ladyliondad14

I always love to read your "here's where they are and here's why" postings. Your professional like opinion and extreme attention to detail always gives everyone a well educated and well planned out post that breaks down the teams, the players and sometimes the coaches. The confidence you have about your opinions can be read thru your posts. I commend you on your past years work and look forward to reading many many more posts. LOL... Now that I stunk up a little could you grace me and all other Coacht fans with a break down of D 12A. From the top please. Also do you think that FHS be the Sleeper or the Cinderella team and maybe shakeup things from the 3-5 spots?

Several times this year one of our players who was driving up the floor or to the basket was either tripped by a defender, pushed or just out right knocked down and the call was either a walk or the ball went out and was awarded to the other team. The jump ball thing has really gotten out of hand. This is supose to be a call made when two players of different teams both have control of the ball not when one player has the ball and another touches it with one hand. I've seen a girl reach around another girl with the ball with both hands and basicly give her a bear hug and get a jump call. Also if a player on the floor sitting on her butt picks up a loose ball and two other girls from the other team dives on top of her like they're going for a fumble in football and a jump is called, now shouldn't this be a foul? I'd like to hear from all the small schools out there on this one. We "Frank Hughes" are a very small school and don't have 50-60 girls to choose from to make a team and are lucky if we have that many girls in the entire high school. So who goes out for the team gets a uniform because there isn't enough players to make cuts. With that being said you wouldn't think we'd ever be good enough to beat a big school and statisticly its not supose to happen and it seems like the refs are gonna make sure its doesn't happen. I mean when our players are getting called for what I like to call cupcake or touch fouls and our girls flat out get knocked down and nothing is called and right in front of a ref it makes you wonder. And when you say something to the refs about not calling fairly their only defense is to tell you to look at the board that shows that both teams have been called with 7 fouls each. That means that on paper it looks evenly called but when the other team should have had double the fouls called that doesn't make it a fairly called game. Or when your team has been called with 10 fouls with time left in the third quarter and the other team only has 6 in the entire second half. I don't know about anyone else but I cann't stand to loose a game that is called that way and don't want to win one like that either. Not saying that we would win every game like against Summertown the other night, probably would have lost anyway but it should have been much closer, against PC should have been a very close game and down to the last few seconds and against Riverside, lost by 3 and should have won by 10+. My daughter said once that she wished we could get the games called in our favor like that and I told her that if we did I would probably pull her off the floor because the game she was refering to was horible and I don't want her to be part of that because she doesn't learn anything from that. We don't want anyone to cheat for us, all we want is a fair chance to show everyone even tho we're a small school we can play. We can handle loosing a close well called game but no since in being blown away because of a poorly called game.

FHS, LORETTO, SCOTTS HILL AND HARDIN CO. THAT I KNOW OF, NOT SURE IF THERE ARE ANY OTHERS. ADAMSVILLE WAS BUT DROPPED OUT. BOYS ARE ALSO PLAYING BUT DON'T KNOW WHO.

Does anyone know anything about Loretto and Hardin Co? We tip the season off at home against Loretto on Friday the 17th and go to Savannah on Monday the 20th. How does the Cross girl from Loretto compare to her big sister? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these two teams? GO LADY LIONS

The tournament was in Mt. Pleasant the year before last and Waynesboro last year and Perry Co. three years ago but I could be wrong. Is Collinwood in the rotation to host?

These girls are tough and another thing they are good at is playing together and they've pretty much been together since jr high. Hard to come back on them if they jump out big early but at the same time aren't nearly as good at comming back. Also, I cann't remember but does anyone know who hosts districts this year?

I totally agree with you guys about following the rules. The way I look at it is this, it's all about what the kids get from it. What they learn in school and at home they take with them when they go out and start their own lives. If we're teaching them to break the rules now then it will only be a natural thing for them down the road. It should be a moral thing because of the kids. It all starts when one coach says lets go ahead and practice because nobody will know then the next thing you know almost everybody is doing it. Just like us being a small school and usually don't get a fairly called game because we're small and are not supose to beat a big school. I'd rather loose a fairly called game by 100 pts than to win a game by 1 pt that was called unfairly because of what the kids get from the win which is nothing but a W on a piece of paper. They learned nothing but how to cheat when they should have learned to try harder next time. Just like starting practices too early, they might have time to learn one or two extra plays but what did they learn for life? The system wants to blame the parents if a kid cheats on a test or doesn't respect the rules the school has set but really who is to blame, the parents that are trying to teach their kids to do right and to respect others and respect rules or is the system the ones to blame for allowing this to happen to get ahead in sports and expect it not to happen in the classroom.

1. SUMMERTOWN Defense wins championships and Summertown's D year after year is noting short of impressive. Plus these girls can put a lot of points on the board. They have the heart and drive that the most talanted teams in the state only wish they had. Ptguard12, I have to disagree with you about Coach Willard, I think he's probably the best coach in the state. If he had the kids to pick from like the bigger schools he'd probably be unbeatable. 2. COLLINWOOD These girls are smart and like Summertown they're very well coached. They lost some size and experience in the paint but should be ok with Daniel. The play of Andrews will carry this team, I shouldn't say carry but more like make up for what they lost with her leadership and experience. They have great 3pt shooters which could make or break them in the big games. 3. WAYNE COUNTY Great size with really good inside shooters. Daniels is very smart and has the heigth and will probably be the one to really step it up. The cats will live or die inside and with the lack of speed will have to control the tempo and keep it at a slow half court game. 3. FRANK HUGHES Returning all starters and all key players off the bench except for Vickery but gained a bigger and stronger player in Sikes from Florida. These girls are very well conditioned and tired of being pushed around. Look to be much more mature and shows much more discapline. Lineberry is better conditioned and will get lots of help from Anderson and Sikes. Frasier is shooting well from outside. Westbrooks, Pevahouse and Ray are bigger, stronger and even faster than last year. Ray and Pevahouse are the money players but should get a lot more help than years past plus adding a couple decient size freshmen in Ray and Murphy could give someone a couple minute breather without really hurting the team. Also Coach Skelton learned a lot from her rookie mistakes last year and has earned the respect from her players that was missing last season. This team could pull off some big upsets but at the same time depth could easily drop them to fifth in the district. 5. PERRY COUNTY Plenty of size but very slow. Lack the experience they lost last season. Someone will have to step up and handle the ball and shoot the three. But will probably be one of the teams to watch out for next year. 6. HAMPSHIRE More experienced but don't think it will be enough unless the whole team steps it up a couple notches, one or two players probably wount be enough. 7. ZION Lost most of their experience, size and their two of the best shooters in the district along with a coach that was starting to make progress. 8. MT. PLEASANT Not much to say here. Much like Frank Hughes and Hampshire, it cann't get much worse than last year. You've got some good kids but they're really gonna have to work hard. Hope noone gets upset over this cause these are just my thoughts and opinions and everyone knows what they say about opinions. Besides the team I'm pulling for could be the team that pulls off what nobody thinks they can or they could be the biggest let down in the district but they have the talent to win but if they don't play together and with discapline they'll be in no better shape than the last 10-15 years. Ptguard12 I loved your post, very knowledgable and very well put together as usual.

I think that a lot of the "burn out" for our team anyway comes from how the schedule is set up plus not having a very deep bench. Our season was 25 games long and 14 of those games were between Jan 3rd and Feb 7th. Not to mention that between Jan 10th and Jan 21st (12 days) they played seven games, that's averaging a little over a game every other day. The number of games in the season is fine but they really should be spread out a little better. The kids may not feel physically tired and are mentally ready to play but even being young their muscles can get over worked and become weak and that's when the injuries start. Also the biggest complaints about this comes from us old and decrepid parents that just have a hard time keeping up with all the games and still having to find time to take care of everything else, while doing so we become mentally, physically and financially exhausted. I know the kids probably do get tired but I know, speaking for myself anyway I get worn out much faster than they do. Good luck 12A in the tournys, I believe someone from our district will bring home the gold ball this year.

Who is where right now? How do they stack from top to bottom?

Congradulations Coach! But you could have gotten #500 against someone else...lol. But anyway great job.

Yes, saw the game. Are you wanting info or what? Clifton won by 2 in OT.

Friday nite my daughter tried to save the ball on the baseline only about 3 feet off the corner of the backboard but the ball went out on the sideline about 15 feet up the floor. While doing this she landed wrong and hurt her knee and while she was on the floor crying one of the refs stood within a few feet of her waiting for someone to throw the ball back to him and when they did he just handed the ball to an opposing player so she could throw it in. If she had been a couple feet closer to the baseline I guess the ref and the other girl would have stepped on her but anyway she threw the ball in and up the floor they went, the ref never bothered to call time until everyone in the stands started yelling at him even tho it was already a dead ball. Then he actually had the nerve to try and throw me out just for saying that if he had actually been paying attention to the game he would have seen her on the floor. Here at Frank Hughes we very rairly see a game that is called fairly. I don't know if its because we're a small school and we're not suppose to beat the bigger schools or what. Not saying that the calls always makes us loose the game but in a game where we probably would have lost by 10 in a fairly called game, instead we'll loose by 30 because the other team in on the line all nite. It is this way for us at home and on the road. Our girls play aggressive and make some fouls but the 25-30 that get called every nite just doesn't happen and I know some teams are much better than us about not fouling as much but very rairly do you see a team that only commits about 10 fouls in the entire game like what we've been seeing. Like I said tho, most of the games we've lost we would have lost anyway but the games would have been alot closer if they were called right which would help our girls build a little confidence knowing that they can atleast hang in there with the bigger and better schools. And before someone makes the comment "why don't you try being a ref", let me say this. I have kids playing that I want to watch and who diserve having me there to give them support and even if I wanted to ref I couldn't because I'm disabled. I always try to keep an open mind and try to see the game both ways. I can stand to see us loose a game because we just got beat but I cann't stand to see kids nomatter what team their on get cheated.

First of all I'd like to say I'm sorry for thinking they were part of the team which brought upon the comment that I pointed toward the team. Secondly, I never have and never will wish bad things upon Waynesboro or anyone else, as a matter of fact I believe I wished every time in the district the best of luck and I meant it and stand by what I said because district 12A is full of great kids and tough competors and I wish them all well no matter how big the rivalry.

Ptguard12 where are you? If you've seen us play I want to hear what you have to say because I know I can count on an honest and tactfull opinion from you, weather its good or bad.

Everyone has to be a comedian. All I asked was for some opinions about weather or not people thought the team was getting better or not. I never ask for but should have expected to get mostly smart remarks, especially from Waynesboro. I'll give you "Waynesboro" the credit you diserve, you guys have a tough team and have had a tough team for some time now but the team as a whole lacks one key thing and that thing is called "CLASS". Not saying that about every girl on the team because there are some very good and very very respectfull girls on the team but a few rotten apples can make the whole barrel smell bad. If you don't feel that Clifton is improving that's fine and that's your opinion which is what I asked for. I did not ask for smart remarks and for the girls to be put down because they've done nothing to anyone to diserve such remarks. If anyone thinks they need improvment in certain areas or in every area and maybe how to fix it then great, by all means do so. And yes I am a parent and so what, I am very proud of my kids as I am very proud of the entire team for how hard they've been working, how much they've progressed and where their going. Plus I can remember a time that went on for several years that Waynesboro and every other team could only dream of beating Clifton, girls and boys and all those teams were much bigger schools then as they are now. That was the past, but in the past as well as now in the present a good team wins games but it takes a team with class as well as wins to be a great team. In this district Summertown and Collinwood lead the pack when it comes to having class. You don't even have to have a winning season to have class, you also have to be able to show respect for other players and teams. That's another area Clifton has improved but still has some catching up to do to put themselves at the same level as SHS and CHS. Sorry this post is so long but I wanna end it by making myslef clear by saying that I never said Clifton would beat any of the top four teams. I said that if they could upset one of them it would make a big difference in the rest of the season and I also said that if it did happen it would help their confidence which confidence will also make them play better and play a better and closer games against the other teams. Good luck to all 12A teams in the rest of the season and be safe.

I think a parent or maybe even a grand-parent in most cases would be the best choice for the job because it doesn't pay except for free admission and parents want to be at every game they can and would most likely be there to keep the books where someone that has no ties to the team might not show up which causes the coach to try and get a last minute sub. If a parent was to try and pad their childs stats then they aren't really helping their child, I feel like they are only hurting them. They are hurting them because if the player is or wants to average 20 points per game or whatever and their stats are padded to show such then the player thinks they are doing well and doesn't play harder to actually get the 20 points per game which is hurting the player and the team. Bottom line your kid isn't learning anything. If you want them to learn and improve, honesty is the best policy. My daughter asks me after every game what I thought about how the team played and how she played. She doesn't always like what I have to say and often replies with "gee thanks alot dad" but I just ask her if she'd rather I lie to her or be honest as I expect her to be honest with me and she always smiles and agrees that she learns more from the truth. In most cases the parent keeping the stats are being as honest as possible and are trying to do something to help the team and probably because noone else will do it and wouldn't mind sitting up in the seats cheering on the team like everyone else so keep that in mind and give them a break.

Looking for outside opinions. Does anyone think FHS is getting better? I think they are slowly getting better but doing it too slow. They still lack in discipline and also lack the heart it takes to fight back when they get behind. In games like, at Collinwood only down by 2 after the first quarter but down by about 20 at the half and lost the game badly and at Waynesboro, up by 6 after the first and down by 13 at the half and lost by 20+. They play well in close games especially if they are ahead but once they fall behind by a few points they tend to roll over and play dead. I think if they can gain more discipline and find the heart it takes to fight they could actually upset one of the top four in the district. If they can manage to upset one of those top four their confidence will soar and will really turn their season around. Not saying they would win out but could maybe pull off a couple more upsets and cut down on the blowouts and have some close games. But those two little words "DISCIPLINE & HEART" are very huge in this case. Plus with a coach in her first year who has the girls looking better and who still has a lot to learn when it comes to game time coaching especially when it comes to keeping and/or getting the girls settled down when the game gets rough. Please give me your thoughts about our play and future chances. I would also like to wish the Lady Lions the best for the rest of the season. Girls you just have to believe in yourselves and never stop fighting because no matter who your playing, they can get cold as easy as you can get hot and change the game. You guys are loved and if you keep playing hard and improving you'll be filling the seats before you know it.

Clifton managed to pull off a 1 point win at the end. 41-40

I wouldn't call winning by 3 points in the last minute of the game and on your home court "winning handily". Especially when the three blind mice were calling the game. I thing this example happened in the boys game but at one time all three refs blew their whistles, one called a charge, one called a block and the other called a walk. It was like that all nite, there were some very stupid calls called and not called in both games and not all were against Clifton, it was somewhat bad both ways. I left early in the boys game but listened to the rest of the game on your local radio station and the guys calling the game on the radio didn't even know what the heck the refs were doing.

I have noticed that when the National Anthem is played before games there is a very big LACK of respect for our Nation's official hymn. People are expected to stand still and look at our Flag while the Anthem is being played, but I've noticed that instead players, cheerleaders and fans (young and old) tend to do everything but. Nobody get offended because I'm not saying its everyone but its not just one or two either. I've noticed that people laugh, talk, play around, drink their soda, pick their nose and even blow bubbles with their gum. When you are standing looking at the Flag and in your peripheral vision you see things like this going on its a total distraction. I realize that alot of the younger kids don't know any better but Jr High and High School students and especially adults should know better. Maybe its because I spent so many years in the Army serving my country and I still take patritosim and things that go on with our military and our country very seriously, especially since 9-11 with so many of our military soldiers risking and giving their lives to make sure we are safe and giving us the freedom to hold sporting events. I'd just like to know how everyone else feels about this because I myself with everthing that I've given to the military and our fine country feel saddened and personally disrespected because people take too much for granted what has been handed to them and cann't give a minutes respect for our Nations Hymn. Sorry for such a long post but I just don't see what's so hard about this especially since my four year old will be still and hold her hand over her heart for most of the National Anthem before her curious attention span takes over so why cann't much older kids and adults do it. With all my complaining aside I'd like to wish all teams and players in the great state of Tennessee the best of luck this season and hope everyone finished the season injury free. GO FHS LADY LIONS!!! LOVE YA!!!

Ptguard12 have you ever thought about going to work for ESPN or News channel 5? Not saying that to be smart either. Your analisis are always well thought out and usually right on the money. Frank Hughes also lost Casey Packwood who decided to be a cheerleader this year which I think will hurt our inside scoring some. However, Linberry "BoBo" has slimmed down some and should fill Packwood's shoes pretty well. Plus the new coach has them working hard on physical conditioning, which they are probably already in better shape than they were at any time last year. Better physical and mental discipline will make them a much better TEAM than they were last year. So I'm looking for them to finish a strong 5th, maybe 4th depending on how Cwood does. If and I stress IF they can maintain good mental discipline and pull out a 4 or 5 spot moving everyone else down one spot, I think everyone's predictions are pretty well right on, especially ptguard12's. I'd also like to take this chance to wish everyone in 12A the best of luck and hope everyone has a great season and finish with NO injuries. GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, BE BLESSED AND WE'LL SEE YA AT THE GAME!!! GO LADY LIONS!!!

Frank Hughes in Clifton is having a playday on Saturday, Nov. 12th. We had 12 teams attend last year and its usually full of good preseason competition. I think there is NO entry fees and usually guaranteed at least 2 games. We use two gyms which are right next to each other so wait times are minimized. You can contact Coach Christy Skelton at the school @ (931)676-3325. Hope to see you there.

Please, don't get me wrong, if Casey is without a doubt happier cheerleading instead of playing ball then I support her 100%. Casey is almost like another daughter to me and I love her to death. Natalie, you are so right about the effort thing, which makes me wonder if the effort that it takes to excell in basketball is the main reason for not playing. She told me one day a few weeks ago that she will probably play again next year which again concerns me because if she doesn't like to play why would she be planning to next season and if she decides to take basketball to the next level then that will probably require even more effort to catch up because she lost a year that could help her grow and mature in the game. And Casey you know I love you and I care about you and I really love watching you play but if I didn't give you a hard time and tease you about you being a cheerleader you'd probably think I didn't love you...lol. But the bottom line is you do what you really want to do in your heart and just keep on smiling when I give you a hard time and don't take it to heart, you know how I'm a nut for the game. P.S. #13 and #14, if yall even look at a set of pompoms I'll kick you out...lol. Just kidding, daddy loves you both very much and I'm very proud of both of you. But I will ground you until your 30. And I'm proud of you too Casey...Yeh Team!

Casey Packwood a 6 foot, 2 year starter, a Junior from Frank Hughes puts away her shorts and hightops and picks up cheerleader pompoms. What's everyone's thoughts on this? Was it a decision that could cost her a scholarship and how bad will it hurt the Lady Lions' chances to climp their way out of the gutter. She will be replaces by a biger and stronger yet slower Linberry. She's a very good rebounder and I believe will give us more second chance points and will get lots of rebounds on defence which will keep opisition points off the scoreboard. That is if she can stop making the silly fouls and stay in the game. That is what I think will be the biggest hurt for the team, the absence of a second big girl in the middle will be a killer.