bigbird

The Clarkrange guys should steel themselves for a brutal game. Grace is like a sleeping giant that was rudely awakened. They beat weak teams while snoozing. Temple beat them by almost twenty points in the first match up of the season and Silverdale beat them in double overtime - a team that did not make it past the first round of the regions. Since that Silverdale loss, Grace has been a completely different team.

All smack talking aside, there aren't any bad teams playing Monday night and, across the state, it is anyone's game. Clay is hosting the sectional for a reason. I have been in the "Dawg House" before and it is loud and rowdy. The fans really show great support for their team. It is extremely difficult for the best of teams to travel almost three hours and play a win or go home game in a loud, hostile environment. I have heard that Clay plays excellent defense and holding eleven teams to forty points or less is a testament to your defense. The big question is your offense. That is the problem area for you all, I think. But, you do not have to have a big offense, if your defense creates plenty of turnovers and stops. (Is it Monday, yet?)

Thanks for the good words on the Clay/Temple thread. The way you guys are playing right now, you guys should be skinning a bunch of buffaloes Monday night. I noticed that no one has started a Grace/Clarkrange thread yet. Is that because there really is not anything to say? How did the ref mock Harper? I did not catch that.

No, I really do not think that Clay had that much to do with it. It could have been any team that night. Temple had a double digit lead going into the fourth quarter (I think). We had actually started to run the clock down and one or two of our players started unravelling, there were a couple of times where one of our players uncharacteristically missed free throws, and a couple of times when we failed to put a ball in the basket after rebounding it three or four times, especially at the end of the game when we were down by one. There were also some obvious hokey calls during the fourth quarter. For those of us who watched that team all season we knew it was an off night for them. Every team has an off night at times and that night just happened to be the wrong night to have an off night. If you remember, Clay was put out the first round of the tournament. Grace finished runner up at the tournament and Temple played Grace that season five times and was neck and neck with them every game except one. In fact, Temple beat Grace for the district title. So, yes, I think Temple's loss was more about Temple beating themselves. Honestly, region three is one of the toughest regions in the state. http://tfponline.com/news/2009/mar/06/c ... te-worthy/ To your teams' credit, they played ball and made sure that they covered things on their end and put themselves in a position to win, but it was more about needing Temple to fail than about Clay's ability to win. Just my honest opinion and you did ask. The only way Clay can win Monday night is for Temple to have an uncharacteristic off night. Your fans were great the last time we were there and all your folks were very nice. Since our school is not on Sring break this time, mayber we can bring up more than twenty or thirty people. I hope Clay plays their absolutely best game of the season.

Some interesting facts: Clay's defense has held an opponent to forty points or less eleven times. That is pretty good. Clay has only been held to forty points or less twice and won both games. Clay has never scored more than 67 points and averages 54 points a game. Temple has only held an opponent under forty points five times. Not bad. Temple has never been held to less than 54 points. Temple scores an average of 71.6 points a game. On paper, Temple is the better team and should win by double digits. But, Temple was the better team on paper the last time these two teams met. To the Clarkrange team that is traveling to play Grace, you already know what is in store for you. Great job on making it this far and try to have some fun at your last basketball game, especially you seniors.

I guess we will have to mind our manners, fellas, seeing as how their is a lady present. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

I apologize to you Grace fans if you thought I was putting down your team by saying they needed to play a near perfect game to beat Temple. What I mean by that is that Temple plays very consistently and until recently Grace has not. Grace is doing a wonderful job at shaking off the reputation of the last two years and your coach has played a vital role in getting the players to have the mental toughness they needed. Someone said in an earlier post that Silverdale awoke a sleeping giant. How true! Even though I despise losing to Grace, it bothers me more to see a team not play their best. Last night was about as an intense and enjoyable game as I have seen all season. You guys showed excellent composure in the third quarter last night. Temple came out and started a run, your coach called time out, then you guys took over on some great defensive plays and won the third quarter and that was the difference in the game. As far as the fouls go on Patrick, I would say that you all are probably used to that from what I can tell (Patrick is in foul trouble more than any player I know). I did think one or two of the five fouls he received were questionable but they happened too far away from me to really comment about. Actually, I thought there were plenty of questionable fouls to go around.

It has been awhile since we came up to Clay County. The last time we came we ended up at what I think was the old high school and it was dark. Fortunately, there were a couple of people there who steered us to the right place. I just Googled the high school and got two different addresses for the school. One showed the school being in Kentucky. Any help on a good "GPS-able" address to the gym?

You are right! I remember when we came up there in 2006 you guys were very hospitable and gracious in your win.

Well, I am glad you have a good sense of humor... You really do not want to get me started on the smack talking. I will end up embarassing myself /blush.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blush:" border="0" alt="blush.gif" /> Click here for Chattanooga Times article...

Grace and Temple both played good games and I thought the game was very intense and could have ended up either way. Grace proved themselves to be mentally tough and played a "nearly perfect" game. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> The turnovers were the downfall tonight for Temple. Most of the turnovers that I remember were more mental mistakes on Temple's part than pressure from Grace. Congratulations to Grace on another good win and well played game. I believe the Golden Eagles are playing absolutley the best basketball I have seen from their school in years! They may be as good or better than the 2006 team that finished runner up at the state tournament. I was very proud of Temple's men fighting until the buzzer and never giving up or giving in when they were behind. Kevin Skogen told the football players at the loss against Friendship Christian a couple of years ago that losing is the real test of your character. I thought you guys showed real character tonight! Temple's "student" section won the contest tonight on spirit /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

It looks like it was a good defensive effort on the side of both teams. Congratulations to Clay County on a hard fought win. I was shocked to hear that it was such a low scoring game. I cannot comprehend any team holding Temple to just 31 points. I am not sure that Temple could hold any team to just 31 points unless they were just weak. It will be interesting to come up to Clay County again. I was there when Temple lost at Clay County the last time and the loss was more about Temple beating themselves then Clay's superiority - Was there some homecooking there back then? I do not remember... /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Grace has to play a nearly perfect game to beat Temple. Temple must play a level of defense that helps make sure that Grace's shot percentage drops and force Grace's big scorers to feel like they need to take over.

Grace will need to play better than they did last night to beat Temple. The only way Grace can beat Temple is to play a nearly perfect game. If both teams play nearly perfect, I give the edge to Temple. If Temple plays nearly perfect and Grace has an off night, it will be close to a twenty point difference. I am talking about being on at both ends of the court. The big issue to me is whether Temple plays solid defense or not. Your defense should always show up whether the shots fall or not and Temple can defend any team when they decide to play it. I really appreciate what Marcum said in the paper about the team's defense last night.

I am not sure I would agree with you whole heartedly (maybe half-heartedly /cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /> ) Humboldt, Lake County, and Union City are definitely very good teams! As far as saying that 14A is the strongest by a fairly large margin, I think that is a little bit of stretch. I would say they have been stronger in the last four years only because Union City has two tournament appearances and two titles. That is pretty strong. Temple and Grace together only make up one title and one runner up, respectively. But... Temple has been to the Boro 3 out of 4 and Grace only 1 of 4. Lake County has not been to the tournament at all. And, of course, Humboldt has been 3 out of 4, missing last year and making it four years ago while in AA getting put out during the semis by Grace and Temple respectively. Union City's success their two trips defninitely gives 14A and edge. I would also give the edge to 14A because in the last four years a district 5 team has played in a title game twice and a distric 14 team has played in a title game three times. I think you and I agree that district 14 is and has been the strongest district the last four years, but maybe you would agree that district 5 is right there with you all. In fact, it would be safe to say that Region 3 and Region 7 are the two toughest regions in the state based upon trips to the tournament and the subsequent success.

I want to see Temple to play good hard defense. Defense wins championships. It is good defense that gives Temple distinction. But... I would not mind seeing some very good and aggressive offense. I thought Jarrod Johnson's statement in today's Times Free Press was on point: "I feel like we came out playing to win instead of playing as a team,??? said senior Jarrod Johnson, whose dunk punctuated the Crusaders??™ 17-1 third-quarter run. ???In the second half, our attitude really made the difference..." Temple Goes On

I went back and read my post again and I had forgotten that all three of us will be in the same district next year, right? Wow! What a tough district! Three state title contending teams all in the same district. There must be something illegal or imoral about that. /sad.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" /> It will surely be the toughest district in the state! Temple's team next year will basically be this year's JV team. We graduate seven seniors. Three of our twelve players are freshmen or 8th graders and two are juniors. Only one of the twelve has any significant playing time: Dexter Peterson.

I do not remember reading or hearing Caleb say that but I would guess it is an accurate statement. Temple will definitely be rebuilding next year but they have some good kids coming up. I do not see Temple getting past CSAS or Grace next year but they will not be the weakest team in the district. Temple will probably finish second in the district next year behind Grace and third behind CSAS. Unless something really dramatic happens, Grace will be first in the region next year and the patriots will be taking a well earned trip to the state tournament. The year after, (2010-2011) Temple could be in position to be a dominant team in the region. I would not be surprised to see them challenging the top two spots next year, actually. If the baby Patriots can be such a legitimate threat this year, then maybe the baby Crusaders will can be a threat next year... Good luck to the Pats tomorrow evening. Of course, I am hoping that you guys lose to us, obviously, but I do want you all to play your very best game!

Old Pirate, I can tell you have the wisdom of the aged /blush.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blush:" border="0" alt="blush.gif" /> but do not forget that Grace was upset by Silverdale during the regular season. Anything can happen. It is a home game for South Pittsburg and Grace has a reputation for losing the big games the last two years. I am sure you are right, though, that Grace will win this one and the boys will be back in the weight room getting ready for football, but that is a good thing, right? /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

I think Temple wins this one. They know what is at stake. Of course, anything can happen.

There is no question that Jeremy Sexton is better than Reginald Buckner, Jimmie on the other hand, I think plays for a girls team somewhere. I do not know her. Does anyone else know a Jimmie Sexton? /dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="

Will CSAS produce their characteristic upset in the Semi's?

This year's Grace team is a more talented team than the 2006 team but has not really played well together as a team until recently. They have achieved a level of fluidity that was not present in the past two years.

I am not sure that I agree with your assessment. You have six teams in your district. Unless I am mistaken, Sale Creek, Lookout Valley, and CSAS are all in the Eastern Time Zone. The rest are about a 45 minute drive and in the Central Time Zone. Are you telling me that Dragoo would want to stay Disctric 6 to save 15 minutes of time and use up twice as much gas to play six games? Almost all the games CSAS plays are District 5 teams anyway. Call me stupid, but if I was coaching and had the choice, I would stay in the weaker region - since I am playing the district 5 teams anyway - and keep the domination going and also insure that I had the better seeding in the Region tournament. Of course, the #4 seed from District 5 is almost as tough as playing the #2 seed from District 6, so right now and in the near future, seeding is not a major issue...

Even though I am pulling for Temple, I have been really impressed with how well Grace has been playing lately! They really looked like a state title contending team during the last two matchups with Temple. They have played what seems like a nearly flawless game, have had a really good game plan, and have been making difficult clutch points from the floor and the free throw line. They really seem to have Temple's number lately. When you stop to think about it though, unless I am wrong, both teams graduated hardly anyone from last year and Grace is, I think, the younger team. I think Temple can win against Grace if both teams make it to the Region finals game but Temple will have to play an A+ game.