tristar

One: The district looks strong to me not weak, well balanced, with eagleville the one team able to dominate with a strong group of big men. Two: Community did not struggle with Eaglevilles quickness or any body else's quickness. What games were you watching? Eagleville's bigs shut down our inside game and dominated inside on their end. It was the same story all three games. Can't figure this four year running undeserved rant about our guards, who are as good as anybody else's. I guess one dope with an ax to grind starts it and other's just pick it up. Eaglevilles wins on us and everyone else is primarily due to the play of their big guys..credit where it is due..when the opponents guards start sagging to help out, the rest of the team gets lots of good looks from the perimeter..and credit to them, they hit those shots. A strong and well coached team that plays a smart gameplan and plays as a team.

What a round of basketball. Some really great games by four good teams.

last night's scores?

If the Vikings make it past VanBuren in round 1, they have a legit chance to go deep. Eagleville will be tough, they have out played us twice. Since we beat Cascade twice any list that includes them has to consider Community. In D9 Forrest and MTCS can't both advance. I think we match better against MTCS, but we can play with either. We also beat WHH twice, the second time convincingly, so, excepting CA whom we have not seen, we should match up well with any D10 team in the regions.

Stallings from Community for all those reasons

My guess: MTCS over Forrest in a tight game Eagleville over Boyd by a blowout Community over VB by about the same as last game That puts MTCS against Cascade and Eagleville against Community. /popcorneater.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":popcorneater:" border="0" alt="popcorneater.gif" />

At the risk of turning this into a ref discussion: Type 1: Your right that the refs don't often decide the games unless the kids do not adjust, and that is on the kids. Type 2: It is a shame when the refs don't let the kids play, blowing lots of stupid whistles, but as long as it is the same at both ends it does not affect the outcome. Type 3: Refs let to many real fouls go, even when this is the same at both ends, this works in favor of teams that can't defend well without fouling and usually leads to injuries. TSSAA should be an guard on this point. Type 4: The pet ref with an interest intent on affecting the outcome of a game. They are out there and need to be eliminated. The tough part is that when these refs are calling games they are disinterested in, they look like good refs. On to the boys... Cascade is a tough team and the Community game was awsome entertainment. I still think Community puts the most talented team on the court. Cascade and Eagleville have a few players that can take control on any given night, and both play a disruptive scheme on both ends, which makes thier weaknesses less of a factor. I wish our boys played as intense on every play all night the way they do.

The stretch is packed with district games, so sorting it out will be tough right up to the end. The Eagleville-Community game will be a key indicator. My top 3 right now is Eagleville, Community and Cascade. MTCS is not really competitive when they don't have a pet ref in the game. VanB is a real wild card. they are overmatched in at least 2 positions in any combination all night; however, they have some players that are capable of dominating. Forrest is always well prepared, good guards and forwards but none are dominators, weak in the post, good team D but only one on-ball defender. Neither team should be able to beat the top 3 on any given night. (that's why we play the games right).

Anyone who saw the game: how did the teams play? Were there alot of fouls?

Yea, thats the ticket! It must be the point guard. But which one? Get a grip! A team that went through the ringer for two years and has a new young coach in his second year experiences some ups and downs. This is a surprise to anyone? The consistency problem is shared by all of the boys; each has been on a rollercoaster, a solid game followed by a slack game followed by a great game. The mental toughness required to have all of the boys put in a solid game at the same time is the key to this team's success. If they pull it together it will be their year. If not they will have a good but unspectacular year. I believe they will get it done. Go Vikings.

That was no upset. It was a blatent theft. A truley despicable performace by the refs. The TSSAA need to investigate these guys. The integrity of School sports was seriously comprimised.

That's why they play the games...however: Disagree about the athletes, Community has for years been an athletic team. They need to get better at: Mental toughness, teamwork on offense, more consistent point production from some key players. Man for man the top 7 is a matchup problem for anybody. Combined with a killer D and strong rebounding this year should belong to the Vikes.