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Whitney Holmes and Heather Durbin - CHESTER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. Holmes is a VERY good post player -offensively and defensively! Has led Chester in scoring or 2nd in scoring, in several different games. Durbin holds her own guarding MUCH bigger post players. They work well together and can handle girls much taller and much bigger!!!!!! Kudos to these girls!

I hated to see the tech called because it was too good of a game for that to happen. Lessons will be learned and bad calls will be made. It looks like District 12AA may be force to be reckoned with this year! Good luck, until we meet again!

First off, were you on the court and heard the word "Who?" come out of her mouth? The Chester Co. girls heard the words she uttered, and they were not that innocent by a LONG shot. So I will no longer respond to anything that had to do with what the players told you or the coach. The same official that apologized to Humboldt's coach after the game, was the same one that before the game told Chester Co. coach that Humboldt was 4-0 with him officiating...and I can see why! And, yes, I agree the refs' performance was not very good - for both teams. If we can't agree on that, then you are too biased to have a conversation with. And yes, Humboldt should be very proud to have beaten CC last year, they played a very good game and we at CC can except a loss when we do not play our best (case in point - loss to Loretto in last years sub-state game; another case in point - loss to Humboldt at CC last year - we got out played) Do not discount the effort the CC girls put forth to turn the game around by hitting shots they were missing earlier, getting steals, boxing out and rebounding better. CC fans do not get on this board and blaim others for our losses. And this year, yes for 3 quarters Humboldt couldn't miss and played very well, but guess what...there are 4 quarters in a game.

Oh, please do not degrade Humboldt nor Chester Co by bringing the referees into this! Good and bad for both teams. Chester County has a good team (only lost 1 player from last years sub-state team + reigning district and regional champions 3 years running). Humboldt did not do what needed to be done 4th quarter to win. Chester County played a pitiful 1st half. Humboldt came in 3rd quarter and hit 5 three-ptrs., but cooled off scoring only 4 points in the 4th quarter. And if the referees anticipated the last foul, then it was good anticipating - a foul is a foul and that was definitely a foul....Humboldt player got frustrated and said something she shouldn't have...Holiday hit her FT's...like it or not that is how it turned out. It was a good game, Humboldt should be proud.

You are so CoachT if you walk into a crowded gym, and having never set eyes on him, recognize "Pageman" from of a self-description he posted earlier in the season.

Is it necessary that the coaches shake hands with the players? I don't think the coach is obligated to do this. It is a nice gesture but not necessary. Why stop with eating after the game, why not have a slumber party! (Just kidding) The coach is evidently a competitor and it is hard, sometimes, to walk across the way and shake anyone's hand. When you lose you can accept it, but that doesn't mean you are required to put on a smile and act like everything is okay. I understand that it is just a game, but if it is as trivial as that, then why does this web site have over 40,000 registered users? Why do girls and coaches spending all summer practicing, lying awake at night replaying the game over and over in their heads. If you spend that much time working on something, no matter what it is, it hurts to fall short of your goal. Coach Smith is a fine coach and very classy and like every coach, puts herself out there night after night to be scrutinized. I don't think anyone is any less of a sportsman if they decide not to form life long bonds with a competitor. Just my opinion. If you don't agree, that's okay. This is all I will say on this issue. Thank you and have a nice day.

It doesn't matter how you get started...it's how you end up!

Why not Belmont. It is a GREAT school! It looks like she did her homework and chose a school based on what she was looking for, not what the general public is looking at. Coach Cross is a very good coach and has secured a great crop of freshmen that will help his team become more of a "big time" school, as you put it. We have to remember that these kids are going to have a life AFTER basketball and the school/studies are the most important thing, ultimately. I think Belmont is an excellent choice. All "big time" programs had to start somewhere.

Lawanna Holiday, Chester County, to Belmont University

Who did the Humboldt girls sign with??

Bianca Thomas at Chester County would have to be a finalist. She is a 5'11 junior and can play every position. Can score against 6'2's and 6'3's. Should hit the 2000 career point mark this season. Played with the 15u Nike Team (she is a young junior) who won the national tourney this summer. Averaged over 20pts as a sophomore, and right at 20 as a freshman. Great kid! Honor student! Last year at Gibson County, was double-teamed and still had 32 points in the game. Had several 30+ games on a good team. Could average more but is a very unselfish player...excellent passer as well. Watch her play and you'll be a amazed at some of the things you will see her do. She looks lucky... but she is just that good. Saw her bank-in a half-time buzzer-beater from her knees after stealing it off the press; among many,many other breath-taking plays. However, there are many excellent players in the state; this is just my opinion. Wanted to have a little fun and get in on the discussion.

Chester County pulled out the District 12 AA championship yesterday against McNairy Central 6-5 with the tie and winning run coming in at the bottom of the 7th inning! McNairy did a fine job shutting out and eliminating Jackson South Side in the earlier game. Congrats to Coach Pipkin, Coach Murley, and the Chester County Diamond Eaglettes for a hard fought game! Good luck in the regionals.

If you have ever attended a team camp with Gibson Co. or with Bradford when Russell was there, you would understand that those girls learn what they are supposed to do during summer games and in practice! They run more when they are not in the game than they do on the court. He is very good at DEVELOPING individual players and the total team-concept.

The teams in district 12AA will all be tough next year. Chester County is losing 1 senior, with Bianca Thomas and Lawanna Holiday returning, plus other young ones that gained valuable experience this past season. McNairy Central is graduating 2-3 seniors, with a very athletic bunch back! Bolivar is getting better and better with a very ahletic group. Humboldt still has the Hayes girls and the other guard that is spectacular. This district is going to be TOUGH for the next couple of years!!

Which one of the Stone's is Leah and which is Rachel?

I remember the hospitality room at Bolivar...GOOD EATING! I think the District 11AA, 12AA and Region 6AA hospitality rooms are usually very good! Last Saturday at Chester County, a restaurant catered everything! Roast Beef, Ham, Peel and Eat Shrimp, Fried catfish, and a whole buffet line of veggies! Don't forget the desserts! The other nights have been very good as well. Last night I bet there were 80 people (or more) in there eating in between games...grilled pork tenderloin and fixin's. The people in 6AA sure do grub...and grub well at that!

If you've seen Bianca Thomas at Chester County, you can't deny she is one of the best sophs in the state! She was West TN Freshman of the Year last year; averaging over 20 points/game and District 12AA MVP this year. Around 5'11... plays every position; can handle the ball and make UNBELIEVABLE moves, will nail the 3-ball, and can post up anybody! Plays hard on both ends!

Lawanna Holiday from Chester County is tough.

Buzz Peterson has heard of him...oh,yeah...he's the University of Tennessee men's basketball coach, in case you haven't heard of HIM. He's come to take in the show on an occasion or two.

Saw the game last night. CC had less than 10 turnovers! I don't think it's that they are not playing well, it's the mere fact that it's tournament time, and everyone is playing better. At tourney time, a win is a win is a win! Stayin' alive, and that is what Chester Co. did against a very athletic, talented Liberty bunch.

JCS meaning Jackson Christian School? )I have been out of the loop) If so, what happened to Coach Lyons?

Yes, Rowsey was lobbied for. Fact sheets were sent out. However, if this has become a political/popularity race and not one based on talent and accomplishment, but which coach can get the most favors, then the value of the award has been cheapened. Surely this is NOT the case. I would like to have some belief in this system. Let US not be accused of cheapening the award by belittling these hard-working girls regardless of whether the voting went the way we wanted it to go or not. The finalists are, I'm sure, well deserving of this honor and should be congratulated.

Peacemaker, I totally agree with your post. Everything seemed to go exactly right for McNairy. Chester fouled, missed shots, missed stealing several balls by a fraction of an inch. What makes this game so much more intense is that these two teams are HUGE rivals as far back as anyone from Chester Co or McNairy can remember. If you are from either school, you could loose every game but win the Chester/McNairy game and all is forgiven! You see people at these games that may not come watch any other game the rest of the season. It was like sitting in a pressure cooker last night. I felt that both teams remained very disciplined. But in the end...CHECK MATE went to Chester Co. Congrats to McNairy on a very good season and good luck to all the seniors on the team.

Shelbyville fans may need to help me out with this one, but didn't Shelbyville win the state several years playing the 2-3 zone during the 90's? Shelbyville and Oakridge were very good zone teams.

Let us not forget that these kids are still learning the basics of the game in high school. NCAA and AAU deal with the more talented of the talented high school players who have the ability to play a faster paced game. I'm sure high school would eventually adapt like the game has adapted to every other change, but I have seen many good HIGH SCHOOL players who would suffer under this type of change. I guess you have figured out that I like the game the way it is!