sportsfanatic

Just talked to Kelsey this afternoon. She has visited, but has made no commitment yet. Don't think Amber has committed yet either. Normally don't post on here, but don't want other coaches thinking they are off the market yet.

Rebel Pride, As far as eating places go, if you are looking for some place to eat before the game, I'll recommend you a few places where the local eats that might interest you. If you like Mexican, we have a very good restaurant called El Tapitio. We also have a place called Yanni's. You can get a little of everything there from a steak to spaghetti to pizza. Another restaurant is Squealing Bob's 2nd Act Deli. It has your deli sandwiches, along with a plate lunch, barbecue and steaks also. I know everyone has different tastes and some may or may not like those three, but those are usually the busiest places in town apart from the chain fast food restaurants. Oh yeah, we also have a Chinese buffet called Panda Garden. Hope you have a safe journey to Sparta.

Well I know you say you are tired of hearing about the White County team who won the state, but then you turn around and issue a challenge. I have to accept. I have no idea which team won their games by the largest margin in the history of 7AAA. I am not going to proclaim that White County holds the record because there are a couple of Oakland teams through the years that might have and there was a pretty good Lebanon team with Easterly that won their games by a large margin. I will speak to what I know is a fact. An average winning margin of 18 points per game is not the record. Not even close. I happen to have those White County numbers in front of me or actually on my computer because I am researching the history of the program (all sports). The 1997-98 team won their games by an average of 25.1 points per game including one loss. I can give you game by game final score and I can even go back and get the box score if you need it. The 1998-99 team only won their games by an average of 14 points per game, but went undefeated in the district. Of course, that was with a bullseye on their back as defending state champion. Once again, I'm not dredging up the past just stating a fact that was challenged.

Brent Jolly was a finalist twice, both as a junior and a senior. Vincent Yarborough won it his junior year, then Brent won it as a senior. There may have been others, but that is one I know about. I do know there have been some extremely talented players in this district for a lot of years. Contrary to some comments, this district had a lot of good players and teams long before Siegel was built. I'm certainly going to miss watching all these talented athletes play when the new districts take place.

Been watching games in this district for more years than I care to count and regretfully as far as watching talented players go, this will be my last year in the current 7AAA. It would be hard to say who is the best to ever come out. Being a tried and true Sparta person, as far as great high school players who got the most of what they did it would be hard to argue with Jolly, Gribble and Austin. No matter how talented or how much success was enjoyed later, they took their teams to the peak of high school basketball. They all had great college careers at levels where they knew they would excel. All three scored over a 1000 points and started almost every game. Actually, Brent didn't start as a freshman at Tech, but was a key sixth man. Kyle could have probably gone higher than carson Newman, but elected to go somewhere that he could play both. it would have been scary to see what kind of numbers either of the three would have put up at a junior college. Having said all that, through the years there have been some outstanding players. I would guess that everyone has their picks for best. The players who have the best post high school careers were not necessarily the best high school players. Ramsey was a good high school player. He may go farther than any other, but to do that he would have to make it in the NBA. I'm going to toss out a name for you young guys who have no idea about the history of this district. Remember a guy by the name of Sasha Danilovic. He was from Serbia and went on to make quite a name for himself in the NBA. He was an exchange student and played at Cookeville. Hard to argue with what he did in the NBA. Tim and Leon Corder were both great players. Gerald King, Matt Coble, Chaisson Allen, Ronnie Robinson. They were all great too. We will have to agree to disagree on who was the best. Picking an all time starting five in this district would be an exceptional team. No one will every agree on who it would be because we all are going to lean toward our personal favorites. I will just say, I have loved to get to watch these teams and talented players go at it on the court for the past 25 years.

Who won? Oakland or Warren County?

Anyone know what their record was last year and how many starters they return?

Deepest sympathy from Sparta and White County. It was just over a year ago that we here were dealing with something of that nature. A one car wreck involved four of our high school athletes. One lost his life and another was in a coma for weeks. One year later, it is still something that touches the lives of those that knew these young people each and every day. I know how hard it was for all the young people dealing with just one death of a schoolmate, I can't imagine dealing with four. The only way anyone can get through such a tragedy is to lean on God and each other.

I thought you probably didn't know it. I just wanted to share that with you.

Quite ironic that you wrote this today, 85. Tomorrow, March 19th, would have been Jeff's 16th birthday. Please say a prayer for his family on this special day. He was truly a very special young man.

You're probably thinking of Howard (girls). That was 1996. The gym was tiny and full of Sparta people. The girls went to Brainerd (1990), Cumberland County (1991), Bradley (1992, 1994, 1995) and Howard (1996). The boys went to Brainerd in 1996 and Cleveland in 1998.

You're right 85, if White County has played basketball at Red Bank, it would have been a long long time ago. I have been there for football and hundreds of times for volleyball, but never for a basketball game. I know that numerous fans didn't get into the girls substate game back in 1981 at Grundy County and I think some may have been turned away at Howard one year in the substate. The year we played at cumberland County in the substate it was standing room only. I know for sure when the boys played at Cleveland in the substate in 1998, some fans couldn't get in.

The bracket I have was given to me by the coaches which was given to them at the meeting. It has the Shelbyville game at 6 and the White County game at 7:45.

Bballfanatic 23, Thanks for an unbiased summation of the region tournament. You seem to realy understand the teams and not just one team. That was an informative post.

I remember Mary Verge and Tammy Crown. They did beat us in the district finals in 1988 53-38. Not sure what all those Riverdale girls did, but I am absolutely positive what our girls did. Been compiling the history of WCHS basketball for a long time. In 1988-89, there was a five way tie for first and we lost the coin toss. We got put out in the first round of the tournament by Lebanon. Warren County swept us in the regular season. We swept Cookeville and Oakland and split with Riverdale and Lebanon. Not sure who played in the tournament finals that year. Now here goes my proof of my facts. We won the next nine tournament and regular season championships. Not trying to be smart, but just proving my point. I was at each and every one of those tournament games and most, if not all, the regular season games.1989-90 beat Oakland 44-40 in the finals went 9-1 in regular season Oakland was only loss1990-91 beat Lebanon 83-67 in finals. Went 9-1 district Lebanon was only loss 1991-92 beat Lebanon 56-45 in finals WEnt 9-1 only regular season loss was at Oakland in overtime after flying back in from playing in a tournament in Alaska1992-93 Beat Riverdale in the finals 52-39 went undefeated in district1993-94 beat Cookevile 57-37 in finals went 10-0 in district was ranked number one in nation1994-95 Beat Oakland 58-41 in finals went 9-1 in district losing only to Oakland was Kellie Jolly's senior season which she missed with knee injury came back in district tournament1995-96 beat Cookeville 53-33 in finals went 10-0 in regular season1996-97 beat Cookeville 51-26 in finals went 10-0 in regular season1997-98 beat Riverdale 68-60 in finals. Riverdale was only regular season loss district or otherwise Like I said not trying to be smart, you guys were doubting me so I had to show my proof.