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The cyclones and tigers both won defensive games tonight to set up a clash of the undefeated tommorrow night in Erwin. Both teams went through their regular season and district tournaments without a loss and have earned their trips to the sub-state. Which one will play at home? Gooooooooo Lady Cyclones!!!!

Unicoi and Elizabethton tonight is for bragging rights for the seniors. Unicoi dominated the cyclones early in these girls' careers. Who can forget the 02-03 season where these teams met four times with Unicoi winning close games each time, the last two in the District One and Region One finals held at Elizabethton. Last year the cyclones began to catch up, losing a double OT game at home, getting hammered at Unicoi, but then beating the Devils in the District finals on a neutral court. South Greene last year spoiled the chance for them to meet a fourth time in the Regional finals. This year the cyclones have held the upper hand, winning fairly comfortably at home and winning a close battle at Unicoi. Now comes the game that counts most, the Regional semi-final with a sub-state berth on the line. Seniors Redd and Baughman vs the Unicoi's Sparks and Weaver and Kerns and Lingerfelt for the last time. Perhaps EHS can match UCHS's feat of 02-03 and beat the devils in the regional on their home court. Perhaps not. One thing is for sure, both teams will leave it all on the court. I know both teams will play outstanding defense. I know both teams will rebound well. I think it comes down to two things. Who takes care of the ball better and who shoots the ball better. Pretty simple eh? And the winner will give the Lady Tigers all they want thursday! Gooooo Lady Cyclones!!!!

Krich: This was a different Unicoi team last night than we saw last week in the District. They are very capable of beating the Cyclones. Cyclones depth was tested last night with Pietrowski and Redd getting two early fouls in the first quarter. Treadway and Gouge filled in well. Wednesdays game will be one for the ages. I dont see either team getting close to 60 points. Defense will be the theme and points will be hard to come by. I predict a game in the forties that will be in doubt until the end. Which team wants it the most will prevail.

My my my nightmare, what a difference a day makes! Your devils played a very good game tonight against a top opponent. I agree that the game with the cyclones will be one to remember. But I disagree that PF cant be beat. I sure would like the chance thursday. First things first. What do you see Fisher doing different against EHS?

Final was 66-45. Rikki had 30, 19 in the first half. Val and Michaela both got into early foul trouble and ended up playing about half the game, but when they were out there they played very well. We only had 11 turnovers. Our passing has gotten much better the last month. CD did hurt us on the offensive boards, but with their size and our foul trouble, that was not unexpected. Eden hurt her ankle early, but got it taped or re-taped and returned to play alot and did well. Bri played the entire second quarter for Val and was steady. Cyclone bench performed tonight, but the star of the show was Rikki. She played a complete game and set the tone early with two threes. Victoria and Cameron hit some big shots, and Victoria played great defense as usual. Unicoi played a great game against South Greene. It will be a war wednesday night.

Unicoi played very well tonight beating South Greene by double digits, while the Cyclones ousted Chuckey Doak 66-45 behind Baughman's 30 point outburst. This sets up a great semifinal matchup on Unicoi's home court wednesday night. The third meeting of these two teams this year. Can the cyclones complete the sweep of Unicoi or will the Devils prevail on their home court? After seeing Unicoi come out with fire in their eyes tonight, I rate this game a toss-up.

Coachh17 and B: CD will not be overlooked. You know the leadership on this team. They will not let down. CD may win this game but if they do, they will have earned it. I like our draw, it will only help us down the line if we live through it. There are no gimmes from here on. One game season starts tommorrow night.

LTM: One thing all the teams in District One AA know about is tough defense. Central and Unicoi both play very good defense; where they can have trouble is when they have trouble scoring. The So Greene-Unicoi game will be a war. Based on recent play, I think the Rebels go in as the favorite. But I think Unicoi, playing at home, after being outshown last week by their boys team, (which won the district) comes in with a big chip on their shoulder. For this reason, I think Unicoi becomes a slight favorite. I expect the officiating to be good. It wasnt too bad for the district up here and should only get better for the regional.

Some very good first round games. My picks: Pigeon Forge over Volunteer. Volunteer will do well to keep this game within 15 points. The Lady Tigers are playing very well and appear to be peaking at the right time. Volunteer will give it their all, but I do not think they have the height or shooting to stay with PF, unless Caldwell lights it up. Sullivan Central over Claiborne County in a very close game. Both teams well coached. This game could go either way, but I say the Cougars pull it out. Unicoi over South Greene in overtime. I expect both teams to play well and if thats so this will be a barnburner. I say Unicoi by 3 in OT. Elizabethton over Chucky Doak. CD matches up with the Lady Cyclones size-wise and has some very good athletes. I dont think they played very well against Claiborne in the third place game in D2 tourney and perhaps will come in with something to prove; that their second place finish in the regular season was not a fluke. That makes this a dangerous game for Betsy. Elizabethton must come to play from the opening tip, and I expect they will. I say the Cyclones by 9. Other opinions??

Is Lunceford going to Hampton really a done deal; or could it be that he would come back to coach the Lady Highlanders next year when his daughter is a senior? This is assuming of course that Matt leaves.

Krich: No doubt the Lady Cyclones lost four great seniors last year; three starters in Forbes, Dykes and Bishop, and a good defensive player and shooter off the bench in Kauffeld. The lady cyclone program reloaded. Its a credit to the Junior High and offseason programs, and coaches Farthing and Wilson, that the program has the talent to reload. And Wilson, with outstanding leadership from the seniors, has molded them into the team they are. The players know their roles. Team chemistry has gotten better as the season went along as you would hope it would. Next season everyone will be saying that the cyclones will be down without Rikki and Val; that we wont be any good. I have no idea how good we will be; but there are still some players in the program! You wont ever replace a Baughman or a Redd, but some of their traits will remain. Cyclone Pride really means something to these kids. Now to the Unicoi deal. In watching them play several times this season, its apparent they have not developed the type of team chemistry one would have thought. Krich is the optimist, nightmare is the pessimist. Nightmare is closer to the program and as a parent of a player, Im guessing, pretty well knows whats going on "inside the huddle". Fisher is a good coach, in fact many would rate him as the best in our conference. He's no stranger to South Greene and realizes if Unicoi plays like they did this past week, they will lose. Its an great matchup and Im glad it is the game immediately before the cyclones game so I can watch it unfold. Good luck to the Devils.

I agree with cyclonesnightmare (he really outta change that now), and you krich, about one thing.........the blue devils this year have not played as well as most would have thought. They have some young talented players. They have four senior starters who have been through the wars and know what it takes to win. They do not have Megan Headley however, and as much as some, early on, lamented the lady cyclone loss of their four seniors, there is no doubt now, that the lady devils miss Headley much more. But that said, they are a very dangerous team and may very well beat South Greene; and Elizabethton. Some great games looming in Region One AA.

Unicoi has alot of talent and has good senior leadership. I think the game against South Greene is the best AA matchup, not just in Region One, but statewide in the opening round.

Can you say ..........GOOOOOOOO LADY CYCLONES!!!!!!!! thumb

Krich This cyclone will be pulling for Unicoi Monday. It would be fitting for the cyclones and devils to determine who gets a substate game. I dont see anyone in the other bracket derailing the Lady Tigers from a berth in the Regional final. One thing is for sure, if Elizabethton gets there, nobody can say they didnt earn it!!

First of all, Michaela is only a sophomore. Rikki and Val are being looked at by several colleges but I dont think any decisions have been finalized.

Krich: You are being too hard on yourself!! Throughout the year, you have given the cyclones credit and their due, but you, as did many others, played the "what if" game. Its human nature. So far Coach Wilson has been pushing all the right buttons. His handling of this team to-date, the way they have grown into such an unselfish team, is outstanding. The one thing all these kids want, from the JVers, to the varsity players that dont get much time, to the leaders of the team, is simply to WIN. The younger kids who arent playing much or at all, know their time will come if they work hard. GLee: We do want good sportsmanship, but it is okay to be LOUD isnt it!!

Good Job Lady Tigers! One thing for sure, if its to be an all orange and black region one final, the lady cyclones will have to go the hard way, through your number two in the regular season (CD) then the winner between South Greene and Unicoi (on their home court). Dont take Volunteer for granted. They will come at you hard, and are well coached.

LTM: That wont be finalized until the coaches meeting tommorrow. The prevailing thought is that the number one and four seeds, boys and girls will play monday with the twos and threes playing tuesday; semis on wednesday and finals thursday. However that is not set in stone. TimmoSams: You have a point about the fouling out, but fans will be fans! I know a Cougar fan got thrown out for improper gestures, so emotions were running high on both sides, especially after 22 tried to hurt Val with the intentional foul. I thought for the most part our fans were into the game and loud.

CyclonesNightmare aka FisherBasher......there was a foul disparity but did you ever stop to think it was deserved based on play?!?! Ever stop to think that a six inch height advantage leads to fouls by the other team? Central's players were frustrated and it showed in their play. I suppose you thought the intentional foul on 22 against Redd was bogus?? The officiating crew was one of the most respected in this part of the state. Ask your coach, Fisher, about that crew, if you and he are speaking to one another. Fact is Elizabethton played a complete game last night. Redd played her best game as a cyclone. Everyone fulfilled their respective roles. Its over however, and now it truly becomes a one game season. You always whine about the refs when the cyclones win. Always. I hear Ray getting ready to sing.......

Hey point12, how does the current (ie this year, right now) number one team in the State by the AP and number two team by CoachT's rankings NOT EVEN make your top five in either category, and only makes honorable mention in one (offensive). You midstaters dont get it. We do play a little BB here in UET.

Unicoi played alot of players early and was behind for awhile. They kicked it up in the second half and won by about 15. This puts Unicoi in Elizabethton's bracket in the Region and they will play the loser of the District 2 Championship game between So Greene and Pigeon Forge. In my opinion the winner of District 2 gets a very favorable draw.

Elizabethton came to play tonight beating the Cougars handily in the District One final at Unicoi. In the third place game, Unicoi beat Volunteer. The cyclones played perhaps their most complete game of the year. Rikki Baughman won her second straight District One MVP with Valnessha Redd and Michaela Pietrowski making all tournament for the second straight year. Cameron Crapps made all tournament for the cyclones as well. On to the Regional Ladies. Back to back District titles. Back to back Regionals would be sweet!!! Great job coaches and players. Cyclone pride !!!!

terolico: Since coachh17 left, The person who really has Wilson's ear on the bench is not Fritz or Coach Nave, but I will give you a hint........they also have his ear at home!! I dont think the Cyclones will overlook the Cougars at all. The Cougars are too good for that. Looking forward to seeing a great game.

Mrs B, are you home yet? Had heard a rumor that you were. Would love to hear an update on Katrina. Big, vocal cyclone crowd tonight in Erwin. Central will play us tough no doubt but I expect us to be ready. Big game tonight from Rikki, as usual. She was all over the court. Val was a terror on defense. Michaela and Cameron had good offensive games. Victoria played well on both ends. We did have 20+ turnovers however. More substitutions than usual. Towle was absent with the flu. Regional will begin monday I am told, but some teams will not play until tuesday. I think the top seeds will definitely play monday and get tuesday off if they win. Tournament is monday through thursday.