ball411

Read this closely and please understand this is not meant to be negative to anyone!!! Tough and tested by many, the 2004 State A Champions “Unaka Rangers” are the best and have the GOLD BALL to prove it. When push came to shove the Rangers of ’04 just accomplished something nobody else could do or can ever do and that is to win the 2004 State A Championship and be awarded the GOLD BALL. This came from hard work, team play, dedicated coaching and strong support from the little Community called “STONEY CREEK”. As the GOLD BALL was passed around from one fan to the next and everyone got to touch it, feel it, and smell it the reality begin to set in that Unaka had won it’s first State Championship. Regardless how many different ways people “posters” may say how this came to be the bottom line will is that on March 20, 2004 the Unaka RANGERS won the State Championship. No individual names or stats, no lucky breaks, just hard work and the never quit attitude of this special group of young men will forever be part of the history of TSSAA Basketball. Congratulation to each and every player, coach and fan that should never forget how sweet this victory is. GO RANGERS!!!

Gald to see you got on Diggs, Congrats to Unaka. Let's go public school. Good luck tomorrow and keep me posted.

Oliver Springs brings a crowd. Great to see that kind of school Spirit. They get my vote.

Congratulation to the players and coaches from Shelbyville on their season and their many gold balls. They truly are champions. This really is a winning tradition and can carry over year to year. The TV special on NBC will bring much needed attention to girl’s basketball across the country and especially to TN. I hope it goes over well and everything from it is positive. Now let the games begin!!! While sitting @ the game on Friday when Shelbyville played the “unknown and under rated Greenville team” I was lucky enough to have several Shelbyville fans sit near me. One older couple sat behind me and cheered their team on to victory with class, while wearing modest clothing and speaking as people with some basketball knowledge. The gentleman was wearing bibbed overalls and a ball cap “some hometown business on the front”. Both were very pleasant people as many of the fine people from Shelbyville are!! However, on the right of me was some “lady” dressed like she was on her way to the “ball” and took a wrong turn. She had no ideal the game of basketball was being played just wanted to be seen “cell in one hand and some dead animal wrapped around the other arm”. Maybe they have ban the student section from being on camera and acting like a student section should during the State Tournament Games. Example: Oliver Springs High School has got to be one of the best I have ever seen. “Great Job” Does anyone ever remember the episode of The Andy Griffin Show were the film maker wanted to film Mayberry in its original state and everyone pretended to change just for the cameras? How did that go you may ask? NOT TO GOOD!! Bottom-line you (Shelbyville) “have a great History and a bright Future in Basketball just be yourselves and enjoy”!!

I see we have foung the dead horse again!! Let the beatings begin.

Read the polls @ 10:40 pm CST. 21 say no 60 say yes. I think the people have spoken.

Thanks for the reminder and excuse the crowing it's been a time. By the way ROY D. "just how big a boy r u anyway" Couldn't resist, I read the other post you made. Still need OSU to make this one complete.

mg, I couldn't agree more. And I did catch the last line before the edit. Again, I agree!! Perry Mason will be on here before long wanting prospective dealers and possible signees by grade list with the players. Good Post. What’s your thought on the Volunteer system? Starting with the Admin/teachers/coaches/players. I truly believe there is enough support in the communities through donations to get started. Almost a pay now or pay later situation.

I don’t claim to know the law or what is politically correct. I still believe that if the athletes who have their names and pictures in the local papers/CoachT carry a lot of weight in their schools. What would be wrong if they were to Volunteer for drug screening and try to set a higher standard for their classmates and younger athletes/kids to follow? This would be a choice not a requirement. This FREEDOM thing can work both ways. I was tested 5 months ago. CLEAN Healthy topic don't you think! By the way isn't this the Volunteer STATE?

Congratulations to all who have played, the winners and to those who will play at the next level. Thanks for all the great memories and games 2004 seniors. 2004 Senior Class has less then 2 weeks of high school basketball left. Play with all of your heart and soul leaving nothing for the next game. Whenever your last HS game comes to an end walk away with the satisfaction of knowing you played your best and these will be some of the best memories in your life. Apply all of the same hard work ethics and dedication you have to basketball to whatever path you may choose in life and will be just as successful. Ladies the time is now enjoy the games.

Good post Hoops. Just a thought, A little Community involvement from some of the local businesses, Community leaders, parents and possibly teachers/coaches leading by example to Volunteer for drug screening. The players for the most part would probably Volunteer and if someone has problem or test positive get them help do not push them away. Let’s encourage our children to be positive leaders off the court as well as on the court. My Business will spend over 10K this year drug screening employees and it is money well spent. This post could get something good started!! PS: A 10 panel screening cost about $35-$45 multiply that by 15 basketball players $675 on the high side. Wait what I am thinking, that would buy the starting 5 new Air Jordon and that is much more important.

I'm not disagreeing with the MVP selection just a comment about the award going to someone because their team won from another post. The only reference to "the other school that starts with a H" was made for Mr. Tolley and the great effort he made in 1980 and the award he received even though his team didn't win. Nothing negative at all just fact. Again the "Real Topic" Unaka Rangers Dist. Champs!!

Can't stand it an longer. Got to Crow U Know, Go Rangers! Speaking of birds, where is that Buzzard OSU been hiding.

Doesn’t TSSAA require physicals? Why? To protect the kids. 1st it is a privilege to play not a requirement, so test or stay at home if you have a problem. 2nd As a parent I don’t need the TSSAA to set academic or drug screening standards for my child, because I hold her to a higher standard. Life is much more important than the game. Look at the numbers and you decide. How many of the athletes will support themselves and their families with a ball in their hand and a uniform on their back? IT’S A GAME, GET HIGH ON IT AND ENJOY IT, NOT DRUGS

With success comes jealousy!! And that green-eyed monster leads to hurtful thinks being said. Congratulation to all the kids who participated and not just the one’s who received individual awards. HV warrior “it's given to the player that has given his team the best chance of winning. which Unaka did. i'm sure if Cloudland had won tolley would have been the mvp. but they didn't so he did. a lot of the time the award is just given to the best player or the player that scores the most. a true mvp must help his team in all areas of the game. winining being the most important. that's what the mvp award is based on.” Another gentleman by the name Tolley from Hampton has one of those from the state of TN, I believe from 1980 and the only Gold Ball in that school is stamped 1960. Can you explain that? What is the name of this thread anyway?

Landers, I agree the game was called horrible all night and no official should not decide the game. Both teams played their hearts out and either could have won. Setting on the opposite side and wearing maroon it is not as sweet to see one end like this. Never the less we will both play on in the Region and hope for another chance to play each other back in Carter County this year. Thanks for a great game to all who played and use this to build on.

It was a good night for the Lady Rangers and a long time in the making. The all played hard and deserved the victory. Hope to get to see many more. Congratulation girls. We are very proud of you. Good job “h17” big win at Central. Keep up the good work

Tolley from Cloudland has the talent but is in horrible condition. When he is in the game he came help but sitting on the bench sucking air doesn't help the Landers.

Bruty explain the sub-par effort, please. Coach, players, fans, cheerleaders? The defense seemed pretty solid, scoring from inside and outside pretty even. I agree thinks could be alittle better, but the lady rangers seem to play to the level of their competition. Just curious.

Sporty, I AGREE, WHAT ARE THEY TEACHING THE KIDS? Sometimes a 15-20 point deficit early in a game is not enough cushion for the 2nd or 3rd string to maintain for the victory. If the starters go out and get cold they may not be able to swing the momentum enough to hold on for the win. If the 2nd and 3rd string can extend the lead then maybe the winning coach needs to needs to change the tempo (come out of the press, drop back to a zone, walk to ball up the floor or work on running their offense and not taking the shot) As for the losing coach if the game has gone completely out of control sub his/her 2nd or 3rd string to show the game is over now you (the winning coach have won), please back off. AGAIN WHAT IS BEING TAUGHT?

Congrats Cyclones: How was the scoring broke down? I see alot of press about Ricki, Redd and the young tall freshman, what happened to the Forbes girl? I thought Wilson was pretty high on her as a freshman and now she is a senoir and don't hear much. Has she been hurt?

I agree "let the players decide it" Hope these help: Take I-40 west to I-81 north Exit #69 turn right Follow approximately 4 miles take exit toward Johnson City (don’t go under the overpass) Follow approximately 2 1/2 miles Turn left onto 19E toward Elizabethton Turn left at the first red light and left at the stop sign onto HWY 91 N School is approximately 3 miles on the left. Should take about 1 hour 30 minutes. Take it easy through the construction on the Creek.

Unaka didn't play very well at all. Not taking anything from North Greene they played really hard and should be proud. The officiating was very inconsistent and Unaka didn't adjust. The real sad part is the officials were getting an ear full and after the game ask the Deputy to remove one of the Ranger fans. They even missed that call and was about to have an older woman (who has never cussed in her life, has taught Sunday school for most of her life, married to a professor at Milligan) escorted out, do I need to go on. However the principal came to her rescue and apologized for the ref who embarrassed her. That was a class act. I am sure you will hear a lot more from the Ranger faithful about the refs but bottom line is Unaka is a better team and on a neutral floor the outcome will be different.

How up is too UP? Playing up in competition to improve is a good ideal basically, but when your team begins to lose it’s confidence it may be time to regroup. Nobody likes to lose, especially by a large margin. “Kids” (boys or girls) need a little positive reinforcement from time to time to remind them why the work so hard in practice and give 110% on the floor. Playing an easy schedule just a to add wins is not healthy for any program, but losing several by large margins can also have a negative effect. Where is that fine line? How do put the pep back in the step? Just something to think about…

In Greene County they only use 2 on varsity games, at least last year. Why is everyone else is using and paying for 3. Does TN regulate or does the county? Shouldn’t 3 be a standard in regional play? For what it is worth, I watched several games at Pickett County this Thanksgiving and noticed one big difference, down there the officials control the game and don't allow any emotions or attitudes. In the East the officials seem to let the kids show a little emotion. Agreed some get out of hand and should be T'd, but everyone has a right to an opinion and when expressed with respect to the official they should have some understanding. Not accepting poor attitudes, just high emotions. I agree a rating system that allows the better “more consistent” officials to call varsity games especially in the district and regional games that have a bearing on tournament games. Then only the highest rated should call in the post season