Bigkid2

Here we go again. High School Women Basketball is always fun and always fun to predict..... even if the prognostications are blatantly wrong. Father Ryan appears to be improved on defense and over all from last year. Yet is it young in the season and it appears they have not played any significant opponent. In contrast, FRA has had 6 games (5-1)with it's only loss to Ensworth 46-38. They had victories over Goodpasture, Hume-Fogg, DCA, Harpeth Hall and Stewart County. They gave up only 26.6 points per game, including Ensworth. Conventional wisdom would say it will be a low scoring game. Knowing Chris Hart, it will be low scoring for Father Ryan. Final score 45-31 FRA......but then again it could be the other way around....lol.

It is always difficult in High School to look at common opponents to determine an outcome of a game. Any given day one team can beat another. That being said here are the common opponents of FRA and Harding who face each other Thursday afternoon in the State Semi-Finals. Harding 57 USN 54 Harding 51 St Georges 47 FRA 55 USN 23 FRA 35 USN 15 FRA 52 St Georges 16 Harding has a great star in Kayla Keyes. She is a great offensive player. She will score many points but not enough to overcome a FRA defense that only allows 27 points a game and 6 out of the last 9 games held their opponents to less than 20 points.

Fayette has had a great year record wise. And they should win against Ezell Harding. But as we all know when you are in one and done territory anything can happen. I am very familiar with the East/Middle but know little about the West. Looking at the Commercial Appeal it looks like Fayette has a great record but not the toughest competition. I don't know if that is correct or not. Knox-Webb and FRA from the East/Middle appear to have played and played well much tougher competition. But I would value your or anyones comments. FRA vs St. George is also at 6 tonight

Whatever happens between CPA-DL will be good for Division AA basketball. Both are quality programs with excellent coaches and players....... Now the hypothetical..... What would have happened if FRA (I am a parent and fan) were still in the District. They beat DL and lost to CPA by one. Just a thought. For FRA and D II-A it has been very good. They have been dominated allowing only 27 points per game. But what I miss most is they have NO ONE interested in coachT so I am a frustrated sports fan with no place to vent..... Be thankful for coacht and for the fans that participate. Both myself and VanMan miss the banter and fun of the interaction. Bigkid2

Division II A East/ Central Regional Pairings Knox-Webb (1) vs Ezell Harding (5) FRA (2) vs USN (3)

Last night the FRA Lady Panthers played and beat JPII in double overtime. So far this year FRA has played and beaten Harpeth Hall, Father Ryan, BGA and JPII. Their only loss is to Knox Webb. Since there is little discussion on Div II A I thought I would comment here. FRA is 7-1. FRA has a special group of young ladies that is improving with every game. Led by Derica Wyatt, sophomore and Miss Basketball last year the Lady Panthers should continue to do well in and our of thier region. Derica is just 4 points from 1000 in her high school career. She should get those against David Lipscomb on Friday the 17 at FRA. We have not games until then because of finals. Good luck to all the DII AA teams during the regional play. I know all will do well. I also know my Lady Panthers will be in the State Tournament pushing for the gold ball and championship rings......

Can anyone tell me about Cheatham County this year. FRA plays them Friday and I don't know much about the team and new coach.

FRA started slow leading 9-8 at the end of the first quarter. But a continual press and some great play helped the Lady Panthers to a 59-34 win over Goodpasture. Nine players scored for FRA led by Derica Wyatt with 22 points. Most of they players for FRA got at least a quarter time of play. Cheatham County is next for FRA. How good are the FRA girls... ? Each game will tell. Cheatham County always has a good team but will they be able to keep up with FRA?

I beleive BGA is Div II AA. Also I heard recently that Johnson is NOT at Knox Webb this year. This could dramatically change Knox Webb and their results. If anyone can confirm this and potentially other changes in Div II A teams please do so. FRA opens their season tomorrow against Goodpasture. For those of you following other teams please try to give a brief summary of the games. It is always fun to read what is going on.

Let me start by stating I have a bias. I am an FRA fan. This years team has 4 returning starters and everyone is healthy. Last year they lost in the Championship game. They look to be bigger stronger and hopefully ready. The two stand out teams in the east/central appear to be Knox Webb and FRA. Davidson Academy lost their coach and post to CPA (Div I)but could still be good. USN has talent back but I don't know if they have matured like the other teams probably have. DCA always comes up with a good team and could be the sleeper behind FRA and Knox Webb. Ezell Harding lost some fire power but will always be competative. St Cecilia may also be a sleeper but I believe the competition is going to be very stiff.So my pick for the finish in the east/central is as follows: FRA Knox Webb DCA Davidson USN Ezell Harding St Cecilia Swanee Zion Christian Mt Juliet Christian Webb School Riverside Christian King's Academy If someone from the West could give us your rundown it would be aprreciated. And those in the East, pick this apart so we can have some discussion.

It is interesting that Knox Webb has 488. That is twice 240 that FRA has. 240 is probably close to the same for DCA. Both are first time in Div II A and the state semi finaiists therefore pretty much no scholarships athletes since all the starters have been there for both teams and could not accept scholarships in Div I and play. How long was Knox Webb Div II AA? How many scholar athletes are on the girls team? Just a question...not a comment. No matter the Middle/East is well represented in the state final 4. Should be some very good basketball this coming week.

Just got back from the FRA-Lausanne game. FRA wins it 53-37. Derica Wyatt scores 20 and FRA out rebounds Lausanne nearly 2 to 1. It is unfortunate that Lausanne was down two excellent starters. Lausanne led at half 23-18. But the second have belonged to FRA outscoring Lausanne 35-14. It was the first loss at home in over 4 years for the Lausanne girls. Knox Webb ends Fayette Academy's season 48-40, Harding beats Davidson and DCA beats USJ. Three teams out of the Middle/East enter the semi finals on Thursday. I am sure the pairings will be done in short order....

PHargis My thoughts are based on two items. The games left between the top teams and that EH, DCA and Knox Webb win out. If that is the case then all three are tied with only loses to Davidson and FRA. Then the EH win over KW and KW win over DCA and DCA win over EH during conference play....What is the next selection and placement criteria since they will all have won the same number of regional games??

A definate one to follow in Div II A is Knox Webb. Their star was out for a good part of the season ands now is back. They will end up in a three way tie in the East/ Middle with DCA and Ezell Harding. Ezell beat Knox Webb, Knox Webb beat DCA and DCA beat Ezell. All lost to both Davidson and FRA. They also beat the rest of the field. The placing for Knox Webb will be important. I don't know how they decide this one for placement in the regional tournament. Davidson will be #1, FRA #2 but who next? Knox Webb will most likely have to play both in the regional. They are the hot team right now. Although Davidson at 20-1 and FRA at 19-3 aren't too cold.

FRA beats DCA 46-32. It was an ugly game but DCA was definately out matched. DCA kept it close but in the fourth quarter FRA just gradually pulled away. Free throws down the stretch even helped more. With the win I believe FRA should secure the #2 spot in the region. They still have USN and four of the bottom 6 teams in the region left to play. Even with a loss to USN and DCA winning out over Davidson, Davidson will be #1, FRA #2 and DCA #3. If DCA loses to Davidson, then Ezell could end up #3 and Knox Webb #4 with DCA #5. I think USN with games against FRA, Knox Webb and Davidson most likely will lose one of those at least and probably be 6th in the region. But there is still alot of basketball to find placement in the regional tournament.

DCA over FRA would not necessarily be an upset. FRA beat them early in the season but DCA didn't have one of their key starters. FRA and DCA coaches are both very good coaches and very good friends. It is always a good game and should be tonight. If you have nothing to do it would be good basketball with two very fundamentally excellent teams. USN over Davidson would be an upset. Young and athletic but Davidson is balanced and well disciplined....that is what will win out on Friday.

Thanks Westtnman. FRA-Ezell Harding game was the same, packed. We hear nothing on the west schools in Middle Tenn. Who is leading and what does the region look like as far as the final 4?

I agree from our region with your choices. I think that Knox Webb will be the 4 or 5 seed because of losses to EH, FRA and Davidson. If both Davidson and FRA beat DCA then Knox Webb should have the 4 seed because of the win over DCA. They could be matched again against Davidson in the semi final game. If DCA wins one of the games against FRA and Davidson then they will be the 2 seed and FRA 3 with Ezell as the 4. These assume they win out after. USN has to play FRA and Davidson. They are young and athletic but I don't think this is their year.

Div II poll is pretty realistic for the Div II A teams.. Davidson (16-1) will be ahead of ( FRA 16-3) in the next poll, FRA beat Ezell Harding (16-4) and should be ahead of them. How they stand with the Div II AA teams I don't know but they all play solid basketball and should be ranked in that order for Div II A. I have not seen much press on the West Div II A teams but would really like to know what is going on. The Tennessean doesn't post them and coacht isn't getting consistant call ins. Can anyone tell me what is going on out West?

I have been coming to Coacht for several years and have been posting for the last two or three. Those years we were in Div I 9AA. Ezell Harding, CPA, Pearl Cohn, Hume Fogg, FRA, MLK, David Lipscomb. There were multiple posts each week about many of the games and teams. Thanks to the TSSAA ( of which I am no fan) the private schools had to move(discussion for a later date) to Div II. Now our competion isn't from here and obviously doesn't know or care about coacht. Even Davidson doesn't have their complete games on the page. King Academy forfeited rather than having to come back because to play FRA so a 2-0 victory which throws off both the ppg on offence and defense. The Tennessean failed to recognize Eakes from Ezell Harding for hitting the 1000 point mark in the FRA-EH game that was one of the major regular season games of Div II A girls basketball season. Not even a mention in the paper of the outcome in words. In fact when I read the score and the short one liner on the internet the told of Eakes but said she led them to victory over FRA. Dah, the box score an inch higher on the page showed the real score. I obviously called and corrected. The teams in this division also have a tendancy not to phone in the games when you play in their areas. FRA played Webb and Derica Wyatt scored a season high 34 points but it is not recorded on either the coacht or the Tennessean stats. So enough ranting. Div II A has some very good teams that will go unnoticed. Davidson is excellent and young, FRA is excellent and young, USN is young and very athletic and will only get better, Know Webb will be much better with the return of their star, DCA is young and very good. Ezell Harding is very good. But no matter, there appears to be little or no enthusiasm for the fans in general and coachT or through the local papers.

FRA's game against Webb School last night (1/19/10) was a region game. How do you change it? it is posted as a non region game.

One of the biggest games of the Div II A regular season will be played Friday at 6pm at Davidson. Davidson has a very strong team with Alex Warfield and Faith Legate leading the way. Becky Legate (Davidson Coach) always has her girls prepared. Their 11-1 record shows they are ready on the court. FRA also is having an excellent season with both a strong outside game and a very solid defense. Derica Wyatt leads the team in scoring, threes, and several other categories. This is a young team with only one senior. At 14-2 with losses to CPA and JP II and a win over Blackman they have played a tough schedule. A side note is that these girls (many of them) have played AAU basketball together. In addition the Davidson boys basketball coach (Kevin Maggard) coached the FRA spring AAU team for two years. He is a great motivator. Watch for an excellent game and probably a close one.

FRA vs USN is postponed until February 9. Kings Academy forfeited to FRA...... So how do I put that in the "score"

FRA beat Tennessee 40-32. They Play Blackman this evening. Blackman has many tools and should be the favorite. But don't count FRA out. They are scrappy and play excellent defense. Still a young team with only one senior, they will be good for the next few years. It is fun to watch them. Their #5 player, Erin Ford, is a normal 4 but with injuries and sickness is playing a 5. She is undersized (5'9") but amazingly holds her own against much bigger players. Tough lady. Derica Wyatt continues to be hot. Great young freshman player. Should be a D1 prospect at the best schools. The tournament has been a good one. Blackman will compete for the DI AAA state title, FRA for DII A, Clarkrange for DI A. Lewis County and Moore County will also go far in their categories. Thanks for all you who came out to the games. It is great to see the fans follow the teams across the state. Best of luck to all the teams as conference play gets into full swing.

The games yesterday were good. The Blackman/Lewis County game was closer than the score. Lewis County has a real spark and is aggressive. The definately do not have size but make uop for it in hustle and desire. If they play the way they did against Blackman they will beat BGA easily... But it is tounament play and anything goes. Blackman is strong and will do well. The center got into foul trouble early and was benched a good part of the game. The should and are the favorite. The Tennessee/Mooore County game was really (unfortunately) an officials game. Tennessee shot, are you ready, 56 free throws. Also Moore County had turnover problems in the first half that also impacted the game. Both are good teams and will do well this year. Moore County should have a relatively easy time with ECS. FRA dominated BGA from the start. The score was 16-4 with a couple of minutes left in the first quarter. Freshman Derica Wyatt for FRA had 25 points and had 3 3 pointers in the first quarter. FRA Tennessee should be a good game but look for FRA to win that one.