Asitis

Great article in Sunday's Jackson Sun about a fine young man. http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20120115/SPORTS/201150309/HIGH-SCHOOL-BASKETBALL-Fitzgerald-family-setting-records-basketball-court

Update from the West (We ARE in two districts): West District 1: Lausanne 5-0 (have beaten everybody once but Bishop Byrne) FACS 3-1 (lost to Lausanne, haven't played ECS yet) Harding 3-1 (lost to Lausanne, beat ECS by 10 @ ECS) ECS 2-2 (lost to Lausanne and Harding) Bishop Byrne 2-2 (lost to Harding and FACS) SBEC 0-4 (winless so far, lost to FACS by only 5 and BB by 2) Catholic 0-4 (winless so far by big margins) Key games coming up: Lausanne (ECS/Home, Harding/Away, FACS/Home) FACS (ECS-Lausanne-Harding/all Away) Harding (ECS-Lausanne-FACS/all Home) ECS (Lausanne/Away, Harding/Away, FACS/Home) West District 2: USJ 3-1 (beat JCS by 11 last night @ JCS, FA by 24 and TRA by 5 @ TRA) St. George 3-1 (beat USJ by 13 @ home, lost to FA by 5 @ FA, beat JCS by 10 and TRA @ TRA) JCS 2-2 (lost to USJ and SG, beat RC and TRA) Fayette Acad. 2-1 (beat SG and RC, lost to USJ) Tipton RM 1-3 (beat RC, didn't pull off the much needed upset I mentioned) Rossville Christian 0-3 (winless so far by big margins) Key games coming up: USJ (SG/Home, FA/Away) SG (USJ/Away, JCS-FA/both Home) JCS (FA/twice, USJ-SG/Away) FA (USJ/Home, SG/Away, JCS/twice) Other games of interest: ECS blew out JCS by 25 @ Home (early) Lausanne beat JCS by 18 @ JCS (early) FACS beat JCS by 6 @ JCS (Xmas tourney) SG beat Harding by 6 @ Home and Webb School by 35 Harding lost to FRA by 3 @ FRA (any insight on this, that's what I saw?) TRA beat Webb School by 28 @ Home (don't know that this interest anybody) Still anybody anybody's game but right now given the schedules I would give Lausanne, Harding, USJ and SG the nod. But as you have seen...this could do a 180 in a matter of days. All I know. Feel free to correct all my mistakes.

Liberty won 74-56. Looks like McNairy was up by 1 at the end of 3 then got outscored 29-10 in the final period.

Hey Gman, Is the E/M split now in to two districts? I thought I remembered they did that in football? If so, who's in what? May have already been? Thanks!

You should know after 4 years of it that penetration is not part of this offense. The double team was not as big a part of it as him not being in the game period. USJ was outscored by 11 in the deciding 2nd quarter in which he wasn't allowed to play in much. They will get it back together where as we as Dad's need to stick together as well. Just sayin

I tend to be as confused about the West as everyone else, and we are in it. I think the main thing is everyone seems to be tough to beat at home? There are not many crossover games between the two "districts" so you are left comparing common opponents and usually confused. SG picked up a big win @ JCS so that could be big when all is said and done. I expect SG to take a couple more losses on the road as well but that is assuming they don't shoot 80% from 3 in every game. USJ plays @ JCS Tuesday night and that is always a tough game for us. Right now I think the top 4 are: USJ, SG, FA and JCS in one district and: ECS, Lausanne, Harding and FACS in the other as expected. Things could end up in any order. TRA should pull off another upset @ home and throw a wrench in things like they did last year. Glover has a target on his back, not only from opposing defenses but seemingly from officials who obviously think he must be doing something illegal to score at will. I guess that is expected and I know the kid will work through it. USJ will do fine as long as he can stay in the game even if he is temporarily shut down. If he's out, we don't really have another inside presence and the outside game seems to struggle when zones are extended. The only comparison I can find between the two regions is FRA beating Harding by 3 I think at FRA? I know that doesn't tell me a lot and like everyone else, I wish there was more play during the season between the two regions.

USJ loses @ St. George's Friday night 63-50. The two guards for SG shot lights out again and USJ did not shoot well at all. Never seem to get it going in that gym in the last few years. My heart goes out to John Ross. They made it clear from the start that he was not going to be allowed to play in that game. 2 fouls in the first quarter and 4 by half. Sat most of the game before returning in the 4th and being eliminated almost immediately upon returning. Seemed pretty deliberate to me and was laughable to say the least. Maybe 1 foul in the first quarter but the other 4 calls made the intentions pretty obvious. For a kid that works so hard and rarely gets in foul trouble, I felt for him. Hats off to the two kids from SG who couldn't miss and to the ref who felt it appropriate to act out Glover's last foul @ mid-court during the ensuing time-out while obviously trying to justify his call, you only made yourself look worse. Acting out something that didn't happen will not change what people actually saw. This loss should make this team more determined. Through venting

JR has officially signed with Lipscomb, which IS a D1 school. Could he have gone to a larger, absolutely. I'm not sure of the offers but I assume that he and his family felt this was a good fit for him and that he liked everything about it? I don't know much about the school but I expect him to make an impact and he won't be lost in the shuffle or never be heard from again, which happens more than not. He has improved this year but he's also playing on a different type of team than in years past. Winning seems to be the main goal and not who outscores who. If you can't stop him, they will keep on giving him the ball. Ask Middleton. Triple team him and they got enough shooters to make you come out of before long. So far, it's been a joy to watch, I hope they keep it up.

I agree with you 100% and preach it on a nightly basis. Not sure what happened here, but these kids need to understand just being in the wrong place at the wrong time can change life as you know it. Another unfortunate incident.

USJ beat Fayette Academy in a sloppy game last night 60-36. Teams are starting to sag and triple team Glover but you can't do that with as much success this year as you could last. More outside shooters this year and well...Glover is better this year than last. If he can hit his free throws and the outside shots keep falling things will be ok. Team is doing a good job this year of playing unselfish (unlike last) and taking what the other team is giving. Saw where St. George's beat JCS by 10 and Harding beat ECS by the same. Lausanne continues to roll and FACS is winning as well. Seems to be another year of parity in the West. Interesting note about Hodge? Any idea if it's long term or just a few games? Never heard of Nash. Like I said before, Good luck to you guys until Feb. or so...then not so much.

I saw 59-11 on another site.

Agreed. Great game by both teams. Sloppy on USJ's part but very hard fought by all the kids. Great officiating crew (did I really just say that). Fair on both sides and didn't try to be the center of attention. They let Glover get pushed around a little more than they should but all in all, I will take those three on any given night. But, and there is a but....they did miss one near the end. The ball can't cross the plane of the top of the board in EITHER direction, so you can't shoot from behind the goal back over the front and it count...although that was one heck of a shot from a really good player in Hall. Good luck to both schools moving forward. TCA is gonna be a hand full in that district.

They will be fine as I'm sure Ezell will be as well. I think a lot of time we get caught up in the mind set of picturing last years team, in that setting, without the Seniors lost this year. As you know, that's not the case at all if you half way understand what I'm trying to say? New year, new opponents, some different kids. As with Ezell, USJ would not have done well last year without everybody they had but you can't really look at it that way. USJ is playing only 5 or 6 right now mainly because that's all they have. 3 starters only, but 2 of the other 3 will see playing time when everybody gets back. Missing our point (which shows tremendously) and another presence inside (which shows tremendously). That should be fixed now and give em a couple of weeks together and things will be fine. Wins over Madison and MEHA (I think), but surprisingly only lost to Munford by 6 and Brighton by 5. Not sure about Munford, kind of a chaotic game, but Brighton is supposed to do pretty well in 13AAA this year (I think). More outside shooters this year and Hensley should have played last year and ironically in my opinion, was the missing link last year...sitting over there on the bench the whole time. Now....as I explained to Geeman, the numbers 69-68 are never to be used on any board ever again. I hope we can continue the civil respect we ended with last year and not join the masses of posters taking pot shots. Not saying you were....just sayin. Hope you guys have a good year until Feb or so then not so much : )

You really don't know what I was trying to do and it's really not your place to state what the reason my post really was. That's my opinion and in your own words, my right to have it. Your comment about academics and character do not make your case stronger and as I am sure Caleb is fine young man and have stated as such, you yourself need to dig into those same aspects on the other side. Nobody is going to agree on this and that is what these forums are for. One side will bash my opinion while the other sits back and shakes their head over how you are insinuating that "academics and character" were deciding factors and favored one over the other.

Congrats to Blance on a great career. Outside of the obnoxious tweets and the sideline temper tantrum (one disadvantage of not having visitors stands) I am sure he is an upstanding young man and very deserving of this award......last year...when he was not even nominated....and should have been. But, this is not the 2008-2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, it is the 2011 Mr. Football Award and anyone that says they were not shocked when Lee Mayhall's name was not called is probably lying or just doesn't know much about D2 as a whole while sitting in their little East TN bubble. As for how this award is selected, it is my understanding the vote is made by Sports Writers across the state, which in my eyes explains the entire thing. When your own local paper spends majority of it's time pumping up players from their own local favorite, it was probably a lose-lose from the get go. I expected to awake to the JSun Headline "Bowles Reacts to Mr. Football Vote" but I guess it did not make the deadline. Maybe tomorrow. If any of this sound harsh, my apologies, it is not to take away from any of the kids mentioned above. My frustration is directed towards the so called grown-ups who have now apparently "overlooked" USJ when two weeks ago their coaches were too great to ever let something like that happen. Additional frustration directed to those responsible for what I consider...In my opinion...and my opinion only, a "wrong doing".

Agreed, and this will only make those two more determined. That being said, I'm sure every year there are the same old statements made over and over about who should have won and who shouldn't have but this is one for the ages if you ask me. I'm not that knowledgeable about the lineman, I'm sure they were all very deserving so I won't comment. Hensley has another year and I expect him to be standing up there again. As for the Back....not to take away anything from Blance, the wrong person walked off the stage with that one. Mr. Football 2011 should be based on, well 2011. Congrats to all the winners. I'm not trying to take away from nor discredit accomplishments. But I would love to hear differing opinions as long as they are back up by reasonable facts.

Obviously not based on anything.....I'm at a loss for words.

Congrats to John Ross...Hard work always pays off!

That will shoot them out of a game just as fast as they do in...... I think you are selling Glover a little short and putting a little more weight on a "assistant local college coach's" opinion than you should.

Can you maybe stop bringing that up.......?

I may be wrong, but I think ECS (although a very good team), may have just had one of those weekends during the regional tournament. Noone was going to beat them in THAT gym, on THAT particular weekend. Going in to that week, looking at the season schedule and results, there was nothing that really pointed to an upcoming 30 point loss? We did not play very well, but they had a lot to do with that. I think the crowd was an issue and they have some very enthusiastic fans and students. It was just one of those things. They are a better TEAM than USJ, but player for player, we were not out-matched at any postion. Like the previous poster stated, Kasper is a 6'-3" gaurd who handles the ball very well and just makes those around him better. Weaver is the one that lit us up for 28 or so but outside of a few, he was set up mainly by Kasper. He shoots really well so I am curious as to what happened with him against USN. Only had 2 or so I think? Bear with me on the names, but Armfield was another guard who seemed to be pretty sound and Teed was another. They did not seem to be a huge factor in our loss, but I'm sure they contributed silently and were just overshadowed the night we played them. Harrington is the man in the middle, but he's not that big I don't think. That night was all about Kasper driving, dishing for easy buckets and countless 3's by Weaver (outside of an impressive dunk down the lane on a steal by Kasper). They will press and go after every pass, ride the momentum and play very well together, which we all know can make good teams great. I can only draw an opinion based on what I have seen and the scores of certain games that I have found. Our game against them was not a very good indication of how everyone stacks up in our district. ECS did not blow people out during the season like they did over that weekend, nor did they run all over USN like some (including myself) had thought they would. All in all, I think you will match up better with them than people have boasted (including myself), and gettig them on a nuetral site will be an advantage. The two teams are similar in that you both play well together and no one seems to really care who scores as long as you win. Good luck this week. I had planned on going.....but that didn't work out

First of all, hats off to a very hard nosed Ezell team. They refused to go away and were rewarded in the end. Clutch shots by the two kids you mentioned and something they will remember for the rest of their lives. My heart hurts for the USJ kids. They had a great year and I hope that they understand just how proud of them we all are. To the seniors that have been a part of this from day one, it has been a joy watching you play and even though it may not seem to have ended well, you have a lot to be proud of and without you, the opportunity would not have even been there. I remember back at hearing my dad tell me how proud of me he was. At the time, being a care-free teenager, that did not mean nearly as much as it does now. Until you have a son of your own, you don't really understand what that means. So for all you hard-nosed kids out there, know that one day, you will understand just how much pride and joy you bring to us dads. One day you will be in our shoes and really understand what that meant. Now to the game. Having officiated before, I was really suprised that at this stage of the season, sub-state games, that is what we ended up with. I did not think it was very good at all, for EITHER team. Like the Gman said, there were multiple charging calls on both sides that I didn't truly understand? In addition, it was if you had to wait 5-10 seconds after each whislte till they made up their mind what the call was going to be? It seemed to me as if they were doing as some say "calling the scoreboard"? Every time either team had any kind of momentum, there seemed to be a whislte that killed it pretty quick. I guess in hind site, that I am extremely greatful that the game was not decided by a call. Other than the foul on the last 3, they actually let it almost get out of hand near the end. In the end, free throws, mistakes and a couple of coaching decisions in addition to a couple of GREAT plays by the Ezell kids determined the outcome of this game. Also, it's not very many times when my child comes home and says "those guys were pretty nice", especially after just losing a heartbreaker. Usually, I have to hear how cocky so-and-so was and how much trash someone else was talking the whole game. That doesn't seem to be the case here. Call me old fashioned, but given the direction and competition today's high school sports has gone, it still gives me a good feeling to see opposing kids helping each other up off the floor? Good luck to you guys in the tournament. ECS seems to have come back down to earth a little and you have proven you can play with FRA, so anything can happen from this day on.

It is really hard to compare the E/M to the West? Usually you can find some common opponents to try and judge the others strength but that doesn't seem to be the case this time? So, no one will really have any idea how each Region compares to the other until late Friday night? Being from the West, all I can really say is that ECS will be VERY hard to beat at home.....by anyone. Especially if they continue their streak as of late. They are a very impressive team and Kasper is the real deal. Not only by his contributions but also in the way he makes those around him better. A true team player. Weaver is the perfect compliment to Kasper and is capable of shooting the lights out if he gets hot. All the rest compliment the team in general but aren't gonna beat you by themselves. The only thing I know about USN is that Nilan leads the show. I have seen him play and although he's very talented, he is not gonna beat you. FACS will look very impressive when they walk out with a lot of height and talent yet something is missing? The big man shows spurts of greatness but doesn't seem to insert himself very much like most teams would with a 6'-7" athelete would do. They seem to just be content on moving the ball around with noone really ever looking to score that much. Just my opion yet was really puzzled by this team? USJ plays well at home but that's about all the input I'm giving "dgeeman" right now Don't know much about Ezell nor FRA. Other than like dgeeman says, it does look like this Region was very evenly matched. Good luck to all teams, it should be fun. Hope everyone has safe trips.

They have obviously gotten a lot better than when we scrimmaged them on Nov. 11th. I think they were knocked out of football the week before so I'm not sure if I saw the whole team or not? I didn't see this coming at all..... Either way, good luck to them. Makes things a little more exciting around the Jackson area.

No, they aren't playing any of the teams you listed above. And like I said before, you are 100% correct about playing teams like. It would only make you better when it counts. I think the football team suffered from having 2 or 3 blowout games the weeks right before playoffs. Not saying that is why they lost, but I do think it would have made them better to be challenged the weeks before.