hedgehog

Bartlett has to be the favorite to win Region 7AAA. Arlington and Craigmont are a toss up, even though Arlington has beat them twice this year (once on Craigmont's home court). Arlington is going where they've never been - They've never made it beyond opening round of the regionals. Even on their home floor, making it this far means you are only playing "the big boys". If they can handle being in the spotlight, and play great team ball, they wil have a great chance to make it to the finals. Otherwise, Craigmont will blow them out on their home floor. Good luck to all the teams remaining in the hunt for the gold ball!!

I personally don't care why she did not play and apparently won't play for several games. If she is hurt I wish her a speedy recovery. If it is another issue I wish her an equally speedy recovery. All I do know is I look forward to one of the greatest talents in the state returning to the floor. Having watched this young lady play since she joined the Lady Panthers as a freshman starter, I can say that if you have not seen her play you can't imagine what you have missed. /cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" />

For a fairly complete and accurate list check out the prep signees link on the coacht.com homepage. It is the most comprehensive list that I've seen. It lists each student athlete by name, high school they attend, and the school they signed with.

In a game that saw Memphis Northside shoot something like 10 of 32 from the free throw line, they win the game by dominating the paint. They had to outrebound Clarksville-Northeast by a margin of 20. Their strategy of taking opposing teams' stars out of their offensive game, and putting their team's success on the backs of Raynor and Laws has gotten them to the AAA championship game against the winner of Memphis East and Riverdale. Could this be a West Tennessee Final, or will Riverdale continue in its bid to win its first state championship in a whole lot of years?

Acutally, I would have to say their half court defense is better than their offense. They ARE very athletic at every position. They have big posts, and Terrico White (listed at 6'4" plays like he's 6'8") is as solid a guard as you will come up against. While he's not unstoppable, man to man would require too much help. Other guards on the team can knock down the open look. Not the most patient team you will see. They like up tempo, and can be frustrated if the pace is kept slooooooooow.

You gotta believe Northside has a great chance to win this thing now. I NEVER would have believed Northside would have beat Cleveland. Post play had to be the difference. Congratulations Memphis Northside.

I guess you could say that Austin Peay State University got in Herring what they call "a steal". Coincidentally, I just found out that former Millington Lady Trojans stars Alicia Watson and Amber Bacon were both starters on the Lady Governers Basketball team this season. I believe Watson is a senior, and Bacon will be completing her senior year next year as Herring enters as a freshman.

Even though I love reading this stuff, I am glad that finally a voice of reason prevailed! Good luck to both of your teams from 14-AAA

Great assessment!

Since post season play began, Bartlett has been able to step up its defensive pressure and stay out of foul trouble, creating huge "point differentials" in their wins. Many of their points have also come off fast break points by teams trying to apply full court pressure on them. They appear to be solid enough to handle any ordinary press. Northside recognized this last year and did not press them. HOWEVER, they did employ a triangle and two, essentially doubling Herring and James whenever they touched the ball in the half court. That gets beat if they put Herring, James, and Thompson on the same side of the flooor. To it's credit, the Northside team is not a team of quitters. No matter how far behind they fall (if they fall behind) they will play hard to the end. They are athletic, aggressive and fairly big inside. Even though Bartlett's press gave them problems in the 2nd half of the game last year, I believe they are familiar enough with Bartlett that they will have a solution for any pressure Bartlett may try to bring. From this point on I am not predicting any outcomes. Any of the teams still in it have a shot at getting to state no matter who is playing who, or where. Teams will be riding emotional highs just from the thought of possibly going to the boro. THIS IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR GREAT BASKETBALL!! /cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" />

I must congratulate Bartlett on their victory last night. When I am wrong, I am the first to admit the error of my ways. Good luck to both Millington and Bartlett. It would be interesting to see two teams from 14-AAA represent west tennessee at the state tournament. I am not trying to "pick a fight" but don't forget, Memphis Northside beat Bartlett at home last year in the sectionals. Has Bartlett developed the "what it takes" to finish off the Lady Cougars? We will see on Saturday. By the way, does anyone know what time that game will start? /huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh:" border="0" alt="huh.gif" />

The "best" team does not always win. All a team has to do is be "better" than their competition when they hit the floor. So many game outcomes can turn on a variety of factors. I do agree the team that wins the championship will have to earn it because they will have overcome all obstacles to be named champions. (Of the teams remaining, I think Riverdale is the one that will outlast all others.)

I believe it will unfold like the following: Millington takes Bartlett in the final matchup of the year between these two teams. East romps over Northside. Bartlett travels to East where East will win it, and Northside will hang on in a close one to beat Millington; leaving both AAA representatives from West Tennessee to come once again from Region VIII. No disrespect to either Bartlett or Millington, but Bartlett can not match the guard play of Amy McNear and the East Lady Mustangs. Nor can Millington match the Post play of the Northside Lady Cougars. It's just a matter of the matchups favor East and Northside (in this scenario) /unsure.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":unsure:" border="0" alt="unsure.gif" />

Millington will play Bartlett Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. at Arlington High School for the Region VII championship. Winner hosts loser of Memphis East and Memphis Northside on Saturday, March 3rd. Loser will travel to the winner of the game between East and Northside the same night. Winners of these two games get to travel to M'boro to play on Thursday. /cool.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" />

You must have a crystal ball. LOL You got all four picks right. Okay, now who do you think will win the following matchups on wednesday at Arlington High School? Millington vs Hardin County? Bartlett vs Cordova? AND . . . who wins the championship? Will the cream rise to the top? Or . . . will there be an upset (maybe even two)?

And I say that is an indictment of the Memphis fans and Memphis area schools. In many of these schools, their girls programs out perform their boys programs year in and year out, and no effort appears to be made to publicize or otherwise support their girls programs. They seem to view them as "the opening" act for their boys teams, no matter how great their girls are doing, and how poorly their boys' team season goes.

An opinion piece on Millington's Coach Gatlin from "The Millington Star". Millington's arrival on the shoulders of new coach I happen to agree. No matter what you may think of him and his posts on this board (and MANY people have expressed their displeasure about it) he has turned around the program at Millington. People fail to realize that his team is mostly freshman and sophomores, so no matter how far they go this season, next year they will in all likelihood dominate 14-AAA, and for at least the next few years will be very competitive in Memphis area high school girls basketball. Don't be surprised if they make repeated trips to Murfreesboro to compete in the state tournament.

From the Commercial Appeal: District 16-AAA girls at Northside: Host Northside outscored top-seeded East by 10 in the first quarter on its way to a 57-46 win over the Lady Mustangs in the title game. Jasmine Rayner scored a game-high 18 for Northside, which hosts Wooddale on Friday in a Region 8-AAA quarterfinal. East will host Houston.

Okay, the odds were in Bartlett's favor (you know .... the its hard to beat a team three times in a row thing...); and you have to believe they wanted some measure of revenge, but I would never have imagined such a lopsided win for Bartlett. Millington must have really had an off shooting night. Congratulations to all the teams in each district who have advanced to regional play!

Like all the other regions in Tennessee, the two teams that come out of each region will play a sectional game (sub-state) against two teams from another region. In West Tennessee, Region VII winner will host the Region VIII runner up, while the Region VIII winner will host the Region VII runner up. The winners of these two games will actually go to Murfreesboro. They will go into the state tournament bracket based on the previously announced draw. For the past several years both of these teams have come from Region VIII. Which teams are likely to represent West Tennessee this year is anybody's guess right now.

It is DEFINITELY going to be interesting to see who makes it out of west Tennessee to murfreesboro in AAA.

Wow! A lot of folks (me included) had counted Ridgeway down and out. Philtenn, which of the teams coming out of 15-AAA do you think has at least an even chance against the teams coming out of 16-AAA. I definitely would not want to be the # 4 seed out of 15-AAA. Whoever they have to go against will be primed and ready. You can count on that.

Its an opinion poll: simple as that. Polls don't affect outcome of competition. The teams that get the recognition that counts end up in Murfreesboro in March; and specifically earn the gold ball when its all over.

Anybody that takes either of these teams for granted is asking for a loss. Both teams have a core of great sophomore ball players, and enough leadership and consistency on both ends of the floor to compete with anyone. Congratulations and good luck to both teams. Wish I could be there to see it!

This not only puts East solidly in the driver's seat in their district, but makes them odds-on favorite for winning the Region VIII tournament, and hosting the Region VII runner-up. Defeating Northside, the reigning AAA substate finalist, definitely makes them look like the likely contender for one of the west tennessee berths in the state tournament bracket!