corbus

I agree, I started the thread for the point of discussing, not bashing! I answer to earlier on teams next year, I do beleive OR will be the team to beat, they have a solid class coming up. Powell should be ok to, a lot of juniors got a lot of time this year. HVA could also be a threat, along with Central. Halls will also be in the mix if the size issue doesn't continue to bite them. Losing their beef in the middle will hurt. Clinton and AC may battle for the bottom, and CC is another unknown losing their size. Hopefully next year 3 AAA will represent in substate!!

I congratulate West and Maryville, but I am proud of both Karns and Powell for their performances. Both teams found themselves down double digits, both teams fought their way back, just dug too big a hole. As a Powell fan, I give a special shout out to this team, picked by most to be at the bottom of the pack in 3AAA, to make it to regional semis is truly a special accomplishment, and I know as a parent and a fan I am proud of all the special moments this year and especially all the players. Good luck to West and Maryville in substate, represent the area well!!

How bout 3AAA getting some love on ESPN!! Video of last seconds of Powell/Farragut were posted on ESPN twitter feed. Here is the link for anyone that wants to view it, pretty amazing last 10 seconds of a game!! http://t.co/Jj5DLYHn

Thanks Dragon, it was an incredible game!! The 3 Williams hit before the bomb was well defended, just a great shot!! I also want to add my congrats to Farragut, noone expected them here either, to knock off defending state runner up Bearden (whom we played tight I might add) and show some real grit in coming back when down 9 on the road in the 4th, well that says something also. You don't see game enders like that very often, and when you do you feel fortunate you were there in person to witness it. Also a shout out to our 2 seniors, who stepped up big and sank free throws at the end, never would be talking here if that didn't happen. I worry about a let down against Maryville, especially on their home floor. However, nobody gave us much chance against OR on their home floor in District Semi. Tuesday's regional games have the potential to be special also, look forward to being there!

You do have a good core coming back. Powell does too. Karns will have Sibley and not much else. CC loses a lot too. AC also loses Torres. Halls has some core back also, but no size again. Could mean a toss up for next year. Regional semis look to have 2 great games. Karns/West should be a barn burner, know I'm going to show up early for that one! Maryville/Powell looks to be evenly matched, hope we can overcome the crowd like we did a week ago at OR. We are still playing, that's all I can say!!

SS, no offense taken. Powell has played gritty all year, including tonight. I am giving myself a shout out, picked all 4 games, with points except 1 point off in CC/Maryville. Guess I should go to Vegas now (lol!) It has been good banter, sure would like 1 more shot at Karns!! Karns-West should be a great game, don't know much about Maryville, heard they are young but talented. It's at their place, so we already have a strike against us. Till next year.....

Just hope the boys fair better than the girls, 3AAA was skunked! Maybe we will get it the other way around tonight. My predictions: Powell over Farragut by 3 West over OR by 2 (Sorry SS, it is at West) Karns over LC by 10 Maryville over CC by 6 (Sorry CC, think an hour on the bus will not help) Still hoping for an all 3AAA Regional semi!!! Hope all 3AAA teams are still playing on Tuesday.

I agree with all, except for us though. We have done a good job (except vs Karns) of shutting down high scoring guards. Farragut is all about 2 players, if you control them, think you come out on top. Plus being at home will help our outside shooting, which hurt us against Karns. Under 30% shooting does not get the job done. Means we would meet up in the district semis, same thing goes for Campbell County, get your inside out game going, and you've got a great chance. OR/West is a coin toss. Karn's press will eat up LC guards, in my opinion. Only 1 of thise 3 teams will go to sub state, pretty incredible. Just the way the cookie crumbles. I'm just glad we won't have to play OR in the regional semis if we win. Still could legitimately see an all 3AAA regional. What a statement that would be!!

I would be there too, but will definately be at Powell!!! Nice to have a regional host game after so many years, also with a winning record. CC, we will have our hands full with Farragut. I also think Maryville could be due for a let down vs. Campbell County. All District 3AAA regional semi??? (I know its a stretch, but you never know) All I can say is: Halls, Bearden: Don't you wish you were here..........

Congrats to Karns, 9 points in the 1st half will never get it done. Chill, did you even imaging OR/West as an elimination game? Turnovers were not the problem for us tonight, we did not play with the same team effort as on Saturday, and it showed offensively, settled way to much for the 3 ball. Good luck to all 3AAA teams on Saturday!!!

SS, No problem, now again on to basketball. CC/OR- I think again, if CC concentrates on the inside-out game, and can contain Spencer, they have a good shot, will depend on OR motivation, I think they will come out ready and firing on all cylinders. Look forward to watching this game. BTY, CC congrats on your girls capturing district, wish I would have stayed for that game! Powell/Karns- Turnovers are they key, we can't self-destruct as I've seen other teams do during the tournament. Also, we have to control Sibley, I think if he has a big game, we are in trouble. The Panthers have showed a lot of grit and determination during this run, do they have 1 more game in them? Also, if we show that grit and determination, will be interesting to see how Karns handles it, they have been unchallenged in the tournament. Sets up for a great couple of games tonight!

SS, I wish you the best also and a speedy recovery!!! Sorry you will be missing the games!!

Amen to that brother! Look at the 3AAA post I started and see throughout some of the calls during the season. As I have said in it, and mention here, let the kids decide the game!!! Don't vent some personal vendetta against HS players. A foul is a foul, travel is a travel. Someone said it best (don't know if its here or another post) when you don't remember the officiating/officials in a game, that's when you know it's been called right.

Plenty of ref talk in some other posts, it's not just here. Now back to basketball: OR/CC- I'm going to show up early to watch this one! Really a clash of styles. I would pressure their (CC) freshman guard and see what happens early. OR has size to defend the post, but depends on if CC can get the inside-out game going. Saw a lot of wild dribble penetration against Karns and don't think that will work against OR. Good luck to both teams, either one will give Maryville or West fits in regionals. Karns/Powell-Just one phrase-Break the press! When we figured out last night passing instead of dribbling can break a press, we were in business, same against Karns. Defensively, key is stopping Sibley, in my opinion. He took a lot of ill-advised shots. Granted, he made them, but not allowing him to shoot and getting him frustrated could lead to a victory. Also, we have to work the half court sets, think Karns has not had to work as hard in their half court game, and when they don't have too, seen it lead to large runs. If we limit turnovers and keep it within 10 or lead into the 4th Q, we have a great shot (Just ask Central and OR) One more shout out, the fans! What a great crowd yesterday, for all the games. OR has a quality facility, best in the area in my opinion. And the gym was packed all day. Hope the same goes both tomorrow for the girls games and Tuesday for the boys, know I will be at both.

It is a shame when refs seem to "have it out" for a team, have seen it this year against us. I do agree with this, as I said earlier, kids and coaches have to find ways around this. It is a shame when refs call poor games, but it is a greater shame when kids who have put hours in a gym running and sweating for these moments have their hard work put aside to discuss officiating. Hats off to both Powell and OR, would love to see them meet again in a week or so in the regional final, I honestly see that as a possibility.

Lots to reply to: I have no voice from all that cheering and yelling during the game!! First, I appreciate the congrats from all, thanks! S-Girl, I agree, the officiating both ways was questionable, how do you call a travel on the baseline with 1.4 seconds to go, I did not see the official, as most do, remind us no moving on the baseline. The call was right, but in the heat of the moment, do what I see most officials always do. Lots of uncalled hand checks, and they let some jawing at the officials go way too long, both ways. It is what it is, SS appreciate your perspective, officials did not win or lose the game, was just a grind it out win for the Panthers. Too many individual posts on officiating across the state, Kids and Coaches just have to find ways to put it behind them. CC, saw the 2nd half of your game, and just like HVA, thought you guys gave it away. Still get to keep playing though!!! I do think the future is bright for you guys and I really like your coach's energy, it feeds into his players. Lastly, win or lose for us and all the teams in 3AAA, would love to see the 4AAA domination of Knox area go away, OR vs West/Maryville, in a quarter?? WOW! I just want to know how long its been since Powell hosted a Regional game, has to be awhile. Have to let my voice recover for Tuesday night!!

Having seen Stetson play for quite some time, he is deadly from 3 point range, includng the 25+ footer, just didn't make them. Dad may give a little more (no pun intended) rope, but you also see Froening take those long bombs. I think simply, as I said before the game, if CC took it inside consistently, they had a great chance, and that's what they did. I'm rooting for you guys vs. Karns. Torres just has to get the ball over 1/2 court, and that will be a tough task. Just like Halls, I don't think Karns has a definative answer for Litton or Chapman. For us tonight, its all about the turnover and offensive teamwork. When we play selfishly and sloppily, we lose, simple as that. Defense has been fairly consistent all year. Hope they have an all day pass!!

It was a good game for Campbell County, great to see the crowd behind them! They dwarfed Halls student section, hope ours comes out Saturday. As for Karns/HVA, that had to be the worst I have seen a team play in the 2nd Q, they barely got the ball over half court most of the quarter. Give them credit for hanging tough in the 2nd half. Hope to see you in the final next Tuesday, not the consolation

On my way now, good luck to your girls also, I like their physical play and team work, will need it in Regionals against Bearden.

CC, I think every area in TN has this problem, I have heard about it across the state, since I travel a bunch in state. 8th graders have an idea (along with parents) of what to expect at the next level and with the TSSAA rule about transfer out after 8th grade graduation, this will always be a problem. Now lets talk hoops for tonight! I will be in OR, looking forward to the games. Think it will be Halls and Karns winning. Coach Moore is stinging from the girls loss last night and won't want to miss with both teams. For CC to win, they need to utilize their bigs much more than I have seen them do all season. I agree with many of your posts, I see different BBall in Lafollette than the past few years and more excitement in the program. As for HVA/Karns, this could be a high scoring affair, with Smith coming on for HVA, if he can handle the press, could be an interesting game. Still think Karns has too much, and is more motivated after HVA took them out last week, don't think they really had much to play for in that game and took it too lightly after their previous 102-56 drubbing at the start of the season. Just glad both our Powell teams survived to play on Saturday!! May plan my day in OR all day Saturday!

Agreed, I used to be that yelling parent and got more adept on rules, I try to keep quiet now(on that topic) and cheer for players more than at officials. Officiating is hard enough at a fast pace without the benefit of replay. Don't get me wrong, I've seen my share of bad charges, flops, etc. While it is a rule, the thing I am challenged on is officials deciding outcomes of games. Have seen 2 technicals on coaches at ends of games in tournament play that had a direct impact on the game. Were they technicals, maybe maybe not, but let the players decide the game, unless it is just gross misconduct or abuse. The 2 I saw did not appear to be, just barking in the heat of the moment. Also, from earlier post about 2 technicals=ejection=2 game suspension, talk to Oak Ridge. One of their top players got 2 T's, one for rim hanging, another for excessive verbage. OR sent the tape to TSSAA, and from my understanding they ruled the 2nd T was unwarrented and allowed him to play. Fact is, basketball is a contact sport, if officials called every hand touch or bump, teams would shoot 40-50 free throws a game. That's not basketball in my opinion.

Nice to have Jekyll & Hyde within the same game, down 11 with 5 to go, Powell went on an 18-4 run to win 57-54, Central coach went ballistic on a no-call block, got t'd with 5 seconds left. Unreal! SS, will see you Saturday for the rubber match, we have got to minimize our turnovers to even have a remote shot

DB, that what the paper said, maybe things will be better next year for Clinton, I know reading FB & BB boards Clinton has been suffering over the past few years in all athletics, no offense intended. As far as AC, I have said it throughout this board, they are 1 team that I just didn't get all year, same at end of season, beat a good Grace team at Grace and lose to HVA, go figure. Will see what we do with Central tonight, we have had some Jeckyll and Hyde tendancies this year also.

Boys MVP: Calvin Walker (West) Coach of the Year: Chris Kesler (West) Team: Drew Standifer (Bearden), Daquan Wright (Bearden), Chris Cox (Catholic), Kyle Anders (Catholic), Blake Williams (Farragut), Corey Stroud (Heritage), Jordan Hall (Lenoir City), T.J. Kimble (Maryville), Clark McCall (Maryville), Isaac Edmiston (Maryville), Carson Brooks (West), Jayjuan Mitchell (West), Cody Mathis (William Blount), Matt Connatser (William Blount).

CC, thanks for the shout out, your right, Friday's game was not our best effort, hope to have a shot at redemption, still have to get through Central. OR is hands down the favorite, especially playing at home. You guys will have another shot at Halls. HVA/AC match up tonight is interesting, just depends if the contain Torres, no one else has really stepped up. I was talking with some OR folks and others Friday, and AC is the mystery of district. They beat a stout Grace team on Friday, but have faltered at other times. Wonder if Tanner evny sets in sometimes, they just need a complementary performance from someone else and they could be a surprise. HVA is another ?, losing to us and others by a lot and then coming back to beat Karns. I thought with a Senior class that had been together they would make more noise.