are a major league team. I have never seen them play full-court defense. They play it so well in the half-court, I just wonder if it would create more offensive for them. State ranking mean nothing. It's survive and advance. They will do very well. I would not talk about the 3 coaches at G'ville, rather the 4 coaches at G'ville. The girls bb coach at Greenville Middle is a better coach than 3/4 of the teams CCHS plays. What a feeder system into GHS. Finally, officiating. I don't think we have any better or any worse officials in our conference than in others. I just know that I don't know what a foul is any longer. For me, games (boys and girls) are way to physical. College games have been modeled on the NBA and high school games modeled on college games. I can live with bad calls b/c usually calls work themselves out in most games. I don't believe that any official calls for or against any team. Though I do believe some have some tendency to call fouls against some players b/c they have seen them so much. Physical games though allow for more "chirping" on and off the court and lots of less sportsmanship on and off the court. I don't like that at all. Good forceful officiating could control lots of that. I would like to see much stronger leadership by ADs to control fans and players - toss out a few fans (including our own), put some players on the bench for a few games and then demand the offical's association not be lazy on the court, not to believe that they are the star attraction and to clean up the game. We have may 2 hour games and foul out lots of people, but the players will adjust. If they don't want to, then get some parents out of the stands to call the games. Way to much rambling. It has been a fun year. Good luck to your team. Go Lady Red!