meow

As you have stated over and over and over again. Anyways, good luck to Union City and their fans. I hope you get the gold!!!

Maybe that's because you are a Hampton fan. Or perhaps it is because Cloudland beat Hampton when it counted. Talk about a blow to the ego. Hampton went to sub state too. They could have went to state, but they couldn't win against Cosby. So how about giving Cloudland a little credit. They made it where Hampton couldn't.

Just depends on how you look at it. Sure, Cloudland had a losing record. Yet they beat Hampton and Unaka twice in tournaments, where it actually counted.

I love going and watching Cloudland play. But I never imagined that they would make it as far as they have done. I thought that the boys would be playing baseball by now, and the girls would have been at state. However, it didn't work out that way. The boys did win the games though, and they deserved to be at the 'Boro, even if they were in over their heads with Union City. Could Hampton have even competed with Union City? How about UH, or Unaka??

I agree with krichunaka, that was just horrible. I, for one, am very very proud of our guys. It takes guts just getting out on that floor. Thank you Landers for proving me wrong; thanks for taking us to the 'Boro. Win or lose, you are still # 1 in the region, district, and in our hearts!

I'm not saying that we are in the same league as Union City. I'm just saying that Cloudland isn't as horrible as people, including myself, thought them to be. At the beginning of the basketball season, I predicted that our boys would be practicing baseball right now while our girls would be at the 'boro. However, our boys will be on their way, and our girls are at home.

Perhaps the players let it all go to their heads

This is ridiculous. How can you suggest that "good teams are passed over, because of the way the state system is set up"? To be "passed over" is what happens when someone is picking things out, seperating the good from the bad. You "pass over" the things you don't want. These teams weren't passed over by some objective third party, they all had the same opportunity.

Is the NCAA tourney system flawed? Do you think it's "too bad" that every year there is at least a team or two that makes it to the Big Dance that's sub-500 - because they got it together and won their conference tourney? And, I would submit that the TN state tourney system is even better than alot of similar playoff systems, i.e. the NCAA. With the NCAA, some teams don't even get a chance to get in because they don't qualify for their conference tournament. With the TN system, everyone gets a chance to start at the district level, and for some teams, they don't even have to win a district game to get to the region. Plus, the seed match-ups are always 1-4 and 2-3, etc, and the region champ hosts the sectional - so you are rewarded for strong play, which is how it should be.

Ask any coach and they'll tell you, it's not how you play at the beginning of the year, but how you play at the end. That's why the NCAA tournament is so much better than the BCS. Shoot, you lose a football game or two, you're chances for a national title are over. But in hoops, whether NCAA or TN HS, you can lose all year long - as long as you get in done in the end, who cares? Ask Pat Summitt what she cares more about - the 10 regular season losses they had in 95/96, or the national title they won that year.

I spend most of my time on the girls board, but after hearing about Cloundland's story (7-18, winning 7 straight, and getting to state) I couldn't help but get behind it. These are the kinds of things that make sports great, regardless of where your allegiance lies. Every coach of a sub-500 team next year should point to this Cloudland team as an example of what can happen when you bring it all together.

And, I say all this having no idea where Roan Mt or Cloudland HS is...

Thank you for giving Cloudland the recognition that they deserve. Ned Smith has done an awesome job with this team. He let them be the underdogs, so they could fly under the radar. And look where it has got them. In the State Tournament.

...Believe me,there is a reason a team goes into the district tournamnet with a 7-18 record..Answer is they are not very good......There is also a reason a team goes into the same said tournament and has won 7 games since..Answer is the district and region and sub-state team were not very strong...]

 

I know a lot of people think Cloudland is not a very good team. I'm not saying that we are or we aren't. Just check this out and see if it makes since. A wise person once told me that it doesn't matter what you do in the season; only in the tournaments. OK, so if you play badly in the season, 9 times out of 10 people are going to think you are a horrible team. So when tournament time comes, you are easily overlooked. Case and point of Cloudland. Perhaps Ned Smith knew what he was doing. Let people think you are horrible. Have a losing record (not on purpose). And then go in and sweep playoffs, with a 7-0 record. Genius. That's why Cloudland is in the State Tournament. Not because we gained players. Not because our competition weakened. But because they knew how to play the game. Physically and mentally.

Cloudland can be found in Roan Mountain, TN, on the NC border. It is a small school, perhaps 350 in size, 7th - 12th grade. State Tournament histroy...don't ask . Our top rivals have always been Unaka (state champs in 04 if I remember correctly) and Hampton. Also, all of our players are accounted for. None have been seriously hurt all season (that I know of).

Take the King the way the rest of Roan Mountain does; with a grain of salt. King, don't make me sick DB on you. Cool it will ya? I love Cloudland too; I also want to help its reputation, not destroy it.

As a diehard Cloudland fan, I must say congrats to the guys. I grew up with many of these young men, and I know no one who is more deserving than these. Roan Mountain last night was magical. I have never seen an atmosphere like that; it was incredible. I even played on the girls state team; we never received anything like that. Good luck Landers at the 'Boro.

To Wartburg, thank you for an intense game. Your fans are incredible, and your team is extremely lucky to have them.

Cheergirl, no offense to you, but you sound extremely childish. Yea, a guy got kicked out. I know the guy who was kicked out, he is a great guy. Emotions run wild. Even you know that. As for the yelling at your players, look at your own cheerleaders. When Nick was throwing in the ball, one of your cheerleaders was leaning in to yell in his ear. How's that for class?

Go Landers!!!

CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK AT THE 'BORO!!!!!!

DISTRICT CHAMPS!!!

REGIONAL CHAMPS!!!

STATEBOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cloudland 51 Wartburg 47 FINAL

Bye Bye Bulldogs

Thank you for being a good sport. It's tough to find them nowadays.

Guess Cloudland pulled a huge upset then. Don't ever count us out!!!

GO LANDERS!!!!!!!!!!!

District Champs - Boys and Girls

Ok...thanks for the info. They shouldn't have said it. But remember that athletes do talk trash at times. And remember, its only a game.

Go Landers!!!

Ok...I'm really lost. This may be the blonde coming out in me, but what are ya'll talking about with cheapshots????

Go Landers!!!

How can you call Hampton the underdogs when they are in a class with Grace Christian? Hampton has been Cloudland's main competition throughout the whole season. They are not the underdogs....they are the wall to take down.

Go Landers!!!

Ok, I have a quick question. Are you linking Hampton as the underdogs?

Go Landers!!!!

Cloudland's football players have been looking toward this game all season. They will put their heart's and soul's into this game, making it the game to watch. Hampton will be a tough test, and the rivalry has always been intense. But this year, Cloudland has an additional test when facing Hampton; their feelings towards Lunceford. This can make or break the game, and I hope that Cloudland will use this in the correct way. My prediction: Cloudland - 14

Hampton - 13

Go Landers!!!!!

meow is back and ready to give her opinion....why should we worry about the Hampton/Cloudland game....it's only week zero.....storm55.....save the trash talking until week 10.... ....inside info tells me that Cloudland has been working very hard....they have been in the weight room constantly and have trained well this summer....all in all....expect to see the Landers fight for the respect that they deserve....I have also heard that Hampton is suppossed to be awesome this year....it should be a great game to watch....dawg71....its wonderful to have pride in your team....don't take it to far by letting newspaper articles get to your head....football is not just a physical sport....its also a mind game that can ruin the best players if they get too cocky....Unaka will be an interesting game to watch....last year I was in total awe at how the game turned out....but I expect Unaka to be ready to try to overcome and will be ready to play....with all this said....I hope Cloudland dominates

Good Luck Landers!!!!!

From what I can gather from the Elizabethton Star...Jake collapsed during warm-ups. Jake has a heart condition which threatened his senior year of high school basketball.

I need to get out and go to one the the Lander games. Storm...I hear I need to congratulate you....be good to her or me and softballers will hurt you...bad... ...

It seems like forever since I have been on here. So, I need to be brought up to date. Cloudland has already surprised me. I didn't think that they would be doing this good, but what do I know. Storm55, try to be good. Don't make me get DB after ya! When is the Unaka/Cloudland game? I have yet to go to one of the high school's basketball games, been spending too much time at the Junior High games. Good luck to Unaka and Cloudland.

Wow...it seems like forever since I have been on here. I'm telling ya....college is getting to me. Anyways, let's get down to business. Of course I'm going to be pulling for my Landers, that is a given. However, I will say this...the team of '04 has impressed me more than my fellow classmates of last year. Everyone got used to winning and it wasn't impressive after killing every team. This year Cloudland was the underdog and used it to their advantage. Now I have to own up to my words, for I was one of the first ones who claimed that Cloudland would be horrible. Thanks for proving me wrong, guys. I know that you can play well tonight. Just go into the game like you did against Unaka. Show everyone that you are the team to beat. Good Luck!!! And to the Oneida fans, bundle up and have a safe drive. The atmosphere will be wonderful at the game, so let's add to it by using words of encouragement to our guys, not as insults to the opposing team.

Cloudland - 16

Oneida - 14

GO LANDERS!!!