Campbelle2

It's strange how those three players came back just in time for the district games. It is also strange how Ezell just happened to schedule all district games after Christmas. This seems to have underlying circumstances.

Respect on both sides. Hancock needs to step it up. Cosby played a very good game at the Eagles nest. Goood luck to both teams.

I am in no way saying that Coach Burnette is not a good coach. Coaches and administrators have chances everyday to prove it's not all about winning. This is one of those opportunities. Could they be right about this situation. Maybe, but there must be much more to this than we all know including myself. The team voted them back in. Teenagers don't always know what is best for them. This is not always a good reason to let them back. If this were just before the season started or maybe the first week of the season I might feel different. Coach Burnette has been to the state finals two years in a row and has done a great job there (for the record). I hold the administration more accountable than the coach on this one. Coach Burnette may not have any control in this matter. So, I am not attacking a hard working coach in any stretch of the imagination. I'm sure there was alot of pressure from the fans and alumni to take them back and also on these young men to come back. I wish them the best, but this sand is full of landmines.

No!!! CoachT this is not the end, but only the beginning. These young people will have to raise their heads in the real world. This situation will not make them tougher, but only weaken them. Will their employer let them take a few months off and work when they please? I highly doubt it. Will their wives let them take time off from their marriage and come back when they feel like it. Again, I doubt it. I guess that this is why people only take the words "Till Death Do Us Part" serious when things are going well. There is more at stake here than a basketball game. Decisions made now will affect the long run. This is a very short term solution.

Will their employers in the real world be so forgiving? I think this is sending the wrong message to the all the young men involved. These guys, their coach, and teammates have made the statement that these three guys are bigger than the team. I would rather be 0-30 with guys who actually care than winning lots of games with guys who play because they feel sorry for us. How can these guys earn their playing time considering they have not labored with their teammates. I cannot see how anyone can uphold or make lame excuses for this action. I certainly hope there is more to this than the all-mighty win. Good luck to the Ezell-Harding players and coaches. I hope this was the right decicion for all the young people involved.

I really appreciate the class you show toward your former AAU players. I was in the crowd when you greeted Rocky Nichols' mother and brother. He made the effort to come up in the crowd and greet them. We need more men working with our young people like Coach Stokley. I also know that he is very suportive of his former players at DB, Science Hill, Elizebethton and various other schools in upper East Tennessee. Coach Stokley does a great job and demands respect and discipline. Good luck to Volunteer basketball from a very big Hancock County fan.

Trey is very deserving of this honor. He has truly been one of the great players in the state over the last ten years.

WHeeler did not do any wholesale substituting. They ended up having to call a couple of quick timeouts to regroup in the second half. Maryville played very well in the second half. They just had so little time to prepare mentally without Lee. I would have liked to have seen Lee in that lineup. I have a great deal of respect for the Maryville team and coaching staff, because thay could of quit. Thay came out and played very hard in the second half. Thay played understandably scared in the first half. They are a lot better than they played in the first half even without LEE. Lee does make them go, but there are other fine players on that team.

These teams are not overrated. I saw the DB vs Maryville game and could not figure what was going on. 1st two DB starters were on the bench in the first half. One for the entire first half and another for most of the first quarter. They were either sick, hurt, or being disciplined. DB still lost in a close game. I did not see the Science Hill game, but noticed that their best player sit out the first game of the tourney. The top four teams in regions one and two in no particular order are; Maryville, Science Hill, Greeneville, Kingsport DB. William Blount is not nearly as good as these teams. I have seen all of these teams play. I am also so disappointed that Lee Humphrey did not get the opportunity to showcase his enormous talent against Wheeler. Wheeler might of still won, but it would have never got out of hand in the first half. Humphrey makes his teammates so much better.

I seem to sense excuses in the air!!!!!!! Over Home is not just a good place, but the greatest place on earth!!!! Thanks for your interest in Hancock County HOOPS.

I will be attending the Arby's in Bristol. Just wondering if you or John Shulman will be there? Would like to sit down and talk with you guys. Email me at Campbelle2@hotmail.com P.S. We also need to discuss some people. [Edited by Campbelle2 on 12-24-02 9:22A] [Edited by Campbelle2 on 12-24-02 9:23A]

Trey is doing a very nice job running that team. He will score given time to adjust to the new system. Anyone who saw him play in high school will never question his ability to score. Trey will end up on the SEC all-freshman team and will be all conference in a couple of years. He is the real deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coach Jody Wright at Fulton has done a tremendous job. We at Lincoln Memorial are glad to see one of our alums doing such a great job. I met Jody playing on the modified pitch softball circuit years ago. Jody is one of the top coaches across the entire state. There are many great high school coaches in the Knoxville area. I think that coach Mitchell at Austin East is also one of the best coaches in the state. Keep up the good work with these young student athletes.

This is an unfair advantage. A kid in the rest of the state would have to go to the school in his zone. In Memphis he can come back and pick his school. I bet this is sometimes done with this very situation in mind. If I were a good post player BTW and a great point guard might look very inviting. This is called loading up. AAU ball at its finest.

A kid can move away and come back to the same home change schools and be legal. This can only happen in Memphis. This is the kind of thing that keeps the balance of power in Memphis. [Edited by Campbelle2 on 12-18-02 12:20P]

Can someone give the game time and directions????

When did you see us play this year Big A? Our loses were to Rhea County (a top 10 AAA school on their home court). Chattanooga Notre Dame (a Division 2 contender for the state crown) Rutledge at home and Knox Webb on the road in close games. It is far too early to judge this team or its coach. You are the only one commenting that is not connected to the program. I only wish that people outside the program (who have not seen us play) would show a little compassion. I know you can not understand people who come from a small town, but we are proud of our heritage and tradition. We are also proud to be a part of Indian Basketball and its great players, coaches and fans. I am proud to be a Hancock Countian and to be counted among its great people. Tony did a great job with this program and I wish Coach Johnson the best with continuing our great tradition. I have a great deal of love for these players and would do nothing to hurt this situation. I wish that everyone would just give them and their coach a chance to prove that they are truly winners. To the players: You must ignore the comments on this web site and focus on the task at hand.

I still have a hard time understanding your stake in this matter. Why are you so interested? Who are you and why are you so fast too judge after only 8 games. Coach Johnson has a tough job and it would have been difficult for anyone. I wish that everyone would at least wait until the season is over to judge this team including their coach. These guys and their coach will do just fine. We have played one of the most difficult early schedules that I can remember. We need to be patient. Go away big A.

Have not heard anything official on Seth. Where did you get your info? LMU handed #10 in the nation Carson Newman a 83-52 thumping at Tex Turner arena last night. Great win for the Railsplitters over a very good Carson Newman team.

Hancock County and Rhea County in particular. [Edited by Campbelle2 on 11-30-02 10:27A]

I have saw Volunteer twice this year. They looked very good against Tennessee High. The DB game would have been different if Nelms had not gotten into foul trouble. This coaching staff is very good. They will get the job done if the parents and fans will be patient. I can already see the difference in how hard the kids play versus last year. This team will improve and will a team to be reckoned with. These coaches are excellent. Kids look like they will play with heart.

Hope the injury is not season ending. Hope to see you in that Maplewood basketball uniform this season. I have enjoyed watching you play AAU in the summers. Good luck and may God heal you soon.

Jamie Shannon is currently plays at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tn. LMU is a member of the Gulf South Conference and D-2 of the NCAA. They also have former Lebannon player Leon Love. LMU has a great facility 5500 seats and plays in a great conference and Jeff Tungate is a young star on the horizion in the coaching ranks.

Anyone out there have any info on the scrimmages at Knoxville Karns high school today. I am particularly interested in Hancock Co. vs Bearden and Hancock vs South Doyle. Also Oliver Springs. Who are the great players that played there?

Where's your team that is better? The all-time East Tennessee team! Anthony Roberts Chattanooga Riverside A.W. Davis Rutledge Chris Jones Newport C.J. Black Chattanooga Brainerd Gary Carter Science Hill Skip Brown Kingsport DB Vincient Yarborough Cleveland Elston Turner Austin East Derrick Hord Tennessee High All Upper Northeast Tennessee A.W. Davis Rutledge Chris Jones Newport Ryan Lawson Cherokee Brad Seal Hancock County Eric Coggins Cosby Greg Spurling Knoxville JaMicah Mills Kingsport DB John Caylor Morristown West John Johnson Bearden Elston Turner Austin East These are just a few and I know I have left out worthy players. Help me out. JoVon Johnson Science Hill Shane WIlliams Science Hill Barry Kincaid Powell Valley Nathaniel Bailey Science Hill I can't believe I forgot these guys.