FirestoneTigers

For a while they were shooting well from the line. The 4 straight misses at the end brought the percentage down. I guess you think they shoot 50% from the line and turn it over 27 times in every game. The "oh my goodness" is toward the "Manassas better be careful". Grace better be careful too, don't ya think? People, this the STATE TOURNAMENT. ALL these teams are good. They ALL better be careful. My goodness.

oh my goodness

Yep, and I love it. I usually don't like trash-talk. But when you play as hard as they do and make it happen, you earn it. Sorry for those who don't agree, that's just how it is. I had some car trouble so I couldn't make it. REALLY REALLY REALLY DEEPLY wish i had. But it's a good thing I didn't. Had I seen somebody crowding up on my boys, I would have SURELY gotten locked up. I have alot of relatives in Oxford/Batesville too. We might be related

He does pretty well against the other top prospects in the nation. They ALL play against OTHER HIGH SCHOOL KIDS

LOL

Obviously you're not from Memphis. We don't overlook teams because of school size the way people obviously do wherever you're from. Craigmont has lost the last two against Manassas so they surely didn't overlook it. Raleigh-Egypt's head coach and a few of his players made the trip to that game. It was what people wanted to see. You don't overlook a team like Manassas that's ranked top 5 in Memphis. The Ridgeway game was the finale of the Larry Finch Classic, so that wasn't overlooked either. In fact, it was the finale of the same Classic last season as well. The Ridgeway/Manassas game was one of the most highly-anticipated games in the City of Memphis the last 2 years. Ridgeway fans showed up with MUCH more numbers against Manassas than they did against AAA Liberty Tech the night before. It was dead against Liberty Tech, but they almost filled one half of the Elma Roane Field House against Manassas. Furthermore, Manassas was 4-1 against AAA schools in Memphis this year, and 3 of those games were blowouts. By the way, NONE of Manassas non-district opponents were Single-A size schools. With the exception of Carver(who beat Mufreesboro-Siegel at that same Larry Finch Classic the night before Siegel beat Liberty Tech) and ECS, all of Manassas non-district games(including Oxford, Mississippi) were against schools of Triple-A size. And Ridgeway is the only one of those big schools that beat em. By the way, the Oxford game was also the FINALE of their "O-Town Showdown" event. For a team that you think is being overlooked for their school size, they sure are the marquee name in these events. See, you need not speak on things you have no idea about.

Seriously, when you say things like this, you lose ALL credibility. AAA contenders like Ridgeway and Craigmont aren't of the same caliber as Humboldt? I remind you again that Craigmont beat White Station, Raleigh-Egypt, and Ridgeway this season. When they were at full strength, they were virtually unbeatable(except against Manassas:)). I'll have to agree with Legend, and I'm pretty sure everyone else does too when I say that Humboldt SURELY hasn't played a team of Manassas' caliber. After watching the Ridgeway and Craigmont games, Manassas goes toe-to-toe. Honestly, they could make a run in AAA. I think they'd beat anybody in Memphis besides maybe Melrose because of the style and match-ups, and I might be wrong about that. You assume they can't shoot well and they don't have the personnel of last year. Well, they've still beaten and competed with a couple of AAA's best teams. They must have SOMEthing goin for them that helps em get it done.

The Oxford and Craigmont games were AFTER the new year started. The Ridgeway game was early on, around Christmas.

That's not the point. We know what it means when you win the Tournament. Got it? That's simple. What we're saying is: this is the most anticipated match-up in the state. And 10 AM on a Wednesday prevents a lot of eager fans from seeing it(not me though).

I wonder if they'll both stay at Central and not transfer. Players do often transfer. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them ends up at East next year(just a guess).

Again I say, Tennessee did not reduce their rotation as such. And Central hasn't JUST started doing this when the "games get tough". They even do this with 25- and 30-POINT LEADS!!!!!!!!!! Against Mcgavock, the starters played EVEN LONGER WITH LESS COMING OFF THE BENCH and they were up 57-26 at one point. What's up with that? How can you risk injury with a 31-point 4th quarter lead? That's not a very smart coach. I repeat, they were the ONLY team that was THAT stingy with their rotation. As far as those players that did get off the bench. Look, this is high school. When you're in the NBA, you can say, "he serves his role giving the starter a break". But, people, this is HIGH SCHOOL. If you get minutes, you're supposed to be out there with something to contribute of your own(whatever it is and however much of it) outside of giving the starter a break, just buying time. I promise, there are times when you all really just try TOO HARD to seem like you know something.

Don't know about the discrepancy. There are 2 City Championships, AA and AAA The regular season leader of District 15 plays the leader of District 16. In the case of the AAA game, you have 2 City Schools not in District 15. Raleigh-Egypt and Craigmont are in District 14, but's it's included with District 15. In AA, all the City Schools are in 15 or 16. Have yet to attend one(always have to go support my old school in Mississippi playoffs). But from the look on the news. It's as good an atmosphere as you can get. Currently, it's held at White Station High School. A few years ago it was held at the Mid-South Coliseum on the Fairgrounds. Before that, it was at the Pyramid Arena. This year, Booker T. Washington won the boys and girls AA title. In AAA, it was Raleigh-Egypt's boys and Central's girls.

I feel kinda bad for those who can't make it. Myself, I had already taken off of work a while back and made plans for the tournament. /cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" />

Ok. People are suggesting seeding, whether according to record or strength of schedule, etc. But no one seems to think of this idea: How about we pair teams up according to sectionals? One year, match the 2 from the West against the 2 from the Mid, and the next year against the 2 from the Northeast, and just rotate which sections will play which every year. As a matter of fact, this is the way I just assumed they always actually did it, and I never thought about it. But about a week ago, I was told about the blind draw. I had always wondered how Bartlett played Hamilton in the first round in 2001 when Bartlett won it all. Anyway, pair up according to sectionals. Seriously, a blind draw is utterly ridiculous. I mean, Come on.

It matters because it would make the Championship game more interesting. That simple. That's what we wanna see for the Gold Ball.

Box Score for the game The stats were pretty even other than the score. Central has probably the best defense in the state. I'd to see a team that defends better. What i can't understand though from the stats is that I just assumed that Tennessee cut the lead because Central cleared their bench in the 4th quarter. Turns out, Taylor, Burgess, and Whiteside each played 28 minutes(more than ANY player for Tennessee) and Ballard, for some reason, played EVERY MINUTE OF THE GAME. James played 13 minutes and only 2 other players got in. I made an earlier comment that Central has no bench. Well, it seems like I might be more correct than I even thought. Tennessee had 6 players off the bench and 4 of them played double-digit minutes. Coach Bray better rest these girls. You can't do that 3 days in a row, especially if that 3rd day is against a team good enough to make it to the finals. This team can win it all. But that is something that can definitely mess it up. But then again, What am I saying? Teenagers shouldn't get tired anyway /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> Memphis-Central, 2009 AAA State Champions

Okay I just looked after I asked that question. I saw that they did meet up and Raleigh-Egypt beat em by 5. That's a neutral site. Manassas beat Oxford by 14, at Oxford High School. You shoulda been there, very intense game, alot of diving on the floor. Manassas makes it UGLY. But you gotta appreciate it. They were missing the football player, Dan Hicks, big #32. They spread the floor better without him, but they could've used him on the block against Woodard down there. I was looking forward to that match-up. He also missed the Briarcrest game. In the fourth quarter, the athletic guy they had #4 Brandon Blake sat down for a moment. And as soon as he did, Manassas quickly put them away. I'm sure when they played Egypt, Anthony Jones was matched up with him. How did that go?

No loss is a "good" loss. Still, My desire is to say Memphis basketball is the best. There was a time just a few years ago when you had teams here that were average in their district go out of town over Christmas and win tournaments. Now it seems like our best our running into some trouble. Bob Jones winning 3 in a row doesn't mean they have that same level team THIS year. Because THIS year, Bob Jones has over 10 losses, including losing to Butler all three times and they had three very close calls against Florence. You seem like you know a little basketball, so You should know that a State championship in one area may not stack up against the same award in a different state. Madison Academy is also a 3-time defending champ in Alabama, and they only beat Florence by 1 point this year. And Florence has won something like 10 games total in the last 3 years. So how much does that mean? By the way, I was wondering did Egypt meet Oxford in that tournament? I know they were there. I met the Oxford point guard after their game with H.W. Byers, and he thought I was Jeremy Holmes, LOL

Funny you say that because that's exactly what I was saying about Craigmont. But They're good. I mean when you catch two of the best at the beginning of the season, and then you spend much of Jan. and Feb. playing in a District with Bolton and Arlington(the worst team I've seen all season, by far). And some of those district games were WAY too close for me. That's what makes me think like that. Their recent performance can be compared to Manassas. They lost to Bob Jones. And didn't make me feel too good to say that nobody in the area beat em but a team from Alabama beat em. I like to think that Memphis beats everybody else. At least they went to Atlanta and handled competition like Ridgeway did. I hope they can get it done. I don't really like White Station, but don't hate em either. Side note: Since you say you were at the Craigmont/Manassas game, do u remember that last block Buckner got in overtime? I think a Craigmont player shot a pull-up jumper or a floater. He went up sky-high and wrapped it up, snatched it out of the air with one hand. That was sick. They called goal-tending. I had to agree, no way that was possibly legal /biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

Seriously, the reason I talk about Holmes like that is because that's a weakness I see in preventing us from bringing back all these Gold Balls. And I am EXTREMELY critical when I see something wrong. If Jackson has a off-night, Holmes is turning it over, Station and Egypt might not get it. I wish Trezevant was there. Then we could maybe take all three. They gave Ridgeway a run earlier this year on their own floor. If we can get A and AAA, I can brag and talk all the trash that's built up. /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

By the way, "jaded or dysfunctional Craigmont fan"? I didn't know people from my neighborhood(I live in Raleigh) spoke like that:) As I said before, I support all of the North teams, but one especially in particular(my username should make it obvious who that is).

Yes Durham was #1, the guy who hurt his groin in the District championship(obviously he's a big factor for you to figure that's who he is). I know how that feels and at full strength, he's a beast. That's the guy they depend on to make it happen as far as play-making. They did it to Ridgeway and especially White Station as well, and almost did it to Manassas. When they keep doin it, it's hard to keep calling it luck. And Holmes traveled several times in the district championship and it wasn't called. The only area teams to beat them at full strength were Manassas and Raleigh-Egypt, and those were both on the road. They are most definitely inconsistent, but the most explosive team I've seen and one that I could never count out til the buzzer sounds. Here's a question, honestly: Can you sincerely tell me that Tank wasn't getting away with some OBVIOUS holds on Zach Jones in the district championship?

I know what all these teams have done, don't need you to post that. I don't consider JCM a top team, or Kirby for that matter. White Station and Germantown even blew them out. Egypt beat WS and Ridgeway at the beginning of the season. And Both were completely different teams at the end of the year(especially Ridgeway). John David Little from Olive Branch choked letting 3 consecutive passes bobble out of his hands in the post. And they just got handled in their own gym by Provine. Egypt also lost to Craigmont and one of their wins was certainly assisted, and they escaped with the other one. Again, Mason gave the game to Egypt. Didn't say they weren't good, just said not THAT much better. You're a big fan. And i can get wit that. But come on, lay off it a little. I'm not like that with those I support. Cordova was on their behinds until #33 got hurt. Again, Holmes is shaky, and he's probably the reason why they didn't make it to state last year despite that great record, losing AT HOME to a team that Ridgeway beat 4 times. The guy doesn't have it. Plain and simple. Hines makes things happen. I'll admit he takes alot of bad shots and shoots a low percentage but he's more of a playmaker than Holmes. When Hines has the ball in his hands, things happen. That's what counts. When Holmes has it, the only thing that happens is a turnover or stagnated dribbling. With the talent they have, they're offense could be ALOT better. That reflects on the point guard. And Again I'll say, Brady should never touch the floor again. #40 is better than him.

Ummm, any team that wins or makes it to State usually has well over 20 wins anyway /smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

I'm gonna go check out that thread:)