RANGER87

North Greene is on a roll and playing well but I don't think Unaka will take you too lightly this time around. My prediction is that Mother Nature has the best shot right now, I work about two miles from the field and it's raining pretty good right now and the radar in middle TN doesn't look too clear either.

When we do win, we win with homegrown kids. Kids whose parents went to the same school, whose grandparents went to the same school. There's tradition here in our hometown schools. Call us redneck, backwoods, halfbreeds or whatever other Deliverance generated adjective you like, I'd rather be from here and have our small town, community oriented life and only a small handful of state championships than to have no tradition and so many championships that I no longer appreciated their value.

You're welcome, always glad to be of service.

That's been public knowledge for a couple of weeks now.

They gotta play the games first. Talent ain't enough.

Lowe will be fine. It's a tough loss for the team but just as they showed Tuesday night, after he left early in the first half, they can still win. There are players on the bench that can fill the gaps. They also played without their other Senior, Adam, the whole game. It changes things but is not the end of the season. It's just an early sneak preview of next years team. Drink your milk Lowe and you'll be ready for sub-state, plus we need a runner for the fatboys on the baseball team.

I don't know about number 1 but they are a very good team. We've seen Grace, Temple, Clay, Pickett and more this year and Cosby can play with them. Their schedule looks weak but the team is not.

There you go again. I just said I wasn't attacking his character, just didn't care for the statement, which came after a tough loss so probably may have been out of character for him and it's understandable. I'm not calling for his resignation nor does he need to dig up any character references. I said I didn't care for the statement or they way the game was reported. If UH's book had not have agreed with Unaka's, THEN, and only then would there have been a controversy. I would just like to see things reported as they really happened, if that's possible.

His quotes, unless misquoted, in the Press speak for themselves. I don't know him at all, but your words have a habit of giving you a sometimes undeserved reputation. I'm not attacking his character I just didn't care for the statements made, if reliable, or the article as a whole. That's my opinion which I'm entitled to. The End

I'm having the hardest time understanding why you change strategies over 2 points. It wasn't that 2 were taken from the Bucs and given to the Rangers. Instead of being up by two you are tied, not down by two. Down two, up two or tied who would change strategies, please, raise your hand. Who really feels safe with a two point lead? Is there a strategy that can be employed to prevent a team from scoring for 3 or 4 minutes until the end of the game? If there is, whoever has it is sitting on a goldmine. "No, Koby, your not going back in, we have a two point lead and I'm employing the Score-no-more defense for the remaining 3 minutes so we don't squander this massive 2 point lead of ours. Nope, no whining, I don't care if you feel like you could score 81 points tonight, we've got this one in the bag." You can, and usually do, write what you want. It makes no difference to me, but when it detracts from a hard fought win that our boys earned I get a little upset. I will say that the Press' article was the one that really peeved me. The boys earned the win and didn't get it by any other means. I grouped the Media into one pile and vented. My apologies, but the Rangers do earn their respect and deserve it and I don't mind to stand up and say so. And to his credit Coach Gordon call the 'controversy' disgusting, if I remember correctly which is the same as saying 'they cheated and I'm mad'

Really? I've got a punk @$$? I had no idea. Thanks, I'm flattered, but also not into that whole Brokeback Mtn. thing. Keep your chin up though, you're sure to meet some lucky guy who'll make all your dreams come true.

That reply was solely for the Press and the Star, or anyone else who wants to jump to conclusions without asking for explanations. It's not worthy of an e-mail or my time. I don't subscribe to either of our local Enquirers anyway.....

Lay off the book keepers. I was the home book. University's book keeper showed integrity by bringing the discrepancy on the scoreboard to our attention, even though it cost her team two points in a very pivotal conference game. After checking both books we decided to change the score. Instead of bashing her you should congratulate her for being honest and take a lesson from it. Until the FACTS are known people should not jump to conclusions about things that happen and try to refrain from making unsavory comments to the press and the Press should refrain from writing stories based on their own hasty conclusions without first getting the true facts. BUT, then where would that get them, if they can't embellish their fiction then no one would read their paper, would they? No one wants to read the truth, it's not as entertaining. If a mistake was made then we, the book keepers, apologize.If it was a mistake it was an honest one and the decision was made by both of us to make the change. If we were not each in agreement the score would not have been changed regardless of whose points they were. Honesty is rare quality these days, don't blame your book keeper, she does a good job. If you must blame someone, blame me, just do it to my face. You know where to find me.......

No, no time off, we're headed your way next week.

Uh, oh, someone's unhappy, and at Christmas, too. I hope you asked St. Nick for some cryin' towels. As early in the season as it is you're going to need some more. If by some miracle the 8 of us do see you again, not likely since we spent all we had on those last 3 refs, I'll be sure to bring you some extras. If nothing else Devil, you're good for a little entertainment......

Yep, I'm a parent, sounds like you are, too. Just glad to hear that you're not biased at all. "I told them it would be hard to beat them at their own tournament"? If #42 does get hit in the mouth, he'll live. It ain't the first time and won't be the last. I don't make excuses for him, he'll earn what he gets, that's life in the blue collar world. For someone who's not making excuses, that's the whiniest post I've seen in a good while. Excuse me for being biased.........

No, it's not true. You shot 8 times and made 3. That's true. Those 5 you missed made a difference. We shot 27 and hit 19 I believe, that's true. The ones we hit mattered, we still had to hit those to win, they weren't awarded to us. The refs didn't give it to us the boys earned it. Your boy's played well also. Sometimes you get calls and sometimes you don't, that's sports in general. There were no decisions made that Unaka would win no matter what, if that were the case we wouldn't have gotten worn out by Heritage Christian. Different set of refs for each of the ten games during both days, hard to coordinate that many officials and and still be able to afford to pay them off. Think what you will but that's still a tired excuse for not winning and that goes for our side, too.

I wouldn't go so far as to say we were ashamed of anything. Referees come from all over and none of those were "homegrown". If there's a team anywhere that doesn't feel cheated at one time or another I'd like to know who they are. I don't know about 34 foul shots but it was somewhat one sided in the first half but in the second half both teams were in the double bonus and the fouls were even. I kept the book for Unaka so I remember that much. It was a good game by both teams, officiating is something all teams have to deal with and overcome. I've heard the same comments from our side when we leave Pickett's tournament. Blaming it all on bad officiating is just and excuse.

Well, I'll tell you. I have been around these boys for a long time, a few even longer. One in particular since the day he first saw the light of day. I know exactly what they're made of but can't understand why, now that their time has come, they aren't giving it all they've got. I'm not talking about all of them, but I know how good they really are.

It will be the same story at Unaka. They won't beat anyone with only a few varsity and JV carrying the load, regardless of what gym they're in. It's one thing to lose to a better team but we lose due to a serious lack of intensity on the part of some that hurts the whole team. Most are playing hard but could really use some help. If things don't change quick they'll be fighting not to finish last.

They have all they need. Whether or not they show it only time will tell, but they do have what it takes.

First name Big, last name Del

Unaka will be just fine.

Let's not talk smack over a scrimmage, at least wait until the season starts. We only had 5 upperclassmen playing the rest were freshmen and sophomores, and they'll tell you that none of them played very well. It's a long way until March......

We're not.