etownsparky

There is always room to question every year. What is the criteria? I believe there are, at minimum, academic and individual stats elements considered. Do the voters consider team results? At times this seems to be a career achievement award rather than the best performance for the season. At other times it seems to be a popularity contest. Regardless, I'm not a CAK fan, but you would be hard pressed to name a better individual player from AA in TN. Unfortunately, deserving players are left out every year.

There were three players that decided not to come back from last year's team (all are sophomores this year). I don't know the rationale for these players not getting a ring. Only one dressed during the state tournament. There was one player that returned that did not dress last year. She got a ring.

Uhhhhhhh, yeah. EHS played and handily beat North Forsyth, GA (Caroline Bowns - Campbell) and Hoover, AL (Jailyn Maddux - 2016 D1 prospect). Again, that is only one metric as there are plenty of good teams that don't have D1 prospects and marginal teams that do. Regardless, we appreciate your suggestion. It's all good though - Alijah "likes Elizabethton a lot".

Perfect example to support lack of legitimacy for both the team poll and the POY (i.e. apparently doesn't know the prospects very well). Both twins are great players, but Kayla would have to be considered the best overall prospect.

I understand there is a certain amount of opinion in polls. I didn't expect the poll outcome to change because of peer pressure. In my opinion for a poll to be legitimate, i. e. not just a "fan poll", there needs to be metrics by which the rankings are determined. In this case the criteria seems to be cloudy or skewed. For instance, Male (KY) moved up 3 spots even though the poll owner questions the strength of opponents. Likewise, there were teams in front of EHS that had "bad losses" by the pollster's description, but remain ahead of EHS. Furthermore, there were teams with losses that jumped over EHS even though the Lady Cyclones continue to win (1 has 4 losses). Apparently, the the pollster has decided the size of school, geographic location, and perceived "weak" schedule has created an artificial ceiling at #12 for EHS. However, if the Lady Cyclones were to lose a game you can be sure they would drop like a rock in this poll. The pollster has a right to do what he wants. That doesn't mean I have to understand or agree with it. It's all good though...you know what they say about opinions, everyone has one!

Elizabethton still in the same position. Male moved up despite not facing "higher level" competition. DuPont Manual moved ahead of Elizabethton despite a "bad" loss a couple weeks ago. Mt Juliet jumps 6 spots. I know, I know EHS hasn't played anybody. It's all good - all the girls do is win! Go Lady Cyclones.

In my opinion Cloudland had a legitimate shot at winning the whole thing a few years back when they lost to Clay Co. However, it's not likely they would have brought home the gold ball last year even if they had won the substate game (against Meigs Co. if memory serves me). I was there and saw all the teams play and no one in 1A had anything for Union City. I do think they could have potentially made the championship game if drawn opposite of UC though.

This is a huge win for the Lady Dogs. I figured it was SG at the top of the heap with some margin and then NG, Hampton and Cloudland vying for the second spot. That is likely still the case, but the tournament could be interesting.

This is a rivalry game so that could make it interesting for a while. However HV has to play their best and get a lot of help from EHS to be in this game.

No need to defend your poll. It's your poll and I'm sure there are criteria and convictions that impact the results. I am not offended and don't consider the EHS ranking as disrespectful. That being said, I don't have to like or agree with it. EHS played both Blackman and Oakland during summer camp. They lost both by under 10 points if my recollection is correct. Before folks go off on "but that's summer camp and is irrelevant," I understand but that is at least tangible vice comparing schedules/scores. Based on those results, I do believe EHS can compete with anyone in the state regardless of classification and beat most. At that level, margins can be small so on any given night outcomes can be different. Blackman is unique with the level and depth of talent they have right now so that would be a monumental feat to beat them. However, I believe it would be a coin flip between EHS and the other TN teams currently ahead of them in your poll (even though they are 3A). My opinion is as good as the next I suppose...

The Lady Cyclones beat an undermanned Johnson Co team badly. Coach Whittemore has fielded a more competitive team in recent years. Are they in a down cycle for talent or are the folks in Mtn City just not committed to girls basketball?

Obviously Elizabethton is too high on this list. Everyone knows there are no good teams in the East. The only quality programs are in Middle and West TN.... Obviously I am just joking and taking a little jab at our Middle and West TN brethren. On a more serious note, the list looks pretty good. The order could be debated and Chucky-Doak probably belongs on the list somewhere.

Of course you would because they are a known commodity in your area. We also beat a good Farragut team during the same event. However, both North Forsyth and Hoover were better than Cumberland Co. I saw all three games so I'm basing my opinion on what I saw in the court rather than polls, scores, history, etc.

Hilarious...agreed! The only relevant teams in TN are from Rutherford Co. If anyone doesn't believe it, just ask one of their fans (especially Riverdale). All others are relegated to flounder in mediocrity only aspiring to achieve such supremacy. (Note: this is largely tongue in cheek because anyone that knows TN basketball realizes the tradition within District 7 3A). However, there are some good teams in other parts of the state...

Where in this post did anyone gage EHS success by beating Bishop England? Going into the tournament the expectation was they would be better because of their past success. That turned out not to be true. Regardless, North Forsyth and Hoover were quality opponents that would be at the top of most 3A districts in TN except Murfreesboro and Memphis. So your reference to the Happy Valley tournament is moot. That is an annual county thing which is better some years than others. This thread is about a TN/KY poll that EHS should be in the top 10...

The comments in the poll itself suggests schedule was a factor in the ranking. I'm not losing perspective. I did not say Elizabethton should be No. 1 or even top five. I am more familiar with the TN teams than KY, but I don't believe there are 10 better teams in TN/KY than Elizabethton regardless of classification. That's my opinion. Others have their own.

You can knock Elizabethton's schedule all you want, but they belong in the top 10 of this poll.

Here are a few of my thoughts on the subject: Playing in the Carolina Invitational will pay dividends for the Lady Cyclones the rest of the season. Two out of three games were against quality opponents. North Forsyth GA was 13-0 coming into the matchup with EHS. NF is 6A with 2400 students. This was a quality opponent by anyone's standard. It was apparent this team is not used to losing, yet the players and coaches were at a loss as what to do to turn the tide against EHS. Hoover is 7A in AL with 2600 students. They may not be the best team in AL (although currently ranked #1 in 7A), but they are extremely athletic and a very good team. I'd say Hoover is at least top 10 in AL. Again, this team is not used to losing. The way the Lady Cyclones played the first 2 1/2 quarters sucked the life out of them. I'll go out on a limb and say EHS is the best team they have played this year. Time will tell how the rest of the season plays out. I won't make any predictions other than this. If the Lady Cyclones can play the remainder of the season the way they did in Charleston, very good things will happen...

Watching games in SC for three straight years makes one appreciate the officials we have in TN. I know some are better than others, but the crews in SC are just not very good. Our team has played in the Dorman tournament in Spartanburg the past 2 years and are now playing in the Carolina Invitational in Charleston this year. I was told the "top" officials in the state officiated the Dorman tournament. If that is the case, I would hate to see the bottom of the barrel. I watched two crews call games tonight in Charleston. Both were weak overall. Each crew had one decent official and two that I would characterize as weak. I realize it's a holiday tournament which is more of a "showcase", but failing to call the simplest violations is not acceptable. Allowing the teams to play more aggressively is understandable, but the foul calling was ridiculously inconsistent. At times the games resembled Rugby matches instead of basketball games.

Sorry Coach. Bad Intel on my part - Kyra is not back yet...

Emily and Kyra are back.

Next game for the Lady Cyclones is on Dec 27 in Carolina Invitational against Bishop England, defending SC 2A champions.

Next up the the Lady Cyclones is a matchup with Bishop England (defending SC 2A State Champions) at the Carolina Invitational in Charleston, SC.

Every team has some number of fans that complain about every call that goes against their team. However, there are fans that understand the game and that can discern the difference between good officials and bad. I do not expect officials to be perfect! I do expect them to be competent and give effort. I can think of nothing that ticks me more than an official with a cocky attitude like they have never missed a call ever and loafs up and down the court like they have better things to do. Regardless of the pay and verbal abuse from fans, coaches and players; if you took the job, give effort and do the job!!! The fans likely don't know the names of the best officials because they are relatively transparent. That is all...