HUCK

It's amazing how Cleveland blew their big lead. Everybody gets caught up in emotions. Cleveland wasn't robbed, they just didn't finish the deal. When you leave that little opening for teams, sometimes they come back. I was there in the middle of the Cleveland section. They couldn't believe that they didn't slow down the ballgame. I was even surprised. The jump ball was iffy and the number of charges taken by BCHS was unheard of, but the fact is that Cleveland had a 16 point lead with a half of a quarter left. Pickel stepped up and hit some big time 3's. The L on Cleveland's schedule is there and it dosen't matter how much anybody complains. As a coach myself I have had that happen, but I know that a game is dictated by the refs and there is nothing I can do about it. Especially with our trips to White County in the late 90's. They always had these same refs that made questionable calls. Losing is part of the game, but how you lose is about the same as how you win. Basketball isn't everything. the Cleveland kids will regroup to play another day. Next time they have a big lead, I'm sure the coaching staff will do alot of things different. We learn from mistakes. Coach Green still acts like a player. One day he will mature into a sound coach, just like his father. As the years proceed, He will understand that the refs, players, and coaches are not bigger than the game.

Final Score: Meigs County 48 McMinn County 47 Ashley Alexander had 15 points for Meigs County.

Charles Little is the real deal. His elbow is above the rim on most of his dunks. If he develops a quick mid-range jumper with about 3-4 inches more of height, he will be SEC material. It will be great to watch most of these youngsters develop!

East: Oak Ridge and Sevier co. maybe Jefferson of Farragut Middle: Shelbyville and Cookeville possibly Cleveland, Riverdale, or White Co. Nashville: Beech and Mt. Juliet West: Jackson Northside and East Oak Ridge and Shelbyville in the finals as long as they are in different brackets

Distict finals are Feburary 27th at Cleveland and there will be refs from the Knoxville association. It was a great game Friday. Seeing cleveland fans getting arrested was different! We'll see how the rivalry intensifies in the next meeting. Hopefully everybody will keep their composure including Coach Green, who I vividly remember was whooping and hollaring around the court after the won the district in 2001. He's a regular Dick Fick! See at the Finals!

You ought to try coaching and maybe you can back that statement up! Prudden is a proven winner and her staff can take the compliments as well. It's a team effort on the sidelines. Burkey is a great coach and well deserving of his reputations. I saw him take a 16 and under AAU that placed second in state and finish first in the nationals. The coaches you place around you are very critical to success. Prudden has only lost one game this year, so you better watch out because if they get Frazier back it's them and Shelbyville in the finals as long as they are in separate brackets. Prudden is a proven winner on and off the court.

This one depends on who wants it the most! A packed Jim Smiddy Arena and two of the three best teams in the state. Get there early because it is going to be a brawl. Picking a winner? I'll take Bradley because of the inside play of Suiter and Hare. This game will be decided by the role players like Cogdill for Cleveland and Pugh for Bradley. This is just one battle in the War. There is still District and Region to go. My prediction...A three pointer caroms of the backboard by Cooper, but is dunked home by Little. The only problem is that there is enough time for Justin Hare to do a patented baseline move to give the Bears a one point home win. Coach Green rushes the court dancing around like the District Finals of two years ago, but to his dismay Hare got the shot off in time and the party begins at Bradley Central!

Brandy Scoot is going to have 25 plus! Bet on it. Jim Smiddy arena is a opposing foe death site! Go Bearettes!

Everyones comment is welcome here. Which two teams have the best rivalry going to date. I grew up with Bradley Central versus Cleveland for the past 13 years. The game would draw 4 to 5 thousand fans. This happened even when the Cleveland girls had not won for many years. Can you idenify will this. Whether it be a packed out small gym that the game time temperature was 110 degrees or something like where the two teams played each other in the regular season twice, district, region, and state finals like Upperman and Jackson County some years back. I love the atmosphere and the intrigue that goes along with pride game. Have fun with it!

Last year Jackson had trouble with Tellico Plains in the sub-state. Upperman got beat at McMinn Central. Although they were both close games I believe that the home teams have an extreme advantage, but the power is starting to shift to Southeast Tennessee AA teams. LA and Jackson Co. make-up the last 4 AA state championships. It's hard not to see why they (Cumberland Teams) will not be their to the end with their low tempo half court game plans. I like Walker Valley and McMinn Central to enter the state, but it will not be a cake walk and I can even forsee being wrong. I will tell you this though that I would bet the farm and the dog that the state champion will come out of the group. Good luck to each team!

Without Frazier the Wildcats are vunderable starting with region semi-finals where I think they will face probable face Farragut. In sub-state they may prevail without a post, but in state it's a necessity to have a good rebounder. Never count them out though because Prudden is a proven winner. I hope that this doesn't damper what I think will be a great college career ahead of her!