McMinn Central Maniac

It looked like Gibson was not very quick or athletic and just didn't match up well with Marshall. I think McMinn Central, Austin East, and Marshall County are much more similar in their styles than Gibson. DISCLAIMER: This is based solely on what I saw today. Marshall had A LOT of wide open looks today. That explains why they were scorching from the field. However, I did see two areas that give McMinn Central a chance. McMinn Central is much deeper than Marshall Co. The Chargerettes go 9 deep while the Tigerettes only played six players today for the vast majority of a blowout victory. If the game is close going into the fourth, I like the Chargerettes' chances. Secondly, Marshall County's star didn't seem to be a very good free throw shooter although it could have been opening day jitters. With that said, if McMinn Central doesn't take better control of the basketball against Marshall County than they did today against Austin East, we're done. However, Austin East is by far the fastest team top to bottom that made the AA final 8. We were able to beat them today, so there is the possibility that we can beat the athletic and quick Tigerettes as well. Just because Central plays a bunch of white girls, don't think they lack athleticism. I'd put the Chargerettes' athleticism up against most girls in the 'boro. I'm their strength coach, so I've seen what they are capable of athletically speaking. They were able to do just enough to win against one of the most athletic teams in the state.

Last year's championship games were televised live.

Congratulations, Wildcats. You guys just blew us off the court in the fourth quarter after we trailed by only 2 or 3 after three quarters. Good luck in the 'boro.

AE is a tough draw. This should definitely be a fast paced game. I hear you guys will return a lot of players too next year. We have no seniors. Sequatchie has none that contribute very much.

They were from Knoxville. They walked past my family on the way to their car, and their bags were labeled.

I wasn't trying to say that all or even most fans up there think they invented the game. I merely said a lot. Two years ago after we beat Livingston at Central we heard similar gripes about our gym, the refs, etc. It was as if there was no way that Central could have had a better team or played a better game than the R4 representative. After I saw that some of the lunatic fringe were blaming the refs for a 21 point defeat this year, it hit a nerve with me. Every fanbase has their idiots, and in no way was I trying to imply that everyone from those communities acts like they created the game. Those refs were bad---both ways. They missed a lot of stuff. but not enough one way to lead to 21 points. As far as our gym, let's just say that our school isn't the one that the school board or county spends funds on. Any facility upgrades are usually privately funded at Central. The bigger school across the creek gets the lion's share of public funds.

Indian, tough luck last night. I guess we'll see y'all again next year in the region 3 tourney. You guys have some great fans and classy ballplayers.

This game is a hard one to handicap. I don't know exactly when AE's girls came back from suspension. I know they are fast and athletic and like to push it up the court when given the chance. From that aspect, they sound a lot like the Chargerettes. You can't really tell much by looking at common opponents because you don't know who did or didn't play for each team in their matchups. AE played Brainerd, Alcoa, and Howard just as McMinn Central did. In those games, AE had a bit of a tougher time, but like I said, I don't know who might have been out due to suspension or injury for AE.

McMinn Central's girls are in shape. I just think that no one we've faced this year is as athletic as Austin East is. They played most of the year without a couple of key players, but they've been really strong since the region tournament started.

It was not an attempt to trash your girls. The facts are that #10 threw a punch at the York free throw line late in the fourth during a tied ball/altenate possession call. I was merely using that as a reference that the refs stunk both ways. It happened right in front of two officials. My reference to #32 was to point out that she flew hard into #22 for us on the rebound. The collision was so great that #22 landed on her face on the floor, but there wasn't a call. I wasn't using that to attack your players. I was merely illustrating the fact that the refs were inconsistent both ways. I thought #32 was your best all-around player, and I'd love to have her on my team. I'm sorry that you took this as an attack because that wasn't how it was meant. Perhaps I shouldn't have taken the shot that the refs were the reason we won as an attack on our players either. As far as our student section goes, they've embarrasssed me many times. There is no excuse for them to use vulgar language when yelling at your team, and for the most part, they lack creativity. In fact, I told them that storming the court was bush league. I was one of our fans who was pushing them back toward their seats. Please don't confuse the high school students with the adult fans. There are bad apples in every bunch. Every fanbase has a few who make them all look bad.

gousin, with all due respect, AE is on fire right now. They've really turned it on since the region tourney started. They scored 97 points last night. That's three points per minute for an entire game. It should be a fun game to watch, and there should be a lot of running and gunning. They are a very formidable opponent, however. They are one of the most athletic teams we will have faced all year. I hate that the two East Tennessee teams had to draw each other in the first round.

Whatever. The refs gave us a 21 point win. The difference in fouls can be narrowed down to this fact. Your team settled for jumpers most of the time in the second half while we drove the ball to the basket. The team attacking the hoop is inevitably going to get more opportunities at the free throw line. When York switched to mostly man in the second half, our quickness and the inevitable fatigue from York playing mostly five versus our rotation of 9 led to a lot of fouls on our drives to the basket. In any basketball game, there are going to be more fouls around the basket than on jumpers.

You forgot the T on their coach cost us another $50. LOL

Then stop acting like you invented the game. That's all I'm saying. To blame a 21 point drubbing on the officials is crazy. They stunk both ways. They were consistently inconsistent for both teams. We had three different players fouled flagrantly and there wasn't a call made. It's the same every time an upper plateau team loses to an East Tennessee team. Upper midstate fans get on here and blame the officials, or the heat, or the gym. We do know how to play a little ball in East Tennessee, too. This is in no way directed at every upper midstate fan. Many of them are knowledgeable and gracious. Not threat, it's a promise???? Everybody's Rambo from behind a keyboard. Yet another example of losing with class.

Explain the PUNCH that your pg #10 threw and landed on Lee, #20 for us during a scramble for a loose ball in the 4th. The call? Alternate possession. Refs might make a three or four point difference in a game, but 21 points?? Come on. A lot of you upper plateau people really irk me. When you lose, it's never the region 3 team's skill or depth. It's the refs, or the gym. WIN YOUR REGION, and you can play at home next year. To deny the fact that fatigue contributed to your girls being out of position and therefore, fouling, is also asinine. They way a lot of you upper midstate people act, you'd think someone from Livingston, Baxter, or Jamestown invented the game rather than Dr. Naismith.

classy post. Two different York players could have gotten T'd up for throwing punches and/or elbows on dead balls (#10 and #32). That's not to mention their language. I think you are exaggerating a bit on the foul count. We had two players with four and three players with three. In addition, the TSSAA assigns referees. They were from Knoxville, and this was the first game all year that we've seen them. If they'd have called every foul, #32 would have fouled out long before she did. The flying body block into #22 for us on the rebound for a no call was one in particular. How does Lambert, #22 bust her lip on the floor after contact from #32 on a rebound without being fouled? Jordan, #24, also had her head slammed against the floor on a rebound, but there was no call. Just be thankful the the refs didn't call everything or your lack of depth would have been exposed much earlier than it was.

If the refs let us play, then we will run most teams into the ground. In games that are called tightly we struggle, but when the refs let the small stuff go, we run away from teams in the second half because there are fewer dead balls. Our fitness and depth factor in at that point. Why build a cookie cutter gym? Why not build one that gives a homecourt advantage? It seats enough people, they are just right on the floor. I'd call it Tennessee high school's version of Cameron Indoor. Definite homecourt advantage. If we don't make stupid mental errors, we will have most any opponent sucking wind in the second half unless they are as deep as we are. We'll play 8 consistently and will stretch it to 9 for spurts.

Cleveland will be a huge test. They wiped the court with us twice last year. If I'm not mistaken our Thursday, December 20 game will tip-off at 10 am. OUCH!

Depth will be the key in my opinion. It was the difference when we scrimmaged them during the summer, and it should benefit us during the season. With that said, Tellico always plays McMinn Central tough.

I am working on a program to start in the spring for 6-8th grade kids. There will be a small fee involved.

First there is the message about drama, and now there is this thing about two silver balls being enough. We've got this season and next with the "big 5" juniors. We've got two more chances at the gold ball. I'm not saying we'll win it, but I'm saying we will put all of our effort and intensity into it every minute on the court. As far as drama is concerned, there has been a tremendous growth in team chemistry since last spring. That's one of the benefits of the offseason strength and conditioning program. (This is Todd by the way.) These girls get along nicely. Aside from the little things that crop up with teenage girls, there is nothing major looming on the horizon. We came away from our first loss of the year at Heritage the other night, and to a girl, they all just want to get better. No one pointed fingers at a teammate. Heck, I was also looking for things that I might be able to contribute to them in the weightroom that could benefit additionally and help us avoid any other losses. Even if we don't win the gold ball, this is a tremendous program with which to work. This group of young ladies have been a joy to train, and I can't wait to do all I can to help Coach Morgan, Coach Young, and the girls take the next step. Please remember that it is the girls who are doing the work. All I've done is provide them with a plan and a little guidance. They are all stronger than the end of the season last year, and none of them are slower. (We sort of keep up with that sort of thing.) LOL

I've pondered this idea for a while, and I've come to the conclusion that I think it should happen. My biggest reason is the inconsistencies among officials about the five second rule. I couldn't tell you how many times just this past season that I've seen a player being closely guarded dribble around for ten seconds or more before the the ref even starts the count. This would also do away with playing keep away for a quarter or more and force teams to actually play basketball. I think a 40 second clock would be doable. Opinions?

Apparently they stumbled on their walk to the championship. Basketball is fairly strong throughout the state now. It's isn't only concentrated in the midstate like it was just a few years ago.

She has good low post skills. I thought she did a good job of spacing and getting into areas so that the guards could get an entry pass into her very easily. I was surprised that LA didn't go back door very much against us.

You guys beat us twice this year too. BADLY I might add. We won our region and hosted the sectional only to lose to a very good Livingston Academy team. You guys were very good in transition and your halfcourt defense is tight.