coachjeffers

I haven't seen or heard anything about the Area 4 girls teams except for the mighty Lady Bobcats. I think that title is a perennial thing for them. Coach Bayleau (sp?) has done a great job year after year and the girls are very dedicated. Some of their opponents thought this would be a down year for OS, but once again instead of rebuilding they are just reloading, AGAIN. Anyway, give some predictions about Eagleton v. Fairview and Midway v. Wartburg. I know what Wartburg and Fairview have, but I haven't a clue about Eagleton or Midway. I was just curious.

Answer, Any predictions? I haven't seen Harriman since this past summer at the Oak Ridge team camp. They worked hard, but they were nothing like the Harriman teams of a couple of years ago. I watched Oneida beat them by a double digit margin at that camp, and that was when Oneida was not looking very good. I believe Gatlinburg Pi Beta Phi is going to have the "pleasure" of playing Fairview on Tuesday night. What do you think?

Answer, This kid played at Huntsville........... either Brooks or Silcox. Both of these are great kids that overachieved last year. They did win the Area 2 tourney and went to the semis and played Catons Chapel very tough. And, yes they whipped Oneida 3 times last year like he said. It was basically the same team Oneida has on the floor this year (what a difference a year of growth and maturity makes). But whomever this player is, he makes a good point about making the most of your last games.

Oneida lost to Petros-Joyner the first game of the season and to Lake City Middle School which has a 6'4" center that is awesome. Oneida is disciplined with several good athletes. The Lay kid is physically strong, the Sexton girl is a better athlete than most of the boys at Oneida, and Thompson is as good a ball-handler as you'll see. They work well as a team. They still have yet to play their best basketball.

I have read through these posts on this thread and all of you make some good points. I have coached Middle School basketball in the past, but due to health reasons I am not coaching now. I hope to get back in the game someday, but my time off has given me the opportunity to look at middle school athletics from a different perspective. I coached in the Area 2 Small School Division where there are about 23 schools participating in TMSAA basketball. Ultimately, coaches do not need to teach competitiveness to middle school kids or a desire to win. Three years ago there was an influx of several teams into Area 2 that had not competed in the TMSAA before. Since the state does not set enrollment guidelines for the division of big school/small school, my school (being a mid-sized school within area 2) was nearly bumped to the large school division where we would have been playing schools 4 and 5 times our size. Of course, Area 2 being a rural area, has several small middle schools that we are 4 or 5 times larger than, also (not very equitable at any breaking point). Basically, we were going to be going into a division where we would have to travel further, have less fan support, and little to no chance of being competitive. That doesn't even mention the loss of money due to smaller gates and greater travel expense. My thoughts went to the fact there were many schools within a 2 hour drive that belonged to other areas that were much larger than our school and yet they still got to play in the small school division. It really was not equitable. I petitioned the coaches in area 2 to vote us back to small school and they graciously passed the motion. I had mostly good intentions when I "whined and cried" to get my kids back into a division where we could compete. However, much of the reason for my desire to stay small school was to have a shot at winning some type of title (area tourn. champ, sectional champ, etc.). Looking back, I wonder if I wanted that more for the kids or for me. Middle School athletics should a wonderful environment for kids to learn about teamwork, hard work, and attempting to achieve goals. Too often we begin placing so much pressure on STUDENT-athletes in the middle school ranks that they don't have the opportunity to enjoy being kids. Local, area, and even sectional tournaments are great. What is to be gained by adding regional and state tournaments. More games? More pressure? More failure? We want to teach all of the athletes how to carry themselves and act like winners. What the TMSAA has set up right now accomplishes the goal of teaching most of the good qualities mentioned throughout this topic by people with good insight. Before a TMSAA State Tournament is added there are so many questions that should be answered. However, I don't believe that those questions should be about cost, travel, division competitiveness, etc........ Is this the best thing for the STUDENT-athlete? Will they learn more, have more fun, or gain new understanding about competition or personal goals? I don't think so. The ultimate gain in adding more tournament games and a state title is simply bragging rights. Well, I think we know that at the high school level this is a more achievable and less contraversial goal. Oh yeah, remember these are STUDENT-athletes and we don't need to drop the student from that title. ............just a perspective from a parent and coach

TBK I really think you are mistaken about who has the better team. Oneida only wins games because of TEAM effort. There isn't a star on that team. You say that the only reason Caleb Bunch was off against Oneida was for personal issues. I am sure that did effect him, but what about Daugherty and Nichols? Those two seem to be more talented than any two Oneida players. You also need to give some credit to the Slaven kid and Newport kid that guarded Bunch all night. Basically, it boiled down to the fact Oneida worked more as a team against the PJ defense and PJ couldn't get their 1on1 matchups to work very well (I think that means team defense prevailed). I will agree that PJ has more individual talent than Oneida (so does Fairview), but how can you possibly say they play better team ball if the only reason you give for them losing is Bunch's off-night? PJ's players and coach are class acts, by the way. It won't surprise me to see them to go far in the Sectional tournament. I really think they thought Oneida was a non-factor and already thinking about Fairview. By the way, TBK, have you seen the brackets for the sectional? PJ finishing third put them in the MUCH tougher bracket. You've got Oliver Springs, Fairview, Holston, Pi Beta Phi, and PJ that are really all #1 caliber teams. Whoever comes out of that side of the bracket will earn ever honor anyone wants to place on them. Next week is gonna be a lot of fun. Can't wait to get started. thumb

Jacob King coached basketball this year at Burchfield Middle School in Scott County. He also assisted Nancy Branim with the girls team at Scott County High. I don't think Jacob is very interested in the job, now. He wants a head coaching position in high school, though.

Both of you make good points. Having watched these guys during the high school season and in AAU, I honestly believe they are playing better. Coach King tried to a good job at Oneida. The players did not respond to his style. This is a group of young men that have been playing together since sixth grade and they are ready to show their ability and desire to win. I'm sure if Seal has been made an offer he will let Oneida know something soon. But, no matter if it is Seal, Marcum, or Windle this team is poised to do big things in the district and beyond next year.

He is a project, but the Lewallen kid at Scott County would do well in JuCo. He's 6'8"/6'9" and runs the floor well. He's not as agressive as he needs to be, but he is willing to learn.

I think it was Carrol County. Not to sure though. Last time I spoke to Gary was at an Oneida game early in the season and he said he was loving the job. The school system is really behing him and the program. Plus, they have him concentrating on basketball by only teaching half of the day. By the way, Oneida was Gary's first job out of school and I think he has found out parents are pretty much the same anywhere you go.

Jabstep, you're right on the money about Marcum. And, yes, he did graduate from Oneida in 1989. Windle also graduated from Oneida. I think he graduated in 1996. With these two and Seale applying, maybe Oneida is having trouble deciding. Maybe, they have decided and the offer hasn't been accepted, yet. But, don't be too worried; the team is working out and playing ball in the AAU tourneys under the TN Grizzlies organization out of Scott County. They have a relatively new coach, but he seems to be doing a great job. His name is Jordan Smith. He played at Oneida about three years ago. The team will be in good shape for whatever coach gets the job.

Hey Peach, what's this about some of the girls not playing if the coaching situation isn't to their liking. I read something about it over on the Men's Basketball Board. Are they having problems with their coach. Just curious? Like gsj, I know the Smith and Garner kids and I would hate for things to be bad for them.

I'm not sure all of the teams in our area like to do camps in the summer. I hope the ones that do will come. But, we would certainly like to see a few teams from outside the immediate area come and play. It's always nice to meet some fresh faces.

I think Kevin is on the list. I am sure he applied. I just don't know about Marcum. But, yeah, Kevin would be great choice. He's young, energetic, and has gained some good experience under Mark Eldridge at AC. And, yes, Gary told me the money, pension, and the fact his kids would get to go to college for free in GA was the main reason for the move. The parents hated to see Gary leave. How could that be having parent problems?

I live in a rural area and support a small school. Our school implemented drug testing for all extracurricular activities and most people in our community are happy with the program. I am glad to see our school system trying to make a positive impact on our students' lives other than just finding a way for the kids to pass academically. Yes, the expense is a burden, but what pricetag can anyone put on a kid making a turnaround and becoming a quality person. Testing will not change every kid. Maybe not even half of the kids testing positive. But, the half that do get untracked will be glad the program exists and support it through adulthood. I did not see widespread drug use whle I was in high school in the mid 80's. I knew the kids that had a problem and knew if their parents' didn't care there was no hope. Drug testing gives kids a second chance that may not have the help and support at home they need. I was fortunate to have wonderful parents that were interested in my life and happenings. I didn't appreciate it then, but with hindsight being 20/20 I know I was lucky. My kids are in the same school system I was in. Things are different in many ways at that school now. Most things are better and drug testing is one them. I will continue to support drug teasting and even help pay for the testing of my children and others.

Look for Oneida from the east if they can find a good point guard to replace Brittany Creech. Lots of heart on that team, with a good incoming Freshman class.

By the way everyone, Chad coached at Huntsville a few years back. He coached the girls middle school team at Wartburg Central up until this year and had great success. He won a East TN middle school title his last year there. He also went to GA for more money like Gary Barnes. I don't know if he applied for the Oneida job, or not. He is an Oneida graduate and would bring some good experience to Oneida. I am just not sure if he is a front-runner.

Gary Barnes didn't have any real parent problems at Oneida. He handled the situation very well, as any coach should. He used discipline to keep the players doing the things he asked and had a successful track record at Oneida. Coachh King may have had parent issues, though. Vic was in a no-win situation. He came to Oneida to coach a group of sophmores and juniors that were held in high regard throughout the community as having the potential to be one of the best Oneida squads ever. Coach King admitted to me that he did not come into the job with disciplinary policies that Coach Barnes had established. As with any group of teenage young men, they will push a coach as far as possible. However, to say Oneida has a parent problem is WRONG. The parents expect to win. What is wrong with that? Oneida has the athletes to win games and compete for a District title next year. We need a coach to bring energy and discipline to the program. These guys are good. They are proving that in AAU tournaments across TN and in NC. Their AAU coach expects them to play hard and he keeps them in-line. Coach King's track record in Campbell Co. middle school proves he can coach...Oneida just wasn't the right fit at this time for him. I hope this post doesn't cloud the issue more. I know the parents of all of the players on the team and I know the players. The right coach will not have the problems mentioned in this thread. I just hope he/she brings energy and success back to Oneida Boys Basketball.

The staffs of Oneida High and Oneida Middle Schools will be holding a team camp for middle school boys teams the week of July 14-18. The camp will be held at the Oneida High School gym. The cost of the camp is $150 per team with each team receiving eight games. The games will begin at 2:00 PM and continue until 10:00 PM. Each team will have one night off during the five days playing two games each night they are present. Each game will consist of four, eight-minute quarters with the clock running except during the last minute of each quarter and during time-outs. Each team will get three, one-minute time-outs per game. To conserve clock time, for each free throw shooting situation a player will receive only one free throw with that shot being worth 1, 2, or 3 points depending on the situation. All other guidelines will follow TSSAA rules. The Oneida coaching staff will make every effort to secure quality officials to referee the games. A concession stand with water and sports drinks will be provided. Any coach interested in bringing their team to this camp should contact Derek Jeffers at (423)569-4853 or e-mail at cdj2@highland.net, or call Marv West at (423)663-8250 or e-mail at coachwest@nxs.net. I will try to answer any questions posted to this thread, as well. We will be taking the first nine teams that enter.

The staffs at Oneida High and Oneida Middle Schools will be holding a team camp for middle school girls teams the week of June 9-13. Each team entered in the camp will play four of the five days of the camp and receive eight games. Games will begin at 2:00 PM each day and the last game wil begin at 9:00 PM. The rules for the camp will follow TSSAA guidelines with the games consisting of four, eight minute quarters. The clock will run except for the last minute of each quarter and any time-outs. Each team will get three, one-minute time-outs per game. In order to conserve clock time, each free throw shooting situation will be only one shot with the shot being worth either 1, 2, or 3 points depending on the situation. There will be a concession stand provided with water and sports drinks. The Oneida coaching staff will make every effort to secure quality officials to referee the games. The cost of the camp is $150. We will be accepting the first nine teams that apply. If interested call Derek Jeffers at (423)569-4853 or e-mail to cdj2@highland.net, or call Marv West at (423)663-8250 or e-mail to coachwest@nxs.net. I will try to answer any questions posted to this thread, as well.

Yes, I did.

The Scott County AAU organization is looking for players for their 11U Tennessee Gems Team. The team is based out of Oneida/Huntsville, but conducts practices in Campbell and Morgan Counties, also. The team plans on playing 4 to 5 tournaments including the East TN sub-state tournaments in both AAU and YBOA. For anyone interested that qualifies for 11U, please respond to this thread or call Derek Jeffers at (423)569-4853. AAU sub-state tournament is just around the corner, so, please respond quickly.

Thanks for the information!!!!!!!!!1

Does anyone know the dates and site for the 12U East TN Boys Substate Tourney? I can't find it posted on the web anywhere and I've been unsuccessful in contacting Willliam Anderson.

Listening to the game on the radio, it sounded like Coach West had a good game plan and the Lady Indians didn't let the ball go inside. Coach West put it best," Our girls should not have been in the game with a team that talented and big!!". But, all year long our girls have played with more heart and desire than everyone they have faced. I hated the season came to an end tonight. Congrats to Oneida's only senior, Brittany Creech, on a great career. Good luck to the Lady Highlanders in the State and I can't wait until next year when the Lady Indians return to Murfreesboro.