GovMan

I'm like the rest of you ... I still believe Carl will honor his commitment to Auburn. But "something" must have transpired on the Vandy visit, cause they're not giving up. Vandy's coach is scheduled to be in Maryville some time this week for a "in-home" visit. What if ... they were to "woo" him away and he ended up being a big star in Nashville. Or what if he stays with Auburn and proves a lot of the nay-sayers wrong and stars there? Either way, in the midst of their slowest and lowest-rated recruting class in years, how stupid will Tennessee end up looking for not going after him? GovMan

AlcoaLadyT5, You got me ... I don't even know what it means to "nut up" but I'm assuming it's not a good thing. You talked about that "lil girl" running against people her own age ... the great thing about track is, age doesn't matter --- times do. Her's appear to better than yours. And she's just barely 14. By the time that "lil girl" is through in high school, I look for the Blount County girl's records in the 100 and the 200 to be hers. Heck, if she wanted, she could probably challenge records in long jump and high jump, but she'll probably just specialize in what's she best at ... pure, burning, incredible speed. She's the kind of athlete that just comes along "once in a million." I'm excited about watching her continue to develop and excel. GovMan BTW, we probably need to switch this thread out of "girls basketball" and into "track and field" if we want to continue. [Edited by GovMan on 1-24-03 8:49A]

Great Post OS. You are obviously superior. As you alluded in your post, I'm 'just' from Maryville. I had asked you about Kingston and you didn't mention them in your season results. Have your girls not played them? GovMan And by the way ... the only "aspirations" Heritage entered the season with was to be competitive in a rebuilding year. They lost several key players the past couple of years. I'd say they've made a pretty good account of themselves. [Edited by GovMan on 1-23-03 8:28P]

OS91 (obviously you're from Oliver Springs): Let me correct myself, Cait is the leading scorer in the Knox Metro area from a school that bothers to report their stats to KnoxPreps.com (my bad). I never said Cait was better than any of the girls you mentioned ... I was merely pointing out how ludicrous you are to believe she's not on the the same level as those girls. She is. As far as "being informed" and knowing talent ...from the start of school season, through aau ball, I probably watch girls basketball on the average of 4-5 nights a week. I help coach a team of girls (juniors this year) during the summers. I've been privileged to watch a whole bunch of girls play, from all across the state and the country. Cait is already an amazing player ... she's scored 20 or more points in 11 out of 17 of Heritage's games. But scoring is just part of her game ... she's complete. Well, at 5'5" she doesn't block a whole lot of shots. Speaking to the level of competition ... and this is coming from an Oliver Springs supporter (is that 1A or 2A?). The only common opponent that comes to mind right now that Heritage and Oliver Springs shares is Kingston. Heritage beat them 64-59. Cait had 20 pts, hit 4 threes, had 2 steals and 7 assists. How did OS do against Kingston? OS, you wanna take me on, bring it !!! I'm ready baby. GovMan

Cait is leading scorer in Knoxville Metro area; she is in top ten in almost every catagory ... steals, 3 pt. shooting percentage; free throw percentage; steals. She plays in tought district. She was MVP of the very first high school Christmas tournament she ever played in. She has gone up against South Doyle (and Bule) head to head and led her team to victory. "She is nowhere close?" I beg to differ, but she's not that far behind D1 college players. How many times have you saw Cait play? A lot of folks try to downplay her abilities because they haven't watched her play and they think, "no freshman can be that good." SHE IS. GovMan [Edited by GovMan on 1-22-03 9:04P]

If given the choice, it might not be such a bad decision. GovMan

Here's another funny story about Roth, from his senior year in high school. Karns vs William Blount ... I believe it was finals of regional tournament ... at Karns ... they're introducing the Karns starters ... they dim the lights, start the music in the background, they starters actually leave the floor ... as their names are announced they come running through the door, across the baseline through a tunnel of fans, make the turn in front of their student section and then go to midcourt. They call out "Doug Rothhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! He comes lumbering through the tunnel and when he gets to the corner, he misses the turn, trips and takes out about three rows of students in the cheering section. It was hilarious.

A very, very good junior made her season debut last night (Jan. 21). Sarah Landers from Maryville High school tore an acl this summer during a team camp. She'll see limited action for a while, but hopefully will eventually come back full strength. If she does, I believe she'd be rated in the top 15 - 20 players in the state. Her "floor vision" and passing ability is as good as any girl I've seen, including Sade (she's not the overall athlete Sade is though). I'd rank Sade #1 in state when her mind is right. GovMan [Edited by GovMan on 1-22-03 7:56A]

DCCATVOICE, If you're who I think you are, you might be able to help me with a "where are they now question." Halston Lane ... I know he left Tech ... has he landed anywhere else? Is he playing ball? Fine young player. GovMan

Alcoa certainly does have a good girls team this year. It's amazing how things have changed. Used to, Alcoa always had a great boys team and an average or below average girl's team. This year ... it's just the opposite! GovMan

Thought it was interesting that Carl Stewart--verbal commitment to Auburn--paid a visit to Vanderbilt this past weekend. Word is, Carl is not wavering on his commitment to Auburn, but had the opportunity to make a visit and wanted to experience what it was like. I will say this, he might get a better--and quicker--opportunity to play for the 'Dores ... but then again ...it's still Vanderbilt. GovMan

TdTbb (tell me what that stands for and I might figure out who you are ... you reside in Louisville?): Right on about both Coach Ware and Coach Ballard. And you're right about Stan too. He definitely needs our prayers as he is still fighting a tough battle against cancer. Coach Ballard's daughter, Rose, is an excellent coach also. She currently coaches 4th-5th grade girls at Fairview Elementary ... they went undefeated this year and won the county tournament. I really believe W.B. will be strong in a couple of years. I think Coach Painter is moving them in the right direction. As far as Danielle goes, no question track is her meal ticket. But I also think she has unlimited potential in basketball ... I just think she needs a lot of polishing. Speaking of Sarah Landers ... unofficially, she should make her season debut this week. The knee is not 100% yet, but she has been released and she is ready to go at it. Losing her and Allison Fulmer has been such a tremendous blow to Maryville's girls this year. Hopefully, with Sarah back, they can make life difficult for some of the teams in their district down the stretch. GovMan

Yep, Meredith was one one of Coach Frary's do-it-all's on the track squad. It was a huge loss for the basketball team, not just due to her ability, but they miss her leadership as well. Carpenters has a good girls team. Two of their starters played varsity last year as 7th graders and they are both all-county caliber players. One will go to Heritage unless something changes, the other will go to WB and she is an incredible athlete. She's got a good chance her freshman year to go to the state in the 100M in track (3rd in the nationals this summer 14&under). The rest of their varsity team went undefeated last year at the jv level. They (the varsity) struggled early this year, but they've finally gelled it looks like. They finished second in the East Tennessee Sports Christmas tournament and will be one of the favorites to win Blount County (although Maryville's girls have beaten them twice in season). GovMan

Lord, Yep ... several of those girls are playing significant roles this year. W.B. is starting three freshmen off of last yr's W.B. middle school team. Coach Painter only had one senior on this year's squad ... Merideth Puleo ... and she blew out her knee before the first game of the season. This was a severe blow, because she was a team leader. They return their entire squad next year, they'll still be a real young team ... plus they pick up current W.B. 8th grader, Angela Puleo, who most likely will start at point guard as a freshman (she is argueably the best 8th grader in the county this year). I see the Lady Gov's being a very strong team in the next 2 - 3 years. GovMan

BigHurt, That famous Strawberry Plains baseballer you were speaking of ... did he catch and did he once break up a Sandy Koufax perfect game with a walk? Just wondering. GovMan

Somebody fill me in on Halston Lane. I know he left Georgia Tech. Is he playing anywhere? He really surprised me his freshman year at Tech. I didn't expect him to make such an impact in college. He had some great games that year.

I think we've got a fine baseball coach at William Blount in Coach Charlie Puleo. Coach P brings a wealth of baseball knowledge to the team, having played in the "bigs" for several years and having coached in the Orioles organization for several more. GovMan

Lord and/or MHS: I didn't really know Coach Hammontree that well, but from all I've ever heard, people either loved him or hated him ... there was no middle ground. It was his way or the highway and he wasn't a great "people person" but I think that alot of the reason the Maryville is where it is now can be contributed to Hammontree. Correct me if I'm wrong, but did he not pretty much replace the coaching staff that was there when he came, with a lot of the coaches that are currently there ... including Coach Quarles? GovMan

Here's a good example of how frustrating--and gullible--administrators can be. Many may have read one of my previous threads concerning one of William Blount's players who got his girlfriend pregnant last year. Against both Maryville and Bearden last season, when this player would touch the ball, the student sections would chant "daddy." (interjection) This happened last year ... neither school's student sections have chanted "daddy" this year. Anyway, both times it happened, someone from W.B. went to administrators from these other schools immediately to let them know what was going on. Maryville administrators immediately nipped it in the bud. Against Bearden however, an administrator was informed of what was going on-I have no idead of who she was-and she went over and talked to the students. When she returned, we (concerned WB fans) were told, they are not chanting "daddy" they are chanting "dough-dough" or something to that effect. I just had to scratch my head. Number one, why would student section chant "dough-dough" and number two, why only when this specific player had the ball? I believe that a.d.'s and principals, assistant-principals, other teachers, coaches ... someone (with a clue) needs to stay close to student sections and make sure the students don't go "out of bounds" with their behavior. It works pretty well at W.B. Also, parents (when applicable) play a crucial role. At William Blount vs Maryville football this year, I sat close to a William Blount player's dad, who had his 5th grade son and wife sitting with him in the stands. On several occasions I watched as he stood and yelled, "you stink ref ... you stink!" Now, what do you expect his fifth grader to be like as he grows up? I know, I know ... someone's gonna say, "stink" is just part of the vernacular (sp?) today. Well, it's not for my kids ... call me old fashioned. GovMan

Josh Lawhon -- linebacker for William Blount--verbally committed on Wednesday to Indiana State University. GovMan

With 10 seconds to go in the game and my team down by 1,2, or 3, there is NO ONE in the state whose hands I'd rather have the ball in than Lee Humphrey of Maryville High School. Vol's loss is definitely Gator's gain!!! GovMan

Hey Coach, I hear that "you're on to me." I'm impressed by your skills of deduction. Guess I'll have to be careful what I say now. Can't be trashing Coach Baumann (ha, ha). By the way, just wanted to let you know that I think you're doing a great job. Anybody that is familiar with the whole situation knows that you're still a year or two away. Keep 'em working hard. Rome was not built in a day. You're definitely buildig a "strong foundation" and I know that impact help is on the way to go along with future impact players you already have. GovMan

Yeah Mixed Case Man, You'all knocked off the Lady G's. And by the way, read all the thread and I think you'll see that I was actually complimentary of the Lady Tornadoes. Would like to see them beat Heritage and take home the "mythical" Blount County girls title. GovMan

Poor old Sevier County boys. In the span of two games, they've given up 193 points to W.B. and M.H.S. Sounds like they might do better if they let their girls play both games each night!!! GovMan

Dawg, Who's the kid that came in at point early in the game and hit the three from about 10 ft. outside the three-point line? He looked to be about 11 years old. You all aren't illegally using middle school students on the varsity are you? He impressed me, not only with that shot, but with his floor vision and the way he penetrated and kicked out those wrap-around passes. Is it typical for Coach Blevins to use so many players? He really kept 'em fresh tonight. Hodo looked good and the freshman that started (#20??? I think) was pretty impressive. Good Game ... they didn't miss a beat after Cruze went out. He really wasn't that much of a factor (his shooting at least) when he was in. GovMan