MtJBears

1. Mt Juliet (23-1) 2. Powell (23-2) 3. Oak Ridge (22-4) 4. Sevier Co. (21-2) 5. Shelbyville (17-5) 6. Daniel Boone (20-1) 7. Heritage (20-4) 8. Wilson Central (20-3) 9. Kirby (23-2) 1o. Jackson North Side (16-2)

In a re-scheduled game from Tuesday nite the Beech Lady Bucs came into Wilson Central and posted a big win. After trailing at the half 21-14 Beech totally dominated the second half outscoring Central 39-21. Kellie Gassie scored 11 and was held in check. Smith poured in 25 leading Beech to the win. Next Tuesday Mt Juliet travels to Beech in their first games since the loss of Clark. We'll find out what the Lady Bears are made of. It would have been a tough game with Clark. I don't know how the team will react. Good Luck Lady Bears

Well this is a devestating loss. To lose Alysha is tough. She averaged 21 pts a game and Mt J was averaging around 60 as a team. So you can figure out the math. The other girls will just have to step up and take their game up a noch. It appears back-to-back state championships are very unlikely now. I remember back in the late 70's Mt J had a tremodus player named Shelia Johansen. That was back in the 6-on-6 days. Mt J had won the 77 State Title and was guning for a repeat when Johansen broke up leg in the district finals against McGavock. This is reminds me so much of that year now. Mt Juliet has had their share of bad breaks.... 2 years ago right before the start of the season Lockridge one of the twin towers when out for the season in what was a promising year. And if it wasn't for the opening of Wilson Central 4 of their 5 starters would be at Mt Juliet. Oh well, thats part of the game I know. It just hurts to have something like this happen.

Well, devilfanatic you want to tell us what happend ????

I've noticed the past couple games have been closer than antisapated. Got by Smyrna 51-48 at home and went on the road and beat Hendersonville 49-38 after leading by "only" 3 going into the fourth quarter. I wonder if the pressure is getting to the players. Being ranked so highly and being so young could be the situation. Moving from #2 to #1 makes the other teams play harder with the chance to make their season with a win. And moving into USA Today's Top 25 just puts more pressure on them. I hope they can get their act together and go out and play their game and forget about the ratings. Like I've always said ratings are for the fans to talk about and the team shouldn't care where their ranked. It is nice to be recognized for your success. But alot of times that just gets your opponent more hyped up for the game. Coach Fryer needs to get the team focused on the issue at hand. Going out and playing hard and playing Mt Juliet ball. If they play up to the capabilities they should beat LaVergne by 15-20. If they go out and play like they've been playing it could be a nail biter....... I'm hoping for the former..... GO BEARS ! ! ! !

Well you've got half of it right anyways.... LIVINGSTON vs. Gibson Co. for the State Crown

this is so funny. devilfan you make the comment just because someone says it will be refreshing to have some new blood in the boro by saying you must have missed a month...... AND THEN you go so far as to tell us "who" will be playing the championship games in the boro..... LOL DID I MISS THE DISTRICT AND REGIONAL and SECTIONALS>>>>>>>>>> LOL

I think Gibson Co and McNairy Central will both make it to the boro. I have the feeling this could be one of the best state tournaments thats been held in a while. I see where the Division II teams will not have the semi-final and championship games in the boro this year. So, now we can go back to the orginal schedule we had before we had the split into public and private.

I will agree with you that "Middle" Tennessee is the strongest area bye far in Girls Basketball. But east is definetely "not" least. Not with Powell, Oak Ridge, Sevier Co, Daniel Boone, Heritage, Maryville, and Greeneville in AAA. It wasn't too long ago that South Greene was a "force" in AA. They have been down a little bit the past few years but they are dangerous and seem to have a strong team this year. Seymour and Oliver Springs could be teams to be on the lookout for not to mention Tyner in the Chatt area. West Tennessee has some strong teams to be reckoned with.... Gibson Co (22-0), McNairy (20-1) and Martin Westview (17-3). In Class A it used to be the Gleason and Bradford invitational with either team taking home the gold. From '96 to "00 Bradford or Gleason won the Class A Championship. Jackson County has been the most dominate team the past 4 years and why not. 4 straight championships and 5 straight trips to the championship game. I know this sounds corny but there is alot of pressure to contend with when you have this much success. Every nite your opponent is going to be playing their best game because they are playing the best and its their chance to prove themselves. AND on one given nite when things don't go right .... look out. Don't get me wrong I live in Middle Tennessee and I rout for all the area teams with the exception of Shelbyville. So, I'd love to see a mid state team win in all the classifications.

Little closer than I expected. Bears only led my 3 pts going into fourth qtr.

AWESOME Lady Bears ! ! ! ! Keep up the good work. This is "our" year. Go Bears..... Where is the 9-AAA distict tournament and 5-AAA region tournament ?

TOP 10 Class AAA Poll 1 Mt Juliet 2 Knox Powell 3 Wilson Central 4 Oak Ridge 5 Shelbyville 6 Daniel Boone 7 Craigmont 8 Sevier Co. 9 Jackson North Side 10 Bradley Just my opinion..... can't wait till tourney time gets here ! ! ! !

well heck I was only giving an opinion of what I thought could happen. I mean Mt Juliet and Wilson Central are in my opinion and in the pollesters opinion the class of the district and region. And the sectional includes Nashville and usually they are weak so I think its "very" possible for the 2 Wilson County schools to make it to Murfreesboro. Nothings guanteed I know. But I still think its very possible...

the man asked for predictions who's going to win State Championship. I'll go ONE FURTHER and Pick both teams that play and WHO WINS..... Division II Harpeth Hall over Briarcrest Class A Gleason over Ezell-Harding Class AA Livingston over Gibson Co. Class AAA Mt. Juliet over Wilson Central just my opinion..... we'll see what happens

Mt. Juliet is (8-0) in District 9-AAA (21-1) overall Tue @ Hendersonvile, Fri LaVergne comes to visit. Rematch with Wilson Central is Feb. 10 at Mt J

talk about rose colored glasses !!!!! Try eaglette glasses.... I try to be objective but some people are just full of it. As I see it Shelbyville has a CAKe walk to the state. No competition in their district or region other than maybe White Co. And in the sectionals neither Bradley or Cleveland is going to scare anybody. So you can probably pencil Shelbyville in the state. Here's one man's prediciton to the field that will make it to Murfreesboro. Oak Ridge and Powell from east tn Shelbyville and Bradley in mid east tn Mt Juliet and Wilson Central from middle tn and Craigmont and Kirby in West tn. Who knows what the blind draw would be. And just to add my opinion I'd vote Mt Juliet Number 1 at this point. Go Lady Bears

Thank you flngrvy for saying that. AND YES I do admit I made a MISTAKE. Statements comming from showtime are usually only concerning Shelbyville players and I assumed he was saying that both the players were from Shelbyville. THAT WAS MY ERROR.... I am sorry for the mistake. I apolgoize to Bullard of Craigmont. She is a good player I'm sure. But next year with be Clark's year for certain barely injury.

Woodbury / Cannon County does have a great tradition in girls basketball. They were in the FIRST Girls State Tourney in 1958 finishing 3rd. The best team I've seen was the '68 team that lost one regular season game on the road to Lewisburg by ONE POINT. They went to State that year and were upset in quarters by Milan. Again in the '69 Tourney finishing with a 4th Place finish. Those were the Vicky Todd years. What a run it was. They then made a run in '73 with Glenda Markum. This was the first year the TSSAA split into 2 classes and then to 3 classes in '76. The glory years were in the late 80's when Julie Powell came on the scene and led Cannon Co to 3 straight appearances in the championship game finally winning the gold ball in 1989. Ashame they were elimated in the region semis by Livingston her senior year. Robert A. Harris was a coaching legend. Hated to see him retire after the 1990 season. For such a small school he was able to compete with the BIG BOYS back when there was no classification.

I like the comments made by flngrvy. He is telling it like it is. Mt Juliet does have a feeder system that starts with "home grown" talent early and gets the players developed and into a system. I started this topic when I mearly mentioned "It appears to me Mt Juliet could be the strongest AAA team in the state. From that point a certain Shelbyville fan / supporter showed their "lack" of class by making the statements they made..... Stating that Clark would not win Miss Basketball this year or next BUT that a Shelbyville player would win both years. Thats his opinion and he's intitled to it. I only mentioned that Shelbyville is "forunate" to have a strong Basketball program and that "most" schools don't have the advantages that they have. It appears to me that over the past 20 years that Insell (the little general) has been there hasn't there been alot of "outstanding" basketball players that have transfered to Shelbyville. And as far as Ramsey goes I know first account of that situation from conversations I had with the principal of the school. AND yes Insell was in the crowd sitting with Mr. Ramsey during the State Tournament of 1998. I didn't say he sat through the "entire" game. Simply that he did sit with him during a portion of the game. Sorry I didn't have my video camera with me so I could have the prove.... You know the TSSAA prohibits Video cameras inside the gym during the state tournament.... I wonder why?? ANY WAY I'm looking forward to the tournaments and see what develops. I don't think there is a challenger for Shelbyville in there region. So it appears they have a ticket already punched. East Tennesse probably has the strongest overall field of teams.... Oak Ridge, Powell, Sevier, Hertiage, Daniel Boone, and maybe a sleeper. What a fight that will be to get 2 teams from that group. Mt Juliet and Wilson Central appear to be the teams to get in from Middle Tennessee and West tennesse is "wide" open. Tournaments begin in just a few weeks so GET READY FOR THE MADNESS ! ! ! !

The May you make a good point. As you pointed out Warrior85 stated just his opinion and Flem seems to have more than an opinion. As I stated Insell is a outstanding coach. And yes if you build it they will come. But is it fair for those people close to Insell to go out and do the "recuiting"? These people are merely a spokesman for him and they get the word to those young junior high and aau stars that if they want to play for a championship program ... Come to Shelbyville. I've talked to other coaches in the area that have lost players to the "little general". By the way doesn't it seem odd that Abey Ramsey plays in the Class AA Championship one year and then the next year she's playing at Shelbyville..... It was a very odd thing I saw in the stands watching Grundy County play for the State Championship. There sitting with Ramsey's father was the "little general" mmmmmmm, wonder what they were talking about. By some force of nature that year (1998) Shelbyville didn't make it to State. I guess that gave Insell plenty of time to get a early start on the "99 season. The facts are clear I think. Where there's smoke there's FIRE. Strange to me private schools aren't suppose to recuit but a public school can? This is just my opinion also. But I think the facts speak for themself.

I give Shelbyville alot of credit. They do have a outstanding team. And Insell (the little general) as I refer to him is a great coach. I think Shelbyville is very fournate that they have had the success they've had. Most teams get their players from within their own area and don't go out and bring in players from other areas to play basketball there. I think over the years Shelbyville has been guilty from bringing players in to play basketball. Shelbyville has different zoning rules compared to other schools to allow "certain" students to transfer and attend school there. Its commonly known over the state whats been going on down there. The names are endless starting with Jill Mitchell from back in the early 80's to Tiffiany Woosley in the 90's and so on. The TSSAA finally had to split up the private and public schools because alot of the public school felt like the privates had an unfair advantage. It appears to me Shelbyville has a unfair advantage. I will say this Shelbyville gets most of the players that Insell wants. He'd be a helleva a coach in the college ranks. He's already proven to be a heck of a recruiter.

Yeah I can imagine who you are cheering for when Mt J plays WC.... lol. Kelly is a heck of a player.

WOW ! ! ! ! Thats a shocker for Sevier to lose by 20. I know Heritage has a good team but 20 points thats mind blogging. I think its going to be a dog fight for those 2 spots from East Tennessee to make it to state. Between Powell, Sevier, Oak Ridge, Daniel Boone and now Heritage thats going to be a dog fight... OUCH

After watching several games this year it appears to me Mt Juliet is the strongest team in the state. Alysha Clarke is awesome. If she doesn't win MISS Basketball this year she's a shoe in for next year. With "NO" seniors on the team Mt Juliet could be gunning for back-to-back championships. I think Wilson Central is strong also and very young like Mt J. Kelly Gassie is a player. Interesting point if Wilson Central had not opened 4 of the 5 starters would be at Mt Juliet. Can you say POWERHOUSE !!!!! Mt Juliet has had a couple scares and thats good to get a team ready for the tournaments. The lone lost was a 2 pointer to Sevier County during the holidays. Sure would love to see a Mt Juliet - Wilson Central match up in the State finals..... what do u think? let me hear your thoughts.

Mt Juliet is LOADED for BEAR this year. I have seen them play several games this year and Alysha Clark is AWESOME. If not Miss Basketball this year in Class AAA she's a shoe in for next year. Without a Senior on the team they could win back to back state championships. Wilson Central is also a outstanding team. Gassie is a treasure. I would love to see Mt Juliet and Wilson Central play for the State Championship. Its possible but I know it would be difficult.