PTMUPS

Cumberland Gap. Bump. I want to see the return match with Carter this week I believe.

Yes a marvelous story. Already a plus 14 wins over last season. Except for one player they will all be back next year. They play with heart and passion most of the time. Their balance in scoring is the key---a different player each game. Big Julian was the hero last night. But all of the kids hit the offensive boards hard, and played great defense especially at the last when it counted. Congrats Central on the District Championship 2009.

I agree with you about JV vs. Varsity. IN fact I think the kids have to practice with the upper classmen and then there is the chemistry of the new group.

Gee anyone can do a discussion on Coacht free. I think their premium membership is just 25.00 for a year.

IMAC is competitive but DB and Science Hill due to their tougher schedules (Thanksgiving and Christmas) will prevail in the region in AAA.

So many times the favorite has more pressure to win. Look at Fulton. They should have won the year before but did not pull it off--then took it last year with most of the same players. Bearden should win it with all of the seniors on the team. It is their year if they will play like they are now. Sometimes when you get out of the confines of your home floor things do not go as well. I still think AE will go a long ways despite Beardens lopsided win. The loss should have gotten their attention. Blevins is overdue with all of the talent he has every year.

Looking forward----Dre Mathoui from Central will be in the mix next year. He is close now in AAA in the Knox Area because he is so valuable to the team. He is near the top in assist, steals, and ppg is good for a point guard. He will be playing for one of the better AAU teams this Summer so it should allow him to be very solid for his last 2 seasons. He is as good as Robert Boyd in AA now but could use some work.

Anxious to see the next Carter and Grainger game. Being a great team they should take 'Carter. Carter is 3rd in the knox AA district. I think they will have to spread the scoring around though to beat them because they will blanket McBee.

Next year the Mavs will have a chance to travel less playing in the new AAA district they will be in. So it is good they have a great JV this year to move up a notch. They will join Clinton, Campbell County, Oak Ridge, Karns, Central, HV, Karns, Powell, and Halls. They should be competitive and have some strong rivalries. They want have to go to Crossville, Loudon, Kingston or Loudon.

Bobcats bounced back solid against Oak Ridge last night. 62 to 61. They shot well and defended strong. The smallest man on the court (DRE) played exceptional for 4 quarters. The first sweep of Oak Ridge since the 80.s. If they stay focused the Central Bobcats will be District Champs!

5 point game. The home team usually wins the close games. This is definitly for Class A TOP Dog in this area.

I think Grainger is very good. Naturally the one ingredient is the way they turn the game over to McBee at the last. I know Central had them beat but McBee hit a 3 on an inbound from the corner . Central had beat them in a game in Knoxville 30 plus points (Summer games) but they held McBee to just a few buckets. I think if Grainger beats Carter in their final match up they will clear out the doubters because the one sided loss a few weeks ago hurt. There is no doubt he has been the difference this season in a dozen games.

The tournaments could be interesting. We all have predetermined favorites due to past history. But every year a new team steps up and out hustles the favorite. I think we will see at least two surprises this year. I saw Science Hill and DB in Nov. at the Wazoo Sports Classic and at that time DB was a little ahead---now SH is as they beat DB last week. The same in the Knox Region as there is already teams that are moving up from November play. I love High School BB because it is a tournament sport!

Looks about right at this point. This is the tough time of the season to keep everyone healthy and out of trouble the rest of the way. A great way to spend these cold nights is to see a great BB game supporting your favorite team.

I agree. I was just looking at history in AA in East TN. The teams that advance have gone man to man except when they get in foul trouble. I think you have 3 teams that are virtually equal in your district. I noticed an article on McBee in the KNS today. He has been a difference maker this year thus far.

I agree on the coverage for all of the teams. This conversation comes up at every coffee shop in the area. Not what it use to be. The future is probably the internet sports services. I know Ron Bliss from Tri Cities indicated he was bringing one to the mid east region for next year and Wazoo is already in the area for some coverage. The days of the Journal and Sentinel and great coverage for all is gone. Maybe we could let the Sentinel know we want a stronger high school presence instead of a 6 column lead story with 5 or 6 others enclosed. I know I grew up in a small town between Knox and Chatt and never read anything about a game unless we played the larger teams or in the tournaments. Good luck with the new Grizzlies!

Grainger has a very good team. Well balanced and play hard. Do they play any man to man defense? They will have to when they get into the sectionals to advance as Fulton, AE and the AA schools in other areas win on defense. I think Grainger should win vs. upper East Tn. in the regionals. Just a tip---the home school or tournament is responsible for turning in game results by a certain time each day. They do not have a large staff anymore to do write ups but they do have an inside reporter for the games summaries.

I agree about Denton Jones also. His career ended after the collision with Bobby Knight on the UT practice floor. I do not think he was the same after that injury. I know it halted his college career. I am sure we are missing some other old "pure shooters."

It seems there is present and past "Best Pure shooter in East TN." Past Ron Widby Knox Fulton (UT SEC Champs player also) Jimmy England Holston (A Vol also) Billy Justice Fulton (Jersey Retired at Fulton and a Vol Bill Armstrong Knox Central (60) 28 pts a game before 3 point) Eddie (pee wee)Chandler Knox Rule A W Davis Rutledge (The Rifle) (UT) Jerry Cannon Powell (C.N) Mike Ogan Powell (could flat shoot from anywhere) Jay Cole Knox South (avg 40 a game from outside Sr. year) Pogue (last name) South Doyle I am sure there are more from the past. Just the ones I saw. I need to think about East TN now group of Best Pure Shooters.

Central 73 Gibbs 66. What I like about this Central team is the chemistry and the fact that any player can score 10 to 15 a game. They had another strong run last night with a 21 to 2 outburst. Very good point guard play and a big man that is starting to be on the radar of many Colleges with his rebounding and inside play. Lots to work on to get even better but at this time they look solid with a deeper bench available in January. District leaders!

Good Ball game! Central 67-57. A lot of action. Devin looked very good in the first half. Defensed better in the second half. For Central Darnell Williams really showed up big time in the last half with 13 and a bucket of steals. The gentle giant (Julian McBee) had 2 strong dunks also. It was an enjoyable game to watch because some quality basketball was played on both sides.

Usually during the course of a season due to injuries, discipline, and sickness every team loses players. I know of 5 teams right now that have at least 2 players out. A good team has to learn to practice and play with who is available. That gives other players an opportunity to step up and show what they can do. There are no astericks with a "w" or an "L" in the record books.

I went to the Wazoo Hoopfeast last night to see Kingsport and Science Hill. Central is really looking good. Science had too many horses and stayed fresth. According to roster Central played 3 juniors and 2 sophs (same team they had last year) but they were a year younger. Coaches say that they were looking better each week. Have not seen any other team in the district but I would put them in the middle of the pack based on them playing the tri cities powerhouse and from preseason scrimmages. I know Karns and Oak Ridge should be at the top.

I agree that both schools are tops in the AAA ranks. Since it is a tourney sport why play the games you know you can win. Chances are slim of them competing with DB and SHill but hopefully it will help them in district play. I admire them taking those 2 on. I am told the reason they are playing both is because 2 pretty good teams did not want to play both so it defaulted to the home school to schedule them for this event. The starting line up still does not have a senior player so what was 3 frosh and 2 sophs last year is maturing some. Except for district play no one wants to play Fulton either but Central still plays them too and Oak Ridge twice---a coach knows this is probably 5 losses but why be a cupcake player.