etownsparky

Summit was the best team on both sides of the ball tonight. What a sloppy game for a state championship game (OR, Summit and the officiating crew).

I don't think this year is analogous to last year with respect to "peaking too early." I think the close games at the end of the season were beneficial. I already said on another thread that EHS would have benefited from playing SG and/or MW. I do agree Coach Dugger's performance in the Westview game was not his best (and not very good overall to be honest). I also agree the bench performance was reflected in the player's poor play at times. It was definitely a great four-year run for the senior class. The irony is that this year's team was likely the best of the four, but were eliminated the quickest. Regardless, life goes on. Go Cyclones!

Congrats to South Greene from Betsy.

I don't think Coachh was suggesting that GP should stand there indefinitely waiting for the celebration to end. I suspect he was implying they should have given it a few more seconds (like maybe 10). The Lady Cyclones players were surrounded by the student section that stormed the floor afterwards. Anyone that knows this group understands they would not intentionally snub the GP girls. The GP bench did immediately line up at the buzzer but quickly abandoned the idea and headed for the dressing room. Both reactions are understandable given the emotional circumstances of the game. I say, "no harm, no foul" by either group.

GP is to be commended. They came to win, not just to play tonight. Our girls did just enough to win. Now on to Murfreesboro.

I appreciate your lengthy, yet neutral, commentary. You must have missed the fact three of Grainger's finest coming across the gym with a large sign in an attempt to grandstand behind the Betsy bench for their fellow juvenile delinquents across the way. I believe this unsportsmanlike action is what prompted the Betsy student to cross to the other side. I wonder just how many trips you have made to the EHS gym for tournaments. I'm guessing these trips are few and likely only for the couple of times Grainger has played there in the past 8-10 years. By the way, my feelings were not hurt by the Grainger students as you conclude, but their behavior was more than "kids being kids." I have two children and I would dust their pants off for behaving that way. Your Google recommendation was not necessary as I could certainly contact the Grainger administration if I was so inclined. I briefly considered approaching an administrator after the game, but decided against the proposition because I felt it would have been poorly received. Regardless, the game is over and both teams have an opportunity to advance. Good luck to all going forward.

I'll admit there are a few Betsy fans that can carry things too far. However, I was in the midst of that crowd and I did not hear anything that even approached the level of vulgarity that spewed out of some of the Grainger students. Furthermore, the so-called law enforcement (and even an EMT) were somewhat encouraging of the student behavior. Obviously your neutral position is not that neutral. By the way, you didn't offer a good explanation for why the Grainger administration failed to act...

Okay, I'll bite. I take Betsy by 10 at home.

I just wanted to briefly comment on a subject that cast a bit of a stain on what was otherwise a great atmosphere at the regional championship game last night at Grainger County. The issue at hand was some specific behavior by the Grainger student section that was particularly alarming. And no, this is not about the signs. For those who where not there, the Grainger student section displayed a collection of signs poking fun at EHS for the recent sanctions with accusations of recruiting, buying players, etc. Some may have been offended, but I personally did not take issue with these actions. The result was primarily back and forth banter between the Lady Grizzly and Betsy supporters. That is normal and made for a pretty electric atmosphere. I consider this behavior to be at least in the neighborhood of school spirit. What I do take issue with, and consider to be the epitome of low class, is the offensive verbal attacks and name calling on the Betsy players from the Grainger student section during the game, i.e. calling our girls "Effing ho's", "ugly GD b's", and other derogatory things. This is not funny nor cool! By the way, I was not at the boys' game on Tuesday, but I am told similar behavior was displayed by the Grainger student section. This can in no way be justified or categorized as exhibiting school spirit. What is more alarming than the student behavior is the fact that the Grainger administration condoned this behavior and made no attempt to suppress it. I understand the administration cannot police every single fan, but it's not that difficult to have an administrator near the student section to keep things like this in check. Our school does it and I see it at a lot of places we visit. So while I consider these students' behavior to be reprehensible and uncalled for, I simply say a big "Shame on You" to the Grainger administrator for condoning this behavior and failing to take any action to control it.

Thanks Limestone for the endorsement. What everyone also needs to know is that Limestone is a long time Elizabethton and Dugger hater. I am a perfectly rationale person that works in a profession that necessitates being objective. I absolutely do support Coach Dugger, but I don't agree with him all the time as I have stated on this and other forums multiple times. The history to which you are referring was many years ago. Despite your commentary, I am perfectly capable of being objective. As you have stated, it makes absolutely no sense for him to blatantly violate a rule of this nature at this time for a kid that couldn't possibly play before next year. What really chaps me is that because of the EHS girls' success, every time a kid decides to move to be part of the program, the local detractors just assume the kid was recruited. Every kid that has moved or transferred during the time that I have been part of the program has done so of their own accord. During this period there have been a number of in zone kids go to rival schools to play for whatever reasons.

I could care less what you think about what I think. I know what ever involvement the player had at the gym that day happened before Coach Dugger showed up for practice. I suppose you think it was planned that way. Why would he do something like this deliberately during the season? It doesn't make sense.

This whole discussion is getting ridiculous based on assumptions and innuendo. There was no cheating in an attempt to enroll a prospective player. There was a violation due to ignorance of the rules by the assistant coach who asked the girl to come to the gym and shoot after the player's guardian expressed interest in the girl attending EHS next year. There was no attempt by the coach or coaches to go after this player to recruit or sway her as her guardian initiated the contact. Regardless, a violation was committed, reported by someone, and a penalty was assessed by the TSSAA (which is severe in my opinion considering the details). The discussion suggests the current head coach is constantly cheating which is ridiculous. The current team is made up of kids that have attended city schools since middle school or before. There may be a few freshmen that attended county schools up through middle school. The irony of this situation is that the player at the heart of this discussion will likely not attend the high school for which she is zoned. What will be interesting is to learn if she ultimately ends up attending one of the likely schools that reported this violation. It's also funny how no one seems to complain when kids zoned for Elizabethton decide to attend somewhere else.

The principal confirmed receipt of the letter from the TSSAA and that the administration accepted the punishment. I doubt there was any real interest on the part of the administration in getting the facts because I know what was reported in the paper is NOT accurate. Probably the most sad fact is that our administration (not to include the principal which is super supportive) is not particularly supportive of the girls basketball program. Maybe it's too much of a threat to boys' basketball and football???

All coaches try to get good kids into there program. I totally agree the only thing consistent about the TSSAA is inconsistency. The folks from Carter County schools that are on this forum or others bashing EHS over this are total hypocrites as there is more cheating (out of season practicing mostly) going on at these remote schools than anywhere I know.

My relationship with Coach Dugger has not clouded my judgment. I don't agree with everything that Coach Dugger has done or even does. But, he often "gets credit" for doing things he didn't do. I don't know for sure whether he texted Bowers or not and asked her to come back. Regardless, she was zoned for Elizabethton and went there as a freshman until a rift between her dad and the coaches/parents. So even if he did ask her back, how is that considered recruiting (especially since there was no legitimate move when she transferred the first time)? By the way, Coach Dugger was coaching the boys and not the girls at this time as directed by the superintendent for one year. As for KJ, I don't know whether he texted her and asked her to come to Elizabethton or not. However, I do know she considered coming to Elizabethton after middle school, but chose to attend HV.