vandy03

...Dresden win the gold ball in march?? I must've been watching a different team...but I guess we'll wait and see.

That was beautifully put. This message board can be enjoyable, especially when I'm living outside Tennessee because I can keep up with what's going on back home. But it can also be a haven for petty, shallow arguments. Yes, Shooter20 got his facts wrong, but he promptly apologized -- a FACT that seems to have escaped some people's attention. Anyone can add up numbers incorrectly. If you've never done it, then you are a far better person than I or anyone I know. When a mistake is recognized and an apology for it is made, the person who apologized should not continue to be the subject of ridicule. After the apology is genuinely stated, it is not Shooter20 who is at fault any longer -- it is the person who continues to chastise him for an honest mistake. And, also, I think it would be a good idea not to try to speculate about who people are on this board. I went through this last year, having people accuse me of being Ashley McElhiney (who I am most definitely not). This is a place to talk about basketball (which is a game, by the way), not to mount personal attacts or to speculate about people's alterior motives behind the opinions they express. I may only be in my 20s, but I have already learned petty arguments like the one that has been going on in this thread are not worth making.

Gleason just out-played Crockett Co. completely. The first half was close, but the Lady Dawgs made them look bad in the second half, smothering them with the press and sinking every three they shot. Kayla Hudson was outstanding, as were all the players. The Dawgs just played harder, smarter and stronger than their opponents even though they were outsized in every position. Coaching really made a difference in the game because, with all the size and athleticism Crockett Co. has, they should have beaten Gleason by 20. But they didn't face guard Hudson until midway through the 4th quarter even though she was killing them from behind the arch and in the lane. And they never effectively used the offensive weapons they had. Coach Frazier had a great game plan and prepared his girls well. Great job Gleason!!

Thanks for the update on Crockett Co. That was the info I came on here to get. Go Lady Bulldogs!

I absolutely love this entire thread. I'm glad someone is pointing out how unfair it is that some teams can't play on their home floor. If Gleason had won region (which they didn't), they would not have been able to play on their home floor either. It just seems crazy to punish a team simply because their school is small or their gym is small. And thank you to everyone who has pointed out how this rule is all about the money. It really needed to be said.

commodores:

Well, you know, I don't really want to know what you come on here for, then. And I don't take things too seriously -- except for the need to treat people with decency no matter what the circumstances, but I guess that doesn't apply here. I thought high school basketball was about teaching sportsmanship, teamwork, dedication and respect (though for most people it seems to be about winning and nothing else). I guess the reason things never get better is because most people take your stance -- just don't take things too seriously and you never have to take responsibility for your actions. And I wouldn't consider what you said psychological advice, so don't expect any payment from me. Whatever fun there was in all this has long since been sucked out. I won't waste my time.

Sorry for disappointing you. But when I see a thread titled "Huntingdon Fillies THUMP USJ," it gets me a little worked up. I guess it comes from being in journalism school, but I expect people to be a little more respectful and tactful than that. And, since you've been keeping up with my posts so well, you know that I have already expressed my opinion about fans/players/whoever coming on here and making cocky, abrasive statements. That is what my comment was referring to. I would like for games to be played on the floor -- not on the a message board. I love coming on here and expressing opinions and keeping up with people I don't get to see much. But I don't love being reminded that there are some people back home who get more joy from other people's losses than from their own wins. And I don't enjoy being reminded that basketball stops being fun when people don't have respect for each other. Maybe I got a little snippy, and there is no excuse for that. But if I can give any explanation at all, it is because I'm a little fed up.

Ooo, battle of the cocky fans. Too bad all this trash talk means nothing on the court.

Yes, I have been leading a secret life. I know you thought people in little ole Gleason knew everything about each other, but it took a Trenton fan to discover my big secret. I just feigned my lack of athleticism and complete klutziness. I was really an All-American, a leader in scoring, rebounding and assists. I'm also 6'6 and an amazing shot blocker. And, if I can hide that from everyone for 23 years, I can easily come back and play with our girls Thursday night. But, they don't need me. They can beat Trenton on their own.

Tidepride: Funny how someone who claims to know so much can know so little. I am not Ashley McElhiney (which I assume is what you were implying). People from Gleason are also pretty good at academics -- and people can go to Vandy for reasons other than basketball. Considering that the first part of your post was so off the mark, I can't really count on the veracity of the rest of it either.

I'm picking Gleason - but, of course, I'm biased. I wish I could be there to be in the crowd. We haven't had a really great crowd battle since the days when Bradford was the team to beat or when we went to Scotts Hill those years for substate. Those are some of the best memories I have. And, as a sidenote, it really ticks me off that we can't play substate in our own gym if we win. Just because a school is small, doesn't mean it should lose homecourt advantage after winning (I'm not saying we will win, but if we do...). The most fun I've had at any game was being packed into our tiny gym or Scotts Hill's tiny gym for substate. I guess those days are gone...

Oh, how I wish I could have been there! Substate! It's so great to have the Lady Dawgs back where they belong. Just one more win (though two wins would be better), and I will get to see a game for the first time in a while. I know they can do it

I don't think glsn5 is cocky. The winking smiley face should have tipped you off to the fact that it was a bit of a joke. And being pretty confident in Gleason's desire to win isn't cocky at all. The girls have a lot of desire -- as do Dresden's girls, I'm sure. Whoever wins will have earned it with a lot of hard work.

And, yes, glsn5, we do understand each other. And I suppose my hope for more adult conversation was futile. I look forward to hearing about the game tonight. I hope Gleason wins (because, yes, I am biased towards the school I attended), but I'm sure it will be a hard fought game by both teams -- which, by the way, is something I never questioned and is what this thread of posts was supposed to be about.

I highly doubt you can find anything disrespectful I have said about any other teams. But you can go ahead and try. And, you know, just to end this whole coversation, I will say this: I am not at all happy that I am missing the majority of my sister's senior season. The reason I post on this board is to try to keep up with what is going on while I'm not there. The reason I find posts like yours so annoying is because I don't feel they foster any good discussion. I would give anything to be in Trenton tonight to see the Gleason-Dresden game. And I would love to come on here later tonight and have a grown-up discussion about the outcome - no matter what it is.

Cheer extra loud for me (if your heart can take it).

I was simply trying to say that there is a more civilized and intelligent way to express an opinion. For instance, "I think Dresden has more talent than Gleason. It seems like Dresden has let Gleason get to them. If they can overcome their mental hurdles, they could definitely win Monday." See how easy it is to express an OPINION as an OPINION rather than a fact (see your original post to understand how you stated opinion as fact). And, on the subject of not seeing a Gleason game -- I don't know where you got that idea. Currently, I live in Chicago, which makes it difficult for me to attend every game. However, I have seen quite a few games this year as well as seeing teams play at team camps last summer. And, since you don't know me, you don't know that I have a pretty good way of finding out about games and teams while I'm not there. And I am not claiming to be the oracle of West Tennessee basketball. I am just expressing MY opinions. And thank you for giving the website where I can order Prozac. Not only are you an expert on trash talking, talent and "opinions," you are also a psychiatrist.

That post was the biggest waste of space I've ever seen. And if this isn't trash talking, I don't know what is: Expressing your opinion is fine, but try and be respectful. And just for clarification, talent doesn't win ballgames. Gleason beat Dresden twice this year because they have one of the best coaches in the state and because they work extremely hard. By saying that Dresden has more talent, you prove nothing. It's what you do with talent that counts. Dresden could definitely beat Gleason tomorrow night. But they have lost to them twice -- and you should have some respect for that. Gleason understands better than anyone that losing to a team twice doesn't mean you can't beat them on the third try (they have lost to Huntingdon twice, but I'm sure if the two teams play again, it could just as easily be a Gleason win as a Huntingdon win). Gleason is taking the Dresden game very seriously and taking nothing for granted. That's how it should be.

shooter20, you said exactly what I was going to say. Wonder why that is?

Kayla Hudson is the starting point guard for Gleason. She is an amazing player. She can shoot NBA-distance threes and can, of course, handle the ball well. She's a little small, but she'll learn to work around it. Also, Candace Green, though she hasn't gotten a lot of playing time this year, is already showing signs of being a great player.

Thanks gpric5 (I know who you are ). I hope I see you soon (at state).

Notice that in my last post I expressed no opinion whatsoever about how good Trenton or Lake County are. The only opinion I gave was about how there is too much speculating and posturing off the basketball court by fans, parents, players and sportswriters (through the polls). And, yes, this is an opinion board. And this thread in and of itself is not a bad one. I was merely expressing my frustration with posts that say things like "Peabody is the best team in the state. No one can beat us." I would be equally annoyed by a post that said, "Gleason can kick all your butts. We're gonna win state!" Intelligent discussion and well-formed opinions are what this board should be about - not crying over polls or making absurd statements. That's all I was trying to say.

Go Bulldogs! One step closer to Murfreesboro (I hope). But no counting the chickens before they hatch. Just keep playing hard, and hopefully, I'll get to see Katie play her final game of her high school career in the MTSU gym.

Haha...That is hilariously put! I am so exhausted with all this cockiness as well. It seems like there are a couple of teams that insist on starting posts like this ("Can anyone beat Peabody in Class A?", etc.). I would just like for the girls to play some basketball and for the fans/parents/players or whoever else to stop trying to show off. Again, I think so much of this has to do with the stupid polls. I would love it if there were no polls. They only have them so sports writers will have something to write about and numbers to put in their headlines (Doesn't "Huntingdon knocks off No. 1-ranked Gleason" draw in readers much better than "Huntingdon beats Gleason"?). The team that is number one is the team that wins in Murfreesboro. And I'm sure that it could just as easily be Gleason, Huntingdon or many other teams in middle and east Tennessee as it could be Peabody. Let's wait and see, shall we?