BEARCLAW

GC GRIZZLIES, THE LADY PIONEERS ROCK! There will always be talk about a 2 lady/man team or more, but on any give night that can be true, change, or be completely out the door. The game and circumstances there are the deciding factor. Shut down one or two players and someone else will step up to the "hoop" and carry on. This group of Lady Pioneers do a fantastic job of just that. Brabson, Acuff, Stratton, Edde, Crews, Roach, and Wardroup play well as a team, no matter what combination may be on the floor at any given time. They all bring something to the game when they are on the court. To single any one of them out from the others would be a shame. Team ball is just that, and these ladies do a good job of playing as a team. Bring some of the other girls off the bench and they do the same. Nicely and Spaw have had some good playing time as well. I guess we all enjoy being "armchair coaches", but the rubber hits the road on the sideline during the game. It's easy to see more from the bleachers than from down at floor level. The perspective changes greatly. Trouble is, some people never learn this as a fact. Come on Rutledge parents and fans, get behind the teams and stay there. Support the teams and coaches and let's see how far things can go. If not, then the grumblers and complainers can take off their BIG GIRL PANTIES and go back to HUGGIES! Pioneer forever!

TIGERSFOREVER1, GP needs to put on their BIG GIRL PANTIES and quit crying. 2 of the same officials in Rutledge that were at GP. That shoots that tearjerker out of the gym. As for Carter's SPORTSNUT, GET OUT THE BIG GIRL PANTIES and loose the HUGGIES. There will always be the "HOMECOURT" advantage discussion no matter what. Both teams played a good game in Rutledge Friday night. GP committed more fouls - hence they get more fouls called. When you play man-to-man as hard as they did, fouls happen. When you try to stop a lay-up under the goal, plan on committing a foul. GET OVER IT! This Friday night at Pigeon Forge will be no different. the HOMECOURT advantage will be kicked around, and the crying will continue. I'd be glad to point out some infractions tht were not called on GP that should have been if you would like. Since we brought it up, I think I will. Talking to a shooter when he's shooting a foul shot is an infraction. GP did it all night trying, unsuccessfully I might add, to distract McBee and others at the foul line. Should have been called but wasn't. I can't count the number of times the officials and players had to dribble or move around the coach since he moved his "box' onto the playing floor. Don't tell me things like that aren't done to distract. It's all part of the game. Good coaches to whatever they have to to win. Really good coaches do the same, but within the rules of the game. By the way, someone from GP asked to be notified when McBee was scouted. Scouts were at the game Friday night, and they were there for McBee. Suggestion. The game's over. Rutledge won. There were questions when they played at GP, and now there are questions when GP came to Rutledge. It's even - there were enough bad calls both ways and enough missed shots both games to have had a different outcome. Friday night in the "Forge" will be another good game. Be ready, and GP - get out the BIG GIRL PANTIES and it will be allright!

Rutledge defeats GP on the Pioneer's home court. Good playing from both teams, but the Pioneers were hitting on all cylinders tonight. Some questionable calls both ways, but the boys played through. Good job Pioneers! Split games. GP wins at home, and the Pioneers win at home. No gripes, just good basketball from 2 good teams.

You hit the nail on the head GC Grizzlies! The girls ARE playing team ball. How else could they win? I've never seen a one player team! Any team or coach with any sense will feed the ball to the best shooter to score. If there are players, moms, or dads who want more numbers on the board than there are for given players, then practice-practice-practice and get to the point to where you are the one getting the ball tossed to you! Great bunch of ladies - those Lady Pioneers! Coach Roach still has the fire. Haven't you seen - or heard - his famous "stomps" when he isn't happy with what's going on on the floor? What about Coach D? The fire is there, and so is the talent. We're just getting started. Is Brabson rough? You bet she is, but look at the elbows and knocks she takes in the lane. If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the lane! Get them Kendall! Go Lady Pioneers!

Coach T is too much fun. You need to send me your contact at the recruiting service so I can give them a few more names. Chill out, enjoy the game - and harassment online - and we'll see you in a week or so in Rutledge. Drive careful. By the way Merry Christmas!

No, I'm not kidding. Can you not read? I said nothing to indicate what your pea-brain read in my post. I said nothing about Coach P's presence on the floor costing Rutledge the game. GP shot the center out of the basket. Their scores won the game. Get the chip off your shoulder. You opened your big mouth with a little trash on McBee, and I responded to that. Brag on. How many recruiters have been at GP looking at players there? I'd like you to get me a number of recruiters and who they are recruiting. If noone is recruiting there, they are crazy. GP has players who need recruiting. And by the way, I agree with you ---- Idiots need to stay off CoachT-period. Hands down GP won! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at the scoreboard to see that.

I'm with RHS02 on this one. Coach P says it all. By the way, Coach P was a great help to GP staying on the floor in McBee and everyone else's way. I thought the coaches had a designated area to stay in. Coach P did a good job, but sure stepped over the line on this one. Coaches need to say off the playing floor - period - when the clock is running. Don't tell me stunts like that don't make a difference! If there are questions on whether McBee is at or near the top, fill everyone in on who else is being recruited in the district? I'd like to hear who else is being aggressively recruited besided McBee? The proof is always in the pudding!

Talk about hitting the nail on the head!!!!! Some people just can't get over their own mistakes. There were 9 players on the field and one in the dugout. It's not Rutledge's fault that PF doesn't know, or follow, the rules. Had the tables been turned, which it wasn't and won't be, PF would have done the same thing, as any good coach would. Arrogant and poor loosers. Get over it!

Inferior team? What was the regular season record for PF and Rutledge? Know what you are talking about before you open your mouth and show just how little you know!

Character? How about a team that would endanger a young pitcher to win? Win at any cost? What about regular season play? Sounds to me like PF was willing to possibly sacrifice the pitcher's arm to win.

Got beat and cried about it? Look closely and you will see there are 10 players in a baseball game. Nine on the field and one in the dugout. Rules are there for a reason. Cry? I don't think so. Smarter at the game? You bet! Stop your whining and accept the fact that you got beat! Try pulling a "rule breaker" like that again in the tournaments and see where that gets you!

Great game last night between Pigeon Forge and Rutledge! The guys played their hearts out. Pigeon Forge came ready to play and never slowed down. Hard to see Rutledge's season end, but they all eventually do. All the way to state Pigeon Forge!

Congratulations PR on winning your 30!

JCFLASH, the coaches ALL voted on the locations, and you guys will get your chance just like everyone else. By the way, I understand construction is on the way for your gym. Should give plenty of room to meet TSSAA's requirements to host. I'd love to stay up there a few nights during a good tournament! PF may have been District Champs during regular season play, but things changed in the tournament. Looks like we'll be playing again tomorrow night. Beating a team 3 times is tough, especially since RHS almost took the W in your guys crib last time we were there. Should be a good game. See you there!

Sorry "Go Buffs" but the big W stays in Rutledge. Good game. Both teams played hard and well. Lot of missed foul shots and turnovers! The officials did a fairly good job, missed a few, but missed them both ways. Much better quality of calls than during District Tournament and regular season!

I don't think it's so much the fact that in some games, no matter what the coach does - no matter how far down he/she goes on the bench - the score just keeps going up. When a team gets down, it's hard to get back up. The problem comes in with HOW it's done, the fan's attitude, the coach's and team's attitudes. It's obvious that some coaches/teams live to run scores up to show just how "powerful" they are. We saw one of those go down in district play this year. True sportsmanship shines through. Poor sportsmanship is obvious on the court and in the stands. You can beat a team without humiliating them, no matter what the score is. Fact - indisputable - just what it is!

Well ain't you got egg on your face! What's happening in Rutledge Saturday night? Hmmmmm....... could it be they are hosting the first satellite game of the Regionals? No luck, just good team playing!

The girls from Rutledge will be there, and will be ready! No promises, but hang on to your victory flags and don't start waving them just yet!

Familyguy2, you are a good fan. Cheer on your team, but the best shot you've got Saturday night is 50 -50. Rest assured that the Pioneers WILL be ready and waiting! Not going to climb up on the top of the hill (like some in our district did in the tournament at CG) and have a good old Humpty Dumpty Fall, but you will have your hands full! Let's hope everyone is ready for a good game, and that we all let the kids play on the court but leave the "bleachers" out of the mix! Be assured, our Seniors, Juniors, Sophomores, and FRESHMEN are ready! As Bob Barker would say if he were here - West Greene, come on down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Payback? What decent coach would allow his/her team to do something like this? Where has common sense gone? Coaches are supposed to be in control of thier team, not just drop the reins and let them run. This has to be the poorest display of sportsmanship ever. I only wish there was a way TSSAA could punish South Greene for this atrocity! Let me rephrase that, teach the coach a lesson. The players evidently have not been taught sportsmanhsip or they would not have started the press. I'm sure they only did what they had been taught to do - told to do at the moment. Come on coach, defend your team pressing with a 50 point lead, 4 opponents on the floor, and an already "hurt" team with the bad wreck and injury of a starter. Come on coach, speak up. Defend yourself. Give your players, fans, and school a good reason for this happening! I sure hope you don't make it anywhere close to representing the district in the state. It truly would be a slap in the face for the other teams, coaches, and fans to have someone of this caliber represent us. Now, to be fair, that's pretty hard talk. Speak up coach, justify what you/your team did and I'll make an apology. Trouble is, I'm not weak, hurt, or playing in a crippled situation. I can "come back" and speak my mind. How about you? How about it South Greene? Is this what you want your kids to learn from the wonderful game of basketball? You can bet your bottom dollar my kid would not play for this coach!!!!!

Well, ain't I got egg on my face. I assumed Johnson County was coming down, so I guess I was wrong. Hey, any team is beatable! Don't believe it, ask Gatlinburg Pittman, Claiborne County, Cumberland Gap, and yes - even Rutledge gets beat from time to time. The thing is, don't climb too high up on that little hill cause you just might get your butt knocked off the top when you get there! Go back to the beginning of the district tournament and see what bald face arrogance will get you! I ain't going there. If the Pioneers hit their layups, 3 pointers, and foul shots, you better believe they will beat West Greene! But if they don't, well I guess things could turn out differently now couldn't it? I've learned a few things in my many years of basketball. The fans don't win games with their heckling the other team, and not often by clapping and yelling for/at their own team. It's 95% up to the players using the skills they have and knowledge of the game they possess, and their listening to the coaches. The other 5% goes to the officials. Anyone who says one poor official in the group can't make a difference in the outcome of a game is, well I'll just say it, a full blown IDIOT! Thank goodness there are still a few good officials like Lon Thornton still out there making calls. They miss one from time to time, and that's expected! But when you get these "Striped Shirt Cowboys" out there ability and practice go out the window!!!!!!! To the hardworking, honest officials, thank you - thank you - thank you. To the rest, please move to another district/region and mess up thier kids for a while! Share your lack of talent with them! Now TOUCHDOWN BILLY, that's more than you asked for, but you gots what you gots. Cheer your team on, yell for them, even heckle the Pioneers a little. We'll be doing the same. But be careful how high you climb up on that little hill before the game. It's a long way down! Ask Gatlinburg Pittman. By the way, wonder what their weekend rooms cost since their plans didn't work out as expected? Go Pioneers & in the future Go - go Grrrrrrrrrrrrizzlies!

GP RESPECT ANYBODY? JUST AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE A NEW RESPECT FOR CLAIBORNE AND RUTLEDGE RIGHT NOW. ISN'T ANYONE UP THERE GOING TO DEFEND, OR WAS THE FALL TOO HARD

Just browsing though some of the older threads, and I just can't pass this one up. Rutledge came, played, and walked away with the victory. Not just victory over GP, but the district. Who got knocked off the top of the heap? Who didn't even show up to get awards last night? Its this kind of arrogance that got GP eliminated from the tournament early on. Learn to respect the other teams, that's how you win tournaments and games. The problem with putting YOURSELF on the top is you make an easy target to get knocked off. Have a soft landing! Who does GP want to play now? Hmmmm...............

Rutledge played a fantastic game last night. The men were hitting on all 8 cylinders, and the coaches were on the pinhead as well. They played a good game against another goot team and coach. Hats off the CGs coach, classy guy. He even brought out a volleyball ladder for the Pioneers to cut down one of the nets to celebrate. Some of the other coaches in our district could take a lesson from that on sportsmanship. Way to go Rutledge! Bring it on Saturday night, Johnson County. The Pioneers are waiting. And, when the Pioneers get through, the Grizzlies will be growling! All the way guys! Congratulations to Coaches Combs and McBee. It's been years since the Pioneers held the top spot in the district tournament. Hope Coach Combs has "dried out" this morning. The boys got him good after the game. Good night all around! Ye haw Pioneers! All the way!