PEARLBALL

Agree on this point. Both Vaughn and Morgan picked up quick moving screen/blocking fouls in the first half. It caused Vaughn to sit with foul trouble for a spell. The potential is there for this team. When Morgan is driving and Vinson is working on the block and shooting the 3, it’s hard to defend. Add in the kick outs to Vaughn for the 3, they can really get rolling offensively. Those three probably combined for 55 or so Friday. It’s hard to cover all three of them. If you take away the lane, they will shoot the 3. If you don’t help down, Abby and Bella will shoot layups and 8 foot jump shots. With Graham (who has improved offensively and makes timely baskets along with her defense) and the hard nosed Garrettson playing tough on both ends, they are fun to watch. They have a fairly deep bench with girls capable of playing quality minutes. They are going to Tampa after Christmas to play in a holiday tournament. Will be interesting to see how they match up. There are supposed to be some quality teams down there. Only time will tell how it shakes out. They can compete with most of 7AAA and they don’t actually have to beat Riverdale to advance in March. Just make it to the Region finals. Lots of ball to be played, but this likely the best group CC has put on the floor in 20 years EDIT: I apologize oldschoolhoops for repeating some of your points. I didn’t see the intitial post, only the second one.

Baird did a much better job up there than he got credit for IMO. Worked hard on his feeder program and was competitive almost every year going up against White County, the Odom teams at Cookeville, and Cumberland after Miller came in. I used to see him every Saturday and Sunday at a gym somewhere coaching or watching a WC travel ball team in the spring.

CC won 45-41

I witnessed HYPE-MAN at summer camp and thought surely that would go away when the real games started. Whatever works for you I guess. If the point is to annoy, they have succeeded. I feel sympathy for the Tullahoma people who have to listen to it every night, I can stand it for two games if I have to. LOL. Much like the hype videos, that stuff only plays when you win. When you don't, it just makes you look silly. They should focus on putting their head down and getting better instead of trying to bring attention to themselves.

Shelbyville rolled Tullahoma tonight. Wow. I’m not surprised at the outcome, but I am surprised how easy it was. Has TTown quit on the little guy already? Honest question. No much defense being played over there.

Coffee handled LC pretty well last night leading by 10-15 most of the second half. Surprised me a little.

Coffee County over Lawrence County 61-33

I’m glad to see you have a sense of humor. I agree with you. Tullahoma has shown some moxie by playing a tough pre district schedule and I commend them for it. I don’t know if it will benefit them any or not, but they deserve credit for it.

Welcome to the T Mrs. McMurtry...

Their top 3 scorers all averaged double figures last year are going to combine for 40-50 a night consistently, but they can become one dimensional at times. Against the majority of the schedule it won't bite them. But, in the games that matter, it could. They have outstanding guard play. Getting a solid contribution in the post will be key. This is the most experience and talent CC has had in a while. They should do very well in district play, but that's why they play the games.

Wow. If true, can’t say that is exactly a surprise. Also wouldn’t be shocked if Alsup had to step in again by Christmas...

1. Coffee County- 7 of top 8 returning 2. Franklin County- too many athletes not to contend 3. Shelbyville - officiating not enough to overcome loss of Holt 4. Lincoln County - young and scrappy, but Tipps worth an extra win or two 5. Tullahoma- one trick pony regardless of transfer. Coach breaks district record for ejections 6. Lawrence County - uncharacteristic of LC to be down 2 years in a row, but I don’t see much change this year 7. Columbia- enough said

We will have to agree to disagree on things evening out - you could take the very best from WC, CC, Tullahoma, and Franklin County and still not compete with the majority of Rutherford county teams. Murfreesboro Oakland in the 70s, 80s, and 90s was far from a powerhouse and were no different than a Warren County, or Coffee County, or even a White County. Then the town exploded and with it came lots of athletes. We lost a CC coach to Murfreesboro (Oakland I believe?) in the early-mid 90s . He won a game or two at CC maybe. Goes to Murfreesboro and kills it. It wasn't support from the administration. It wasn't that he read a coaching book on the drive up there. It was the huge change in the roster.

It is absolutely demographics for the most part. I don't know the WC situation fully, but being a big school does not mean there are untapped athletes just roaming the halls and not playing sports. A few? maybe. I have children at Coffee County and I can say with certainty that the speed and size of the athletes roaming the halls in the Boro schools doesn't even remotely exist at CC and I don't believe it exists in WC either. We occasionally will have a stand out like Alontae, but kids like him come along once every five years. If you haven't the size up front, even having a talent like that isn't going to win games for you. Yes, you can have a great S&C program, but that only takes you so far. A good weight program enhances your athletes, it doesn't build athletes. Combine the lack of natural athletes with going up against murderer's row 5 times a year and absolutely participation will go down. CC's most talented player (IMO) remaining from last year's team decided not to play this year. He has already committed to Louisville to play baseball. A good decision on his part. Why would he risk his future when it clearly lies on the baseball diamond. If you look around southern Tennessee, you don't see Franklin County, Lincoln County, Shelbyville, Warren County competing on a regular basis. They haven't for many years. That's not to say each doesn't have a special group occasionally that wins 5 games, but those winning traditions died out years ago with the population explosion of Rutherford County. The kids that love the game will continue to play, but the ones "on the fence" about the commitment aren't going to. Simple reason is that the beat downs that come from the Blackmans, Oaklands, and even the Riverdales (what happened to Riverdale?) just aren't worth it. CC and WC playing in the Boro region is the equivalent of Carson Newman playing in the SEC. The talent isn't there and the untapped potential isn't there either.

The team I saw last week was no where to be found. They never quit last week. They were done 5 minutes in this week. I never saw a shutout coming and that’s what happened unless the CC starters score on the Tullahoma freshman.

I thought that team was really starting to come together at the end of the season. Is it truly that Huntland is a better school or a personality conflict with the staff?

Holt should have been the MVP IMO. She made more shots when it mattered. Played within the offense and made others around her better. Vinson will have her day as she grows stronger. None of the three would be what I would call hard to guard, but all three will make you pay for leaving them open. Holt in particular. Duncan stats were padded, in many cases, after the outcome had long been decided. Best player - probably. Most valuable- I'm not sure you can quantify that with only 5 district wins. She is a huge talent and could have contributed greatly had she remained in Manchester. Maybe even pushed the young CC team to the next level had she stayed. Choosing your own interests over that of your school or town is no crime, but going to Tullahoma and not a Boro school was a head scratcher. No clue what the MC coach is thinking except maybe more pay and being able to stay in the area and not move. I don't know the home situation, but getting a nice raise without having to relocate would make sense. As for the 8AAA regular season or all-tournament teams. Deals made prior to the vote probably explains the regular season, but no clue what happened in the tournament.

I think there is more talent returning at FC than Shelbyville. Plus, FC is home to her. I could see it.

I was surprised the CC coach didn't win 8AAA COY as well. Winning the district with only 2 losses and in his first year, you would think he would have. Granted, there were 5 first year coaches in the district this year I think, Add that to the fact the girls only got 2 and the boys (who finished 2nd) only had 1 would make you think that CC upset some people at some point. It happens every year to somebody, even in the college ranks. I remember Bruce Pearl getting snubbed one year when he clearly deserved it (before the BBQ lol) . It's just the nature of awards season.

CC 40 SC 38

It's not the fault of the new coach in regards to the schedule CC played this year. The schedule was set before he was hired. Secondly, the team has handled their business on a nightly basis by winning their district games by an average of 23 pts per game. The one loss came when the ghost of Insel appeared inciting the officials to call 4 "fouls" in the last 1:19 of the 4th to put Shelbyville in the bonus. They then proceeded to allow a pass to be caught and shot in .4 seconds, with the player standing out of bounds no less, for the win. Shelbyville and FC losing by 20 to "better competition" doesn't make them tougher than CC. Agree - any team from this district winning a region game borders on fantasy, but Friday night I like CC chances for the district.

I might add LC is probably seething on the long ride home. Girls coach ejected and boys team lose by one it an apparent ( according to their score keeper) scoring error. They lose by one and LC contends a point was missed during the game and game should have been tied. Should make for an interesting return trip in January.

CC handled LC pretty easily. Granted, LC coach ejected in 1st quarter in an odd sequence of events. From the stands, coach did basically nothing to warrant an ejection. It may have made it closer, but CC looked like the better team from the opening tip.

Agreed. Coaching AAU ball doesn't entitle you to extra chances or special treatment. The coach messed up. That doesn't mean he is condemned to never coach again, but it also doesn't give him a pass for showing bad judgment. Tullahoma had no choice once the word started leaking out.

I don't know what his side might be. After the coach with no teaching license last year and the issue with the band director this year, I am sure the last thing the administration wanted to do was to let another employee go under less than flattering circumstances. I don't think they had much choice. Unless he claims he was set up, not much he could say to defend it.