TheWarden

Mr. Yates, First, I had to look up the word "venerable", so thank you for expanding my vocabulary!!! If you don't know the definition, the Lion's Club would not be offended. Coach Beth, through his frustration I'm sure, made those comments. I hope he would feel differently after watching the tape. Yes, the technical was touchy, but the foul was far from it. I know, for a fact, that the Lion's Club has absolutly no problem fielding teams for this tournament. In fact, four of the teams in it are repeat participants. From talking to Mr. Hatler well before the tournament, I also know that they had to turn away several teams, two of which were from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. For the "not looking like the field is getting stronger anytime soon," I hope you spoke with one of the Lion's Club members before posting that. I have read your retraction and all I really want to add is this. I know the tournament director and all the time he and the committee put in on the effort. This tournament was dying three years ago, but not anymore. As one poster has already mentioned, the tournament will go on next year. As for your statement that the field was weak, my question is, if that is true, please explain to me a few things. First, how does one of the best teams, regardless of classification, in the state of Kentucky come down here and struggle with a little single A school like Dresden, winning by only eight points? How is it that they only score 35 points against a Westview team that plays two freshman? I will give you Kentucky men's basketball.............but not womens. In my 25+ years of basketball in West Tennessee, I have seen the best of Kentucky girls basketball travel south and struggle. The reason they do not come is not because of officiating, the teams here are just better. I don't think Randy Frazier or David Russell even have 750+ wins. That speaks volumes to me. As for you article Mr. Yates, I did not find it offensive one bit. I thought you did a pretty good job of, not only painting the picture of the end of the game, but explaing how it even got to that point. I just hope the good people of Marshall County look at the stats of the game and realize, like Coach Beth said, that they should never have been in that position in the first place. Keep up the good work in the Paducah Sun!!

I finally had an opprotunity to watch the Greenfield Lady Jackets tonight and am VERY impressed with Coach Trevathan and how hard his girls play. Good luck to them in the against Summertown. It was also nice to see Westview's Sean Stephenson on hand to support what appeared to be his buddy (saw the man-hug ) in a huge game. That speaks volumes about his character.

Although I do appreciate your post, I fall on the side of thebeave on this issue. I just do not agree with the name-calling. He did not need to do that in order to make his points, he already had, and nailed it as far as I was concerned. He was just trying to be as politically correct as possible. The name calling is a little much. He is too smart for that. And your right, he is a good guy, even though he is a Dresden fan.................. I am going to have to make a trip to Ripley just to see if anyone has figured out that they need to: 1) Actually guard her 2) Knows who she is 3) See if she can sustain this incredible scoring run 4) See if David Russell can pull off a State Championship birth with the least talent he has had in years 5) Watch Sean Stephenson prove that he is the coach people think he is...........

Obion won.

I'll say it. The bottom line is this: Division I athletics is a lot more that either one of you will ever understand. Many of what you two consider "local" players can never even qualify academically for Division I schools. That is why they are not recruited. You can't make a 14 on your ACT in DI, you can at an NAIA school. For a DI, if you chose to Prop 48 a player, you lose them (and their money) for one year at the very least. And there are more of them than either one of you know. Also, it is a faster and stronger game than the NAIA. The players like Cavin, Dudley, and McElhiney are a much better quality athlete than UTM and this area is accustomed too. They have a different gear that rarely comes along around here. UTM recruited "local" players for years, and they have still been losing. Maybe not as bad as this year, but they have still lost. Maybe Coach Tansil wants something more from her alma mater. And lets face it, not every all-district player is college basketball material, much less Union or Division I. What is wrong with trying to get the best players from here and out of state? Why chose to lose? Your arguements make no sense!! One of the best pure HS shooters I have ever seen was Robin Cude, but I'll bet he will tell you the game was a lot faster than he thought it would be. Years later, I know it was for me. I had no business playing DI ball right out of high school. Take a look at the UTM football program, no local players, yet the first winning season in 10 years. Why? Because AA football isn't 5A football, and 5A football isn't college football. People like Al Wilson, Chad Clifton, and Artis Hicks are a once in a lifetime type of HS player for this area. Those three do not validate taking any kid that comes along, just because they played at their High School. The truth hurts. And here is something else you two need to chew on. How many local kids have signed, and then quit because they are not playing, or their parents are up there everyweek griping about playing time, or people like you two do nothing but tear down the programs. Westview football is a perfect example. How many kids have ever finished a four year scholarship with them? I'll bet you can count it on one hand, in fact, I KNOW YOU CAN. Does that mean that Westview is not a good progam? Absolutly not, but maybe they weren't I-AA material. Both of you need to support UTM. I hope Dudley scores a ton of points for Union, good for her. She could have turned UTM around by herself if she wanted to. She chose to go to school in a bigger town. Let her, and UTM, be. You two, on the other hand, should support UTM, period. Not bash those who are doing their job when you have no clue as to what is going on at UTM, or Martin for that matter (westviewman); or blindly follow UTM and support them even when their efforts leave a lot to be desired (thebeave). In keeping with the thread, Dudley scored 36 against Westview in the loss, I guess that means....... Dudley scored again!!!

SFFan, you might want to put down those left-handed cigarettes. Bailey played well in the championship game and she turned around last night and put on a shooting clinic. Why are all your posts are negative? Surely not all fan's from South Fulton are as classless as you.

I would have to give the award to Coach Suiter. Suiter has Obion Central playing really well and they seem to have rebounded from their late season loses.

G-Hudson-Gleason G-Patterson-Madison F-Levister-Dresden F-Bobbitt-Trenton C-Alvey-USJ

After watching Bobbitt against Westview, UTM is NUTS if they don't offer a full ride!!

I finally had a chance to watch Peabody against Westview Monday night. I was so impressed that I believe I will make the hike to Trenton. Dresden is having a fine season, but if Trenton plays like they did against Westview, in Trenton, I believe that Dresden will have a hard time against this team. What are your thoughts. thumb

IMHO..... Bailey, Hudson, Levister, Randy Frazier, and Jonathan West; they will all do the fantastic jobs that they have done all season. This game will come down to one person. #44 for Dresden. If she will work as hard on the blocks as she does coming off a screen to shoot a three, then Dresden could win this game by as many as 10-15 points. She is that much of a difference maker.

Congrats to Coach Mahaffey and his Bobcats.

This is one of the best venues in the state to watch a basketball game. Anyone that ever watched the Bradford/Gleason battles of the 90's in those gyms will agree.

After several years of athletic and talented teams, I've noticed Henry Co. has struggled this season. Buddy Wiggleton has always done a fantastic job, as does the rest of his staff. Information Please.

I'm sure Milan did not think he was overrated as he single handidly won the game for Westview down the stretch last year. He drilled the three, drove the lane on the next possession, and topped it off with free throws to ice the game.