coachh17

Give us some game details.

All of our schools are now out of the football playoffs so I will dust off the rust and get things started for a new season. I have not seen any camp or scrimmage action yet and HOF games have already begun. I know very little about some of the teams, so feel free to give some scouting reports. 1. Elizabethton- (AA) (0-0)- Coach Len Dugger's defending state AA champions return 9 of their top ten players from last year and have a legitimate shot to repeat. They will have a target on their back every game and will get everyone's best effort. Junior 5'10" twins Kayla and Kelci Marosites return on the wings and will give opponents fits in all phases of the game. Senior 6'2" post Megan Pietrowski and senior 5'11" post Sarah Robinson give the lady Cyclones a formidable scoring, rebounding, and shot blocking presence in the paint. 5'8" junior guard Emily Kiser is a scoring machine and will see lots of time on the wings and possibly some at point guard. Point guard Sarah Bradley graduated and could be replaced by 5'8" junior Melenda Perry or 5'8" sophomore Haley Burleson. 6'3" junior Emily Schubert and 5'10" senior Kyra McCrary provide outstanding defense and depth in the post. That gives the Lady Cyclones nine tremendous players with two years of state tournament experience. If they stay healthy and happy, the sky is the limit for this team. 2. Unicoi Co.- (AA) (0-0)- Coach Kerri King's Lady Devils return a solid nucleus and could have a very good season. If all goes well, a sub-state appearance could be possible. Hannah Rice and Haley Webb give them a solid pair of guards. Destinie Hayes is a great rebounder inside and a healthy Chelsey Harness has a good all around game. 3. Happy Valley- (AA) (1-1)- Coach Larry Abel should have a contender on Warrior Hill this year. 5'10" junior post Kalee Johnson is a force inside. Senior guards Jenna Eaton and Annie Woods are solid and battle tested. Sophomore guard Beth Reece is talented and could be a scoring boost. Emily Whitaker has a good all around game and the Lady Warriors have some quality depth. 4. Cloudland- (A) (0-0)- The Lady Landers are tradition rich, but I do not know much about them. Cloudland fans tell us about your team. 5. Hampton- (A) (0-0)- The Lady Dogs had a season of change last year. How will they bounce back? Please tell us Bulldog fans. 6. Unaka- (A) (0-0)- The Lady Rangers have been a little down the past few seasons. I believe Brandi Ensor graduated, so what does Unaka have this year? 7. Johnson County- (AA) (0-0)- Brooke Brown graduated. Coach Whittemore has some good young players. It will be fun to see this team develop. They may climb up the list.

Welcome. I had not heard about the possibility of Coach Birchfield stepping down at Cloudland.

I will give it a shot. Please correct any names I did not know or spelled incorrectly and player graduations I omitted or got too early. 1. Elizabethton- The Lady Cyclones brought home a gold ball to Carter County and will be in the mix to bring home another one next year. They return 9 of their top 10 players next season. Replacing graduating point guard and floor leader Sarah Bradley will not be easy, but Melenda Perry and Haley Burleson have experience and are ready to step in to the role. Twins Kayla and Kelci Marosites will be back on the wings and in the discussion for AA Miss Basketball. Sarah Robinson and Megan Pietrowski return to give the Cyclones two outstanding post players. Emily Kiser will be back providing instant offense from anywhere, Emily Schubert provides great shot blocking and post defense, and Kyra McCrary will be hustling and diving all over the court. This team is loaded with talent, height, length, quickness, and is well coached by Len Dugger and his staff. If they stay hungry, the sky is the limit. 2. Hampton- Hampton is a mystery. There are rumors that at least one player is considering a transfer. I believe Paige Montgomery and Monica Olvera will graduate. Coach Leon Tolley was suspended at mid-season and his status for next season is unclear. Coach Buddy Hazelwood filled in admirably. There is some talent returning (Alexis Bowers, Alexus Grubb, Kim Swearingen), and the Lady Dogs could be in the District 1-A title mix if everyone stays put and the coaching situation stabilizes. 3. Cloudland- I believe the Lady Landers graduate seven seniors including stars Courtney Clark and Courtney Wilson. I believe Kendall Mull, Faith Russell, and M. Wilson return for Coach Matt Birchfield. It may be a bit of a rebuilding year in Roan Mountain, but they may have enough to contend for a District 1-A title. 4. Happy Valley- I believe Coach Larry Abel's Lady Warriors will lose Mackenzie Blankenship, Kaitlyn Kinser, and maybe Annie Woods to graduation. Kaley Johnson will return to anchor the team in the post. I think Jenna Eaton returns at the point. Whittaker, Clark, and Reece are ready to make larger varsity contributions. Finishing in the top three in District 1-AA is a good goal. 5. Unicoi County- Coach Kerri King's Lady Devils should be much better next year. Destinie Hayes is a great rebounder and will anchor the post. I believe Hannah Rice and Webb will be back at guard. Both can shoot the three and score. Chelsey Harness brings a solid all around game to the wing and post. Developing some depth is a priority. I think finishing in the top three in District 1-AA is an obtainable goal. 6. Johnson County- The Lady Longhorns had high hopes coming in to this past season, but most of the starters left the team and it was a long year in Mountain City. Brooke Brown finished up her outstanding career and will graduate. Coach Todd Whittemore has a few players returning, but it will be a rebuilding project next season for the Lady Horns. Finishing in the top four in District 1-AA will be a longshot. 7. Unaka- Coach Wes Wright's Lady Rangers had a tough season on Stoney Creek. Leading scorer Brandi Ensor will graduate. I did not see the Lady Rangers much last season, so I am not real familiar with what they return. Finishing 4th in District 1-A and making the Region 1 tournament will be a tough row to hoe.

Great news!

I have always wanted a complete split.

I will keep her in my prayers. Please keep us updated on her progress.

Glad you were right. It has been a long time coming. Also glad to hear that Haley Johnson is expected to make a full recovery.

It is in route. The team wanted to stop at West Town Mall in Knoxville. I think they plan to arrive about 4:00 to a huge welcome.

Elizabethton brings home the Gold Ball! See everyone next year. Go Cyclones!

15-6 Cyclones after one quarter. Press bothering Fulton.

What is your point?

UC state champions. Great second half adjustments by the coach. Great effort by Coe and Jackson County. Final 44-38 UC.

Two huge ft's by Hudson. UC up 42-38 with 18 seconds left.

Bad technical on UC. 28-24 Jackson County after 4 Coe free throws.

May need to just go straight man now to put more pressure on the ball. The slow pace favors Jackson County. Hall just got a big offensive rebound and hit two free throws forJackson County. 4:25 left in 3rd and Jackson County up 24-20.

Box in one now with Raven Fair on Coe.

Coe has 19 points at the half. It is hard to believe that UC has not adjusted defensively and at least tried to contest her shots or deny her the ball. Brown is definitely winning the strategy battle so far. Union City better guard Coe better and pound it inside in the second half or they are going to lose.

Union City needs to go box in one or triangle and two on Coe.

Ugly quarter. 9-8 UC after 1. Six fouls on UC.

From what I saw today, Union City looked better to me, but who knows what will happen tomorrow. I will say Union City wins......50-42.

Cyclones survive and advance again. Good job by Westview coming back. Go Cyclones!

Union City is very impressive so far. I like their strength, athleticism, and physical defensive style. Meigs is starting to shoot a little better.

Jackson County survived and advanced. Loretto played hard and took the game into the final minute.

Ouch. Fulton looks really good. Cannon County really struggled to do much against the much quicker Falcons.