kazam37

Jellico vs. Oneida tonight. Who wins and why? Looks like, to me, Oneida is getting a little hotter at the right time. Can they go up to Jellico Mountain and pick off the Devils? I think this one will be close if the Oneida team of the last several weeks shows up. Not really sure how Jellico has been playing as of late? What does the experts think. Kaz

That score was, in reality, not a huge surprise. Sunbright has very solid post play and their guards just needed to find ways to get the ball to them and make some shots outside. OS was probably hot early and then cooled off (I'm just guessing since I wasn't at the game). Once the game got tight then the pressure usually falls on the favorite and, although OS has some good players, they have some kids that probably felt that pressure. Coach Yaden has done a good job convincing his kids that they can play with some teams. Oneida will be a tougher climb because of the quality depth they have, but Sunbright pushed them once this year. Getting Bertram back is going to help the Lady Indians defensively in the post because she gives them a physical presence. I would think the girls are playing well enough going in to say that Oneida should win this match up. That would not diminish the fact that Coach Yaden did fine work this year with the Lady Tigers. Kazzator

Well, everyone has seen each other twice so guessing what a team is going to have coming at them will be pretty simple. Oneida has the most difficult team to prepare for because they have so many different players and they are all pretty good in their own way. Wartburg is going to throw that 2-3 match up at everyone they face and it is hard to break it until you figure out what is working. Coalfield is a regular puzzle right now, the two games I watched them play I was definitely thinking they were NOT good, but my buddies say they can get on people if they play well. OS has to be a little scared to be seeing Sunbright early....Yaden usually has group geared for this time of year. The winner of that match up will not be a surprise either way....I can see it going to either team. Oakdale and Jellico are just not very good, and if either of them win their first game I would be stunned. Shouldn't happen, but that is why you play the games. Kazzem

Going to end up being a stress free game tonight. We did not have a good night down at OS and lost our only district regular season game. I would guess Coach West and the girls will have their minds on straightening that out this evening. Oneida looks like the strongest group from our area, they have a little bit of everything. Wartburg certainly is dangerous, but I am clueless as to why Coalfield has not played that well against us. I wonder how our area will fare against the other region considering there doesn't appear to be a loaded group over there. Kazaker

And that was how you finish a ball game. Poor, poor start for the Lady Indians....but they kept grinding through the terrible first half. Roared back from 22 down and then finished the comeback in OT. Remarkable that they made it all the way back. That kind of effort in the second half makes them very deserving of the title in regular season. Kazoo

I believe that Wartburg can only finish in a tie with Oneida.....of course I am probably wrong. The only way they would win it outright is if Oneida loses to Wartburg AND Oliver Springs. (possible) These teams from our district can win some match-ups in the region as well. It will all come down to which teams play the other. I think Oneida is solid and can beat anyone when they play well. They beat Clarkrange this year with a fabulous performance in their own gym. Wartburg places a lot of reliance on hitting the three ball.....and if they do, they are dangerous for anyone. OS coach has gotten a lot of mileage out of this years group. Kaz

Based on what I have been able to see, Oneida should get an interesting game tonight. Wartburg was awful in their first match-up earlier this year. I don't think they were hitting very well from outside and for them to have a productive evening, they will have to make those shots. Oneida has found a little mojo with Bertram out, but they will be very hard to get over whenever she is allowed to return. It will be a fun game to watch tonight and there will definitely have a tournament feel to the game with #1 seed at stake. Kazzato

New Center is pretty well coached and they tend to throw numerous sets at you, which makes them hard to prepare for. I would think they have a bit of an advantage over CH, but so far I have been impressed with CH's best player (#5) who works hard and keeps showing up at the right place at the right time. Rush Strong should beat Holston unless Holston shooters start hitting the three. They seem to live by that shot and if it isn't going in then they may struggle. RS has already had a scare and my guess is they will be a little better adjusted to the noise and crowd. Go with RS by 8 in that one. Kazzy

I think you are right in that those two are the favorites, but I think Northview and Wartburg both can win as well. It is hard to simulate Holston and HV size, but Northview has a lot of post players and can throw a bunch of them at Holston. Feel like Holston may have a little more punch in the guard positions. I would give the edge to Holston by about 4. Wartburg has good quickness, but they will be hard pressed to cover HV's length. If Wartburg finds the three ball falling they will be right there with them. Still, HV is playing real well and their press is going to produce some turnovers at some point. Last game though it didn't happen until the third quarter. Slight edge to HV by 3. Kazzatooga

Oneida seems to be getting their feet back under them. If they beat Wartburg then the top seed is taken I believe. Kazzy

How they stand now: Holston vs. Northview Happy Valley vs, Winner of Norris/Wartburg

Well there are enough people on here......who is the favorite? Last year it was Holston and they covered everyone's expectations. I think this year everyone has a better chance....unless I missed something. Kaz

Info filtering in from other areas. Wartburg, OS, and Lenior City from down in that area. Holston, Jonesboro, and Happy Valley,,,,? Northview, PF, and New Center.....? Oneida, Huntsville, and winner of Norris/SMMS. Of course none of this is accurate....but it appears several of these teams will be present in the girls division. Kazzama

They have some excellent players. Two of them are very good. Maybe we just caught them on an off night? At any rate, if they turned around and beat OS after the Oneida game....they did us two nice favors. Kazzy

With 58 views, my guess is there are more than a few people who just choose to keep their schools hidden. Getting anything out of the Great Northeast is like trying to extract gold out of a farm pond. Fortunately last year, Holston's team pretty much announced themselves the previous year and everyone knew they would be back. That team graduated a lot.....are they still in it? How about the Roane County teams or those around Sevierville? I have gotten some chat about Northview and New Center.....Maybe Wartburg, OS, and Rockwood/Harriman? Sheesh....and don't get me started on Newspapers, since they seldom bother with middle school sports. Khan

Sure wish someone from any of the other areas would spill a little knowledge. Some will say they did not know about this board and that they can post but that isn't a very legit excuse. I have no interest in what teams run or how good/bad they are.....but it would be nice to know who is dancing before it starts. Our area will either be Huntsville, Oneida, Norris, or Soldiers Memorial and none of there semifinals have been played. Can't say what order they will finish in tournament, got to play well to keep it going. Kazzy

And farther North.......Oneida blistered Coalfield. I truthfully was expecting a tight and tense game but came away thinking either Coalfield was way over rated or just failed to show up? Oneida finding their three point range early was big. I can't even remember the score but after the 1st quarter my thought was not who was going to win but by how much....? KaKa

My bad.....game must not mean much with so little chatter. Scheduling put them playing each other 5 days apart. Hard to adjust to the same line-up in four or five days.....especially the loser. Oh well..... Kazoom

Coalfield-Oneida......huge game. What ya think. Winner will have a leg up, huh? Kaz

OK......new year. Anyone want to give some insight on who might make it to this years tournament? I'm just making a shout into the dark since this never produces too much chatter. Would love to know any teams that are in this years tournament and how you think it will play out. Holston was the cream of the crop last year.....will they be back? Good luck out there. Kaz

That is what I am hearing. SG is like a monster and their team is still quite young. Their best player is a Junior. Almost unstoppable at the rim.....only way to beat them is if you keep her away from the paint and their shots are off.....otherwise your going to get stomped. As I said before, I wasn't at OS and I am not questioning their win because Suttles hit the FT's in that situation. Just looking for some perspective. Oneida managed to recover and handle Sunbright in a game they entering with a little less confidence. Made for a prime spot to put them in a deeper hole, but they responded nicely. Coalfield on Friday looms large as we starting to creep towards the end of the regular season. Kazzeter

What did you think Goose? In all honesty.....I am not even going to question it because everything leading up to that instance had a reflection on the outcome. I have heard the block was clean and the ref blew a quick whistle? I also heard there was slight contact but not enough to warrant the whistle deciding the outcome? Hey, the kid hit the two free throws, so that was no guarantee that she hits them there, so hats off to her. No one that I know said Christopher can't coach, so she did a great job keeping her team in it the whole way. The Lady Indians are obviously in a rut right now, so they going to have to climb out of the tailspin. Coach Yaden may be catching them at a perfect time....? I really thought they could manage the loss of Newport, but they seem to miss some of her intangibles. I do know she absolutely hated losing and the current crew needs to learn that trait. They have the goods to get it back.....question is do they want it more? Kaz

Been wandering around trying to figure out how this district is going to settle out. Since it is nearly the half way point and several of the games have been played, how does anyone see this thing shaking out? Everyone said Oneida and Coalfield would probably be at the head of the pack....is that still the feeling? Looks like the Lady Indians have been playing very tough out of conference schedule and some of the losses were brutal. Then again the opponents were top shelf (McMinn and Clarkrange) I haven't seen or heard much about Coalfield, but know they had a solid crew returning. Are they the top team? Just curious. Kazzy

Oneida played very well on their home court. The Lady Buffs struggled to sustain runs the Lady Indians. They made several but Oneida answered very challenge. The pressure the Lady Buffs usually bring was not effecting the score and Meadows was no real factor in this meeting. Kaz

Best option is to get in the truck and come on down......! lol Kazoom 'Kees bring the gold back like that feller that took it off the street in New York.