arnwine

Pageman, Although I love volleyball, I have coached and been involved in basketball for almost 30 years, thus I consider myself a basketball person as well!

Great job Powell!!! I feel good about being wrong, not good but great. Well done Panthers.

Crazyvolfan AMEN!

Anderson County has played great this year, and beat Alcoa?

I heard that money was involved in the annulment, and your denial was part of the deal. At least that's what Mav and thegreatlinejudge told me?

I heard several Page fans and players weren't at the game because they went to Pageman and Brtittany Spears reception. Is that true?

Shelbyville? Recruit? Come on! Woosley and Lamb were great (especially Lamb) I just don't see Ville except at tourney time. Great Program, but none of their players in my top 5. Thanks for watching my back MAV, good luck against Scott Co tonight.

Mav, I agree with Ogen being the best player, but 16? Close, maybe, but I stand by my OR by 10, and I LOVE this POWELL team. This ain't Iowa.

I was watching the news today and saw that Brittany Spears got married. The "spouse" looked an awful lot like pageman. Does that explain why he has been so quit? Congratulations!

85 Warrior Sorry for the questions, but didn't Geron also captain Bradley's volleyball team that won back to back state titles? If my memory serves she was also a good golfer?

I hesitate to post, but I feel compelled. I am in my 3rd decade of high school and college sports and I have some ramblings. High school and college sports are completely different, as are the controls and the expectations. Players and coaches are receiving money in the form of payment or scholarship, and I tell the high school players that college is like a job. So my comments are directed at high school sports. #1 problem is parental interference. I watch parents sit in the stands with a stop watch and complain because their child didn't get as much PT as another child. #2 problem is the quality of coaching. We don't pay teachers enough to attract "the best and the brighest" and some coaches have no business coaching. #3 the emphasis is on winning; me; now; and not the PROGRAM. The best coaches build traditions, play with class, and realize that one game does not make a season and that any decision they make binds them for 4 years at least. #4 is the conduct of the fans. Where are the faculty that lets these students yell and act like imbeciles. Throw them out. They have no right to yell deogatory comments at the players. We all know the schools that have the WORST student bodies. #5 not enough emphasis is placed on charachter development. Parents and players don'e realize the jump to college. Great high school players can't move up sometimes because of size and speed. Moderate players with those skills can become big time players. It is the middle school all-star philosophy, "mychild dominated MS and rec league" does not mean he/she can play in high school. High school is not the army, and it is an insult to compare the two. What can/should a coach control? Never cuss or pubilically embaress a player. Complete control of playing time and position, shouldn't even answer a parents questions on these issues. Complete ideology of the PROGRAM. If a coach wants her/his team to follow a dress code at school, no facial hair, no tardy's, no grades below a B, all of that is acceptable. A coaches job is to buils charachter, and a team. If a coach wants to practice more than 10 hours a week, that becomes a problem because it interferes with other things that are important. I wish parents and coaches communicated more about scheduling. I always let my seniors determine if we need to cancel or move a practice. Include the seniors that have shown a four year commitment to the program in these type of decisions. Its there team to. I use a strict policy of seniority. Freshmen get no vote, I don't care if he is the next Bird or Jordan. A freshman has to carry bags, clean up, earn his way on the team. By the time the freshman are seniors they are ready to be leaders, even if they are not the best players, or get the least amount of time. The best captain I ever had only played a small part of the time her senior year, but was a great leader. Also, schools should hire coaches, not supplement takers and don't let the parents of the players interfere so much. If your child is not being mistreated, support the program, your child chose to play. I was asked this year why I still coach? My answer was I love being a part of a team. Not LEADING a team, but being PART of the team. Even at my age, if we run because of something we did, I run to. It is NOT a dictatorship, more like a commune, where we all contribute to the greater good.

papatj I thought you would love me picking your lady wildcats! Have faith, the line is 10.

Did Amy Geron go onto play at Clemson?

sam4vol who were some of the girls on the Pickett County team that won 4 straight? Great selections by the way. People forget how good Monday was. ' Well done.

papatj If Oak Ridge presses Powell Jill should be shot. This Powell team advances the ball as well as anybody I've seen and is not afraid to pull the trigger from outside. Oak Ridge is more Athletic, and better on defense, but watch out for Powell's offense. Best shooting team I've seen. If it was me, and i was O.R., I'd 1-2-2 and trap in the corners, mix it up with pressure man, no full court press, and put a body on the big girl every time up and down the floor. She doesn't like contact. Use a lot of fouls on her just to tire her out. Get back on defense and exploit your rebounding advantage. If I was Powell, run and shoot. You can't beat this team defensively, gotta out score them. Shoot fast and often. No man, pack the zone in and make them hit some shots. Powell is up for this game, maybe too up! I love the Panthers, but think Oak Ridge makes a 10 point statement.

You need to go to more games.

Santa (pageman) why didn't I get any presents this year!

Gene Wright is one of the finest men I've ever known, and his son Jody is a great coach. They may be the only father son tandom to play at LMU. Along with Elldridge at Anderson County these are my two favorite ET coaches. Class!

I like the Clinton team, and think Coach Lochard is an excellent young coach. With all of the talent on this team I am stunned, yes stunned, that so much time is being given to this Borum guy. Mav, you should know better! Vibbert (sp) and Morris are legitimate ball players. I also like Dixon (I think his dad played at USC and is a class individual) but Borum? Mav, the guy is firey, but could he start for ANY of the better teams in your area, including your own? NO. He has no size, no speed off the dribble, and if I was one of those big posts I would give him a pop for not getting the ball to the post more. His shot selection is horrible. I doubt this is really him responding to these posts, so I would not hold those against the kid, because he does hustle. Mav, I remember your old coach had a saying "act like you've been there before". This Borum kid isn't even scouted by opposing teams. Would you let your child act like he does?

I love a similiar post that asked everyone to rank their school's best player. It helps me remember the good old days. My question is who are the 5 best in this state's history? 1. Jennifer Azzi - Oak Ridge Multiple state titles, 2 national championships at Stanford, multiple olympics, all-american, and STILL playing. Voted as one of the top 10 women;s players of all-time by the hall-of-fame. 2. Holly warwick - Bearden The oldest of my picks. Ushered in Womens Basketball to this state. Another Olympian and 4 year starter at UT and multiple All-American. Redefined the women's game. 3. Karen Morten - Lake City Miss Basketball, Parade All-American, 1st Tennesee woman to dunk. Injuries decimated her in college, could have been one of the best ever. Tony Cross (Head Coach at Belmont) was her high school coach. Ask him how good this girl was. 4. Shelia Frost - Giles County High School coach didn't know what she had. 2 national championships at UT and a great European career. At Oak Ridge or Shellbville she would have been all world. 5. Carolyn Peck - Jefferson County (I think) Went on to be a star at Vandy and coach Purdue to a title. Again, no instruction in high school, but still a dominating player.

No relation to Laxton, but in reviewing this post many of the people don't separate from a good high school player and a great basketball player. Kara was a good high school player, and seemed to be a nice person, but she is not in the league of the players I've mentioned. Laxton came about 20 years after my time, and I only saw her play at the State Tourney and for the Lady Vols. Most of these younger girls, last 5-10 years, I haven't had the opportunity to work with or recruit. Tennessee has produced some outstanding players (having UT and Vandy helps) and most of the players listed on this post won't make the top 50 ie Kara. I think Laxton would. Azzi is the State's best, but a strong argument for the next 4 out of the top 5 would be heated. Anyone earlier than Holly Warwick probably can't be considered because the game has changed so much. I think Shelia Frost and her 2 national titles has to be in the top 5 and so would Karen Morten although injuries make it hard to say what she would have done in college and the pros. Peck would probably round out my top 5 but like I said there is room for debate. Shelybyville with Woosley and Lamb were strong but not in these girls class. Sexton was great in high school but a knee injury cost her 2 1/2 years of college. papatj reminded me about Pearl Moore (who was from a small single A school) and she was as good, if not better than Laxton. So I know I may be offending you (I still think you may be Kara's dad) but she is not in the same league as the other girls. Sorry. And for the record I have no daughters only a son, and Kara could whip him! He can't go to his left.

Thanks youdon'tknowme, I finally remembered and was getting ready to post! Did she go onto med school? As to the member of the Sanders family that is pushing Kara so hard, I saw her to, and she is NOT the best small school player. Laxton, and those girls from Rutledge and Pickett were way better. No offense to Kara! Well done on the Pearl Moore selection, after 3 decades of this I'm getting forgetful papatj!

I disagree with the Kara Sanders pick. Oneida had a young lady about 5 years ago (her name escapes me but she played at UT) that was better. Also, Pickett County one 4 in a row in the late 70's and early 80's, who were their best? Papatj, I would substitute Mcginnis (sp) over Wilson. Didn't she go to Bama or Auburn?

papatj I agree 100% the teams that Alcoa has beat are way down. I was not impressed with William Blount at all and they handled Alcoa. I think Oak Ridge could beat them by 50 if Jill wants to make a point. Have you guys played Powell yet? They are the best team I've seen. My memory says you play Tuesday? Also, did you not see the props I gave Azzi and Caldwell in the best ever post? I think Nikki will be a huge asset for Pat and I think Azzi is the best womens player our State has produced. Jennifer Wilson was not in their class. (We can't agree on everything!)

Yeah, but White County's seniors are pretty darn good!