hvwarrior

AsIs, a question for you. Do you think most of the people in Roan Mountain want a truly successful basketball program? A serious question. Know that Roan Mountain is a football community and basketball might just be a pasttime. I'm sure there are some that really care about the basketball program but do the ones that count care? How do the students feel, how does the administration feel, how do the players really feel? Down here we have always felt the basketball program (at Cloudland) was never really given any chance to really be successful. But we're not there so some insight from you would be helpful. How do the football program and the basketball program get along?

now was that nice, cyclonehomer? It's true only head to head competition would settle things. If it was true what you say about Unaka not being much I know Coach Wilson would enjoy an easy game. Coaches are alway looking for games to get everyone playing time. Elizabethton used to play Cloudland a few years ago until Cloudland beat them a couple of times and somehow they quit playing. So really until there is a game between the teams only we may "talk" about what the outcome would be. As for osubrutus being run off, he may just be in a better place.

Not sure Coach Hazelwood will be out next year but think he is on short term. Given a chance and working with some talent I believe he could do a good job. But by some other comments if he is lacking in discipline then it may be even shorter. Heard Coach Tolley at HES say this might be his last year. Turning into a family man he said. Will have to see that. Does a great job getting the young ones ready for the high school. Not sure he could stay away. Believe Coach Hazelwood was put in that situation to make it through the lean years and then be replaced when the outlook was better. Any results from the Jamboree yet?

Anyone know anything about the Morristown East basketball team? How will they do this year and who are some of their players? Is Coach Livesay still there? A little feedback please.

flossie, the lady warriors have a chance to be decent this year. Have some trouble scoring and are a little thin at the post area. They have a tendency to let up in certain times of the games (scrimmages). Pratices are the same way. Sometimes sthey go hard, sometimes they don't. They also have a few good younger kids that could contribute this year. Heard the 7th grade class is one of the strongest ever with 3 girls aready about 6 feet tall, so the outlook could be pretty bright. But again if the varsity doesn't play with a lot of heart and soul it could be another long year. Would like to see the match up between the lady warriors and the lady highlanders. Do you know when the Lady Highlanders play in the tournament?

You are right. Discipline is a major role in building a great program. It's already started to hurt the Cloudland team. I know a lot of other players that have started to miss practice because they think it doesn't matter. And basically it doesn't. Sometimes the win at all cost theory is not the right thing to do. Unfortunately many of our area teams lack this discipline also. Robbie is not very interested in playing. Just ask him. Work is just an excuse used to miss. It might cost Coach Smith a couple of games early but in the long run a program could be built. I truly feel for the kids that want to be good and want to have a good team. But until this situation is dealt with nothing will ever change for the Highlander program. Like I said, other teams are in the same boat, HV could be a lot better with more discipline. Look at all the strong programs (over the last 10 years), Unaka, Science Hill, well that's really the only two. Strong discipline. It really matters.

notjustafan I also would like to see the highlanders play and see what they will do. Are they playing in the tip off tournament at HV? If so what time and when? Do you think they can match up with the Rangers? Unaka is supposed to have a pretty good team this year. Who are some of the supporting cast that will contribute this year? Didn't Lunsford just coach them for one year? Seems like Birchfield should have more of an impact on last's years team than Lunsford or Anderson. But enough about them silly ole coaches let's talk about the players. Anyway that's what makes up the real team.

groundround, basing my opinion and only my opinion (about Hampton) on what I saw this summer at basketball camp. Know that summer was a long time ago but you can tell a little about the chemistry and talent level they have. HV has as much talent as they have had in many years. They do have many question marks, desire, leadership, discipline and with a lot of players, getting enough playing time to satisfy everyone will be tough. Not sure the ole teepee will sit well with the players this year. If they play together they can win the conference. If not it won't be any different than the last few years. Coach Hazelwood does a good job at Hampton but think he is in a no win situation. Will stick with my choices.

notjustafan, what kind of insight do you have on the lady highlander basketball team. You seem to know them very well. You say Davis can't play yet meow (a former player) says she is going to be very good. Do you have a better connection than her? About last year's team, they did make some mistakes but really just played harder than everyone. Johnson was a big factor of holding the team together I thought. She seemed to be the most consistant. Of course I didn't see them play a lot. If Hanson, Webb and others continued to make mistakes like you said then why didn't the coach teach them? Just a thought. Can't remember the Arnold girl but I do like the way the Williams girl played. I hope she can get better from her injuries. I do wish the Landers well, that is except when they play the "valley". As for Anderson, I did some checking, all time winnest coach in Cloudland basketball history (boys & girls), 2 district tournament championships, 1 conference championship, 1 regional championship in the two years he's been coaching at HV. Guess that wouldn't cut it as a "Lander Coach".

I would.....but let us know why you think this. Didn't have much last year. Heard they had a good Middle School team this year but that's about it.

Elizabethton looks to be really down. Cloudland played them to overtime in a scrimmage the other night and Cloudland didn't have Byrd, Tolley (not surprising), or Cook, 3 of their starters. I know a scrimmage is a scrimmage but you can get an ideal of what type of team someone has. HV is scrimmaging Cloudland tonight I think. HV should have a much improved team this year. If they will work at it they could contend for the conference. They could easily go 10 or 12 deep into the rotation. As long as the inner goings on don't become a big factor they should be pretty good. Central like mentioned before will be really tough. Maybe North and Volunteer may also contend but I don't believe the others have enough to make a run at it. To me it looks like a four team race (Central, Volunteer, North, & HV).

saw Lunsford play last year and she does shoot the ball very well but I don't think her ballhandling is good enough to run the point. Notice she walked almost everytime she got the ball. Think she probably will be a good player but will have to do some work. Is she the type to do this? Sorry to hear about Williams. Thought she had alot of ability before she got hurt. Don't think I know the J. Davis girl. Who is she and what position does she play? Arnold came last year at times and looked ok. Will the point position be a questionable spot this year?

Anderson is now at the HV middle school coaching boys isn't he? Had heard rumors he was coming over to the high school to coach either the boys when Bayless left or coach the girls. What do the other girls think of Birchfield? Do you think they have a chance of beating Unaka this year? I know a lot of other teams in single A are a little better but even in the other district the teams are not very strong. Watched the sub state game at Hampton last year and was surprised Onieda wasn't any better. A average or just a little better than average team has a chance to make it again this year. Does Cloudland have anyone new? What do they have coming in as freshmen? Cloudland sometimes have a way of finding new players (like in football). Just kidding.

what kind of false promises are you talking about? If he doesn't play the right kids do you think he can win another banner?

flossie, you mean there are politics in Roan Mountain. What makes you think the wrong 5 are starting. Who is and who should be? Don't think they'll match up to anything like last year. Have lost a lot of quickness and toughness. We at the Valley should be a little better but still not where the program should be. Don't you think Birchfield does a good job? Didn't he take them to the state tournament last year?

notjustafan, I'm not sure you know what being the best means. It is someone that every night goes out and does what it takes to give their team the best chance of winning. That might mean scoring, defending, rebounding, passing, etc. Just because a player has good offensive skills doesn't make him the best. Unfortunately most of the fans and people that pick the awards only look at scoring. The best player must do this each night. Robbie has the skills (offensively) but is very inconsistant. He might show up one night and disappear the next. Have you ever seen him dominate on the defensive end? He probably has the talent to do it but will not. The most consistant player in the county is probably Chambers. Whaley from HV is somewhat like Tolley. He doesn't have all the offensive skills of Tolley but is a lot better defender and rebounder. But like Tolley he has a tendency to not show up. It should be an exciting year in the county for basketball. There shouldn't be a dominating team. HV has more talent than it has in many years and Elizabethton should regroup to have a good team. Hampton might even surprise some people. So like the teams, there's probably not a "best player" in the county. Just a lot of good ones.

I know this board is about 1-AA but a quick comment on last nights middle school game(HV/TA Dugger). HV did have an off night but the Lady Cyclones had a lot to do with it. HV will probably win the middle school division. The Cyclones are in a different division than the Warriors. TA Dugger just much more physical and better scorers than the Lady Warriors and buffcoach, you are right, when the benches came into play the Cyclones were a lot better. Now back to 1-AA. Leave Mr. Wes alone. You got on him for not making a prediction and now you get on him when he does. Which would you prefer. I don't happen to agree with him either but he is entiled to his opinion. Just tell us why yours would be different and leave it at that. Returning everyone or most everyone is not always a good thing. Yes they should bring back some experience but sometimes losing someone helps also. It should be a very tight race in the 1-AA girls. I think the coaching in that division is average at best. Some do a pretty good job but others haven't proven themselves to be able to get the job done. One good season doesn't make you a great coach. Having seen most of them play better not count out Unicoi (where coaching does make a difference). HV probably will not win it because of the lack of scoring but have a few good young kids that given a chance could help the team. Also the Sullivan county teams will be vastly improved. Should be an exciting year in 1-AA. Winner could have as many as 3 or more loses in the conference.

Heard today like was stated in earlier piece from LL that Mike Rader, former coach at Happy Valley had applied for the job. Has anyone else heard this or just a rumor that is going on here? Been out of coaching for a few years, but was successful at HV.

I don't know pete...1 to 2 inches in Roan Mountain today. School (Carter Co.) got out early. Know some guys that play for your rival King College. Did you see East play against Unicoi in the NFS tournament?

illpete23 don't think your anti-rain dance is working. Maybe you need to go in the other direction....

thanks for the information....where do you play baseball?

don't hurt yourself with playing the power house of Cedarview Christian. thought you were looking for a good game. not that Cedarview Christian isn't any good but you are supposed to have a loaded team next year. keep it up and your schedule will look like Cloudland's.....

illpete23, you seem to know a lot and keep up with Sullivan East softball...if you get this let me know if they are going to play DB today (4/10/03) or if it has been cancelled. supposed to umpire the game....thanks, the ump....

a team is a team. it doesn't matter about classification. a coach should be looking for competitive games. some look for just teams they can beat. want that impressive record. which usually shows up around tournament time because they make an early exit. if a one team is overly matched then they shouldn't play. games are limited. a coach shouldn't be asked to play a game that would not help his/her team. of course it's great for the team that has nothing to lose. if they should pull a major upset then it makes their season. if they get killed, which usually happens, then they just say look how much bigger the school is, how much more talent they have, they should beat us and get mad when the score gets a little out of hand. a good coach will pick and choose his opponents carefully. sure a lot of people want to see all the county and city teams play. and most ADs. good money makers. but sometime it's just not in the best interest of the teams. no matter what people say. but if it benefits each team then they should play. doesn't matter about classifications. So Unaka find a team that will benefit your post season progress. look for a team that will push you to your limits. larger schools don't be afraid to play smaller schools. on given years they can give you all you want.

I'm glad someone finally spoke up for Unaka program. Yes they do have very good talent. Would like to see them carry that through. Guess I had better stop this before someone gets carried away. Coach (osubrutus) Dee is a friend of mine. Just trying to give him a hard time. Don't tell him I said so but their program is on the rise. They have the opportunity, if they will continue to work at it, to put the program back where it was in the past. So anyone out there looking for a tough, competitive game needs to look up at the creek and go get some. Coach Dee, still think osu was lucky to win.