mocs30

bigcatt: I sent this email to Adams and Edwards. Guys: I love the Sentinel, but I am consistently disappointed in the level of reporting of high school basketball. I invite you to compare the way you guys cover high school basketball with the Times Free Press in Chattanooga. There is no comparison. I realize that the football playoffs are still going on, but I guarantee that at this point more fans and readers are interested in basketball. You guys have papers to sell in places besides Oak Ridge and Blount County. During the season, you guys should have district standings printed at least two or three times a week. High School bball should have its own page every day. Basketball in East Tennessee is getting better and better. While Prepxtra is certainly better than what was there 10 years ago when I was in school, you guys need to do a better and more in-depth job covering it.

coacht: Could you please remove the tie between Powell and Farragut's boys teams on Nov. 21. Powell and Farragut did not play that day and the game has been rescheduled. Also, Powell does not play West on Dec. 9 and Dec. 12 as listed. Powell plays them on Dec. 12. Please make those corrections when you get a chance. Thanks.

Powell 77 Clinton 72 Final-Overtime Great game. Both teams fought hard. Clinton played their butts off and has a really good team. We were fortunate to win, but we'll take it.

Cat, you are way too hard on JD. Good job, Bobcats. That's a good tournament they just won.

Seems a little early in the year to be so critical of the coaching.

I agree. If you don't know who Tyler Howell and Daniel Hansen are, you will by the end of this season.

Again, I will repeat, do you know who Lee Smith, Chris Conner and Matt Hargis are?

Science Hill won 67-63. Powell led for pretty much the entire game. In fact, the lead was around 10 points with 7 minutes to go. Unfortunately, despite the fact that we were able to break the press, we made critical errors in judgment in our half court offense that led to a momentum shift and easy baskets for Science Hill. Many of our errors were not forced and that hurts a bunch. But give credit to Science Hill for continuing to fight when we could have put them away. Watted made some big shots in the fourth quarter and Science Hill is obviously a well coached and talented team. I also like Forney, a very solid player with a nice shot.

This game is being played tonight in Greeneville at 6:00 p.m. This should be a great game. Anybody have any thoughts on this one?

I watched Bradley play tonight against an overmatched Gatlinburg-Pittman team. I was very impressed with Adams and Oglesby. Those guys are the deal. I see them going to state, barring injuries. Good guard play is what is required to get there and they have that for sure. If they get by Volunteer, they will have a good matchup against either Powell or Science Hill in the Greeneville Tournament.

Clinton defeated South Greene last night by around 6 points, although I am unsure of the exact score.

According to "Andre", the person who runs unapproved website.com, Powell will finish a distant 5th in District 3AAA this year. Sorry guys, looks like no Region Tournament for Powell this year. This is how "Andre" breaks down District 3AAA: Oak Ridge Halls Clinton Knoxville West Powell Knoxville Central Karns Campbell County The Wildcats from Oak Ridge High School have the ingredients to not only win this district, but to make a little noise in Murfreesboro. Led by Grant Domsic, Quinche Dowdell and Steve Younkin the boys from the atomic city will be tough to handle. Their stiffest comp will come from Halls, with super junior Cameron Sharp, Clinton with it's superb backcourt of Jordan Dixon and Jonathan Dye, and upstart Knoxville West.

Where is Lee Smith, Chris Conner and Matt Hargis?

Cameron looked great in the Jamboree. I joked with him that he should have hit a few more threes. He has a very complete game. On top of that, he competes with class.

Coacht or chill, Could you please make the following correction to Powell's Men's Basketball: Nov. 21 vs. West Greene (Greeneville Tournament) Powell was originally scheduled to play Farragut that day. Powell will instead be playing West Greene at 5:30 p.m. in Greeneville. I will add the games after that. Thanks.

Carter looked great. They were killing us. Our guys showed some maturity coming back from that deficit. Carter has plenty of athletes and some good shooters. They struggled a bit against our press, but I'm sure that they will improve in that facet of their game. You can tell they are well coached.

We have the Jamboree tomorrow night. We open next Tuesday vs. West Greene. If we win, I think we play Science Hill. This is a tournament in Greeneville I am talking about. The schedule should be up in the next few days. As far as other starters go, I am not sure. Coach Ogan probably has a good idea but we have not discussed it and I will not presume to know myself. I think to a large degree that that situation is fluid. We have several players who could start at other positions including Daniel Hansen, Tyler Howell, TC Dinkins, Migi King, Jared Magaha, Nick Gordan and Jason Seymour. I have been VERY up front with our players in letting them know that playing time is up for grabs. The guards who are calmest with the basketball and who do not panic against pressure will see most of the time on the floor. The great thing is the all of those players bring something good to the table. Having that many players competing for playing time is very good. Guys are pushing each other all the time and that is what we want. Just because someone starts on our team, they should not presume that they have won the job for good.

Halls lost Cody May and Willie Buchanan to graduation. I also think that Travis Borum is not playing this year to focus on baseball. Those were all good players. Also, my comment about Hargis is no jab at Cameron. I have all the respect in the world for him. He works hard and plays a bunch of basketball. Personally, I think that Cam is more of a combo guard than a pure point. Halls typically needs him to score more points. Hargis is more of a pure point guard. Hargis can score but is very unselfish, that's why I would not trade him. He does play over the edge sometimes and it costs him and his teammates. However, I believe that this year will be Hargis' big coming out year for establishing himself not only as a physically talented, but a "mature" point guard. And chemistry is something that every team has to worry about. Smith, Hargis and Conner get along fine and they compete against each other as hard as heck. Accordingly, there is respect there from each of those kids.

Whoever said that Hargis can't play is a fool. I would not trade him for any point guard in the district. The kid is a winner. Period. End of story. By the way, he just loves to read crap like that, so by all means continue talking about how terrible he is on a daily basis.

I am actually sitting on the bench this year as an unofficial assistant coach, so I don't think I will comment as often as I have in years past. I think that we have all the potential in the world. I think that Conner and Hargis are some of the better guards in the state as juniors. Conner is light years ahead of last year when he was really never in the kind of shape that would allow him do everything he was capable of doing. Hargis has as big a heart as any point guard in the state and he competes like heck. His fundamentals are stronger than last year and getting better by the week. I also think that Daniel Hansen, Tyler Howell and T.C. Dinkins have substantially improved since last year. Jared MaGaha is now a legitimate 6' 7", 270 lbs. and has been playing quite a bit of ball during the summer and fall. I think he will probably have a strong chance at playing the 5 and Smith will be free to play the 4, which allows him more freedom to move around the high post. Young players including Jason Seymour and Nick Gordon have tremendous potential. Gordon, in fact, is going to be an absolute handfull this time next year if he keeps his head on straight. Write it down. Having said that, team chemistry will have to be right to get to State, which is a legitimate goal for this team. There is such a fine line between teams when you get to the semifinals of the Region Tournament. The other teams in the District will all be tough, especially Oak Ridge and Halls. We are not good enough to beat anyone just by showing up.

I follow the football team fairly regularly, and I love my alma mater, but I must confess that many of our players and fans delude themselves into thinking that we will win just because we show up and wear the Powell jersey. They read too many press clippings. It does not work like that and getting smacked back to reality is usually the best thing for our kids. I give all the credit in the world to Webb for playing solid football and keeping their composure. What I don't understand is how our kids could have thought that they could just show up and beat Webb. Webb had won two or three years in a row. Therefore, I don't see the game the other night as a fluke. I think that if Powell and Webb played ten time, Powell would win 6 or 7, but you only play once during the regular season. I hope our guys will bear down and focus intently on every opponent left, because I think we are good enough to beat every team left on the schedule. I also don't understand how when someone beats you fairly on the field, you don't shake their hand. Pretty classless in my opinion.

Sheesh. Lighten up guys, it's just a message board. ptp10, are you playing bball this year?

Good luck to Clinton and Oak Ridge. Congrats to Powell on a very good season. You guys will always be close to my heart.

We should have two incredible games tomorrow night and I have no idea how they will turn out, but here are some thoughts about both games. Maryville vs. Clinton -- This game could really go either way. I think the most important factor in the game is the fact that Clinton is playing at home. If that game yesterday had been played anywhere else, I think Bearden would have held on. Clinton is always tough, but in their place, they are very tough. What can you say about a team that was down 15 after one quarter but had the heart to fight back and win even when their stud fouled out with three minutes to go!!! As far as matchups go, I would state that Clinton will certainly have the advatage in the backcourt. I do not think Maryville can stay in front of Dye, although #14 is very quick for the rebels. Whitt will give Maryville problems as well. For Clinton to win, they will need to win the battle of the backcourts by a wide margin. Maryville should own the post. I was very impressed with #55 and #33. They really killed Halls on the glass and they both scored well around the basket. Sorry, Rebel fans for not knowing all the names. Obviously, stopping Brewer will be key for Clinton as he is a dynamic, slashing type scorer. An unknown factor at this point is the severity of Saxe's injury and how much of a role he actually plays for Maryville. They looked good without him, but they also got off to a very fast start and probably did not need him. Bottom line, if the game is decided by four or less, you have to think that Maryville will get it done. They have yet to lose a game that close this year. Also, if Maryville gets a big lead, don't expect Clinton come back the way they did against Bearden. The Bulldogs could not stop Clinton from getting layups, Maryville can and will. But, I think that with Saxe hurting and Clinton playing at home, they will come out with fire and slowly take control of the game in the third and fourth quarter and win by 5-10. Having said that, if the Rebels win convincingly I would not be shocked. I'm still picking Clinton. Oak Ridge vs. Powell -- This game is hard for me to analyze because I am so emotionally attached to Powell's team. I have seen a team grow and improve and take criticism and use it positively. Furthermore, I have seen a group come together and play for each other. Simply stated, I love this team and I am so proud of them that I can't hardly stand it. Most people who know me are probably bored crapless about hearing about the Panthers. Now, for Powell to win tomorrow night, they will need to control the glass first and foremost. We have more size than Oak Ridge, but they probably are a tad bit more athletic at the 3 and 4 positions. Limiting Oak Ridge to few second chances will be crucial and easier said than done. The most intriguing match up will be Grant Domsic and Matt Hargis at the point. I doubt that Hargis will draw the assignment of guarding Domsic, but I would guess that which ever one has a better game will be a winner. Domsic is just a really good ball player. His face never changes. The only time that bothers me is that it appears that he does not care when his team is behind. Perhaps, if that is the case, it is because he has the quiet confidence to know that he can bring them back. His play in the fourth quarter last night speaks for itself. Hargis, on the other hand, has developed into quite a floor leader. He is very quick and is becoming much better with the ball. If he plays well, Powell is tough to beat. If Hargis draws Younkin, it will be critical that he not allow Younkin to get hot from the outside. Having said all of that, I believe in my gut that Powell will win the game.

I agree. I also heard though that Halls had a sick point guard. That did not help. Do any Rebel fans know thestatus of Saxe? How important has he been to the ball club this year? I sure would hate for him to be out with such a freak injury.