glass eye

if anybody saw the 13u elite/tigers this weekend you would have a hard time thinking any 14u team could beat them for state much less a 13u. they went straight threw those 14u and won it all. they have only played 14u tournaments and have won every single one!! i think maybe 3 now watch out for that avant girl. they also have a little 3 point shooter that doesn't miss. theirs probbly some college coaches checking out this team already.

Hard to argue with that. Anybody else in the state come in a close 2nd to her in the 13u's? Anybody from SSS or the Elite? While we're at it, who are the "up and comers" at the 13u's. These girls will be hitting high school next year (some already have). This bunch ought to change the outlook on some h.s. basketball teams soon.

Thanks, Regal... what's a Clax Gap?....

If she was 11 on Jan.1, 2005, then she can play 11u and up. She can't play younger than 11. If she's 12 now, she's got a good birthday for an 11u.

Has SSS played yet with those 3 6'4" girls? I'd like to see them in action. Do you know when they'll be playing next? You can't teach tall, that's for sure. But you can't teach coordination or speed or quickness either .

3babies: I'm not saying you're wrong because I sure haven't seen "Tiffany's team" play and the only things I've heard about them is from this message board and that's mostly from you. If this team is better than the teams that finished 5th (W TN Tigers) and 9th (Memphis Elite) in the country, I think you've got a national champion about to be born (!!!!!!!!! ). Seriously though, I've got to say, that team is lucky to have such a devoted and enthusiastic fan as you. Hopefully, you can keep up that support even if things don't turn out the way you expect.

There's a group of girls from Memphis that has won the state championships at 10u, 11u, and 12u. They first did it as the Waves and then last year it was the Elite. This team also took the SuperRegional in Atlanta beating the best that Georgia had (never played the Panthers, but finished higher than them at Nationals). They ended up 9th in the country. The majority of them is still together. The West TN Tigers, also from Memphis, ended up 5th in the country last year. They've combined with some of the Elite team from last year. 5 other teams in TN qualified for Nationals last year, all did well. I'd say the competition is right here.

Memphis Glory is a team that grew out of the break up of the Waves. I believe there are only 3 teams and they are 10u, 11u, and 12u. There aren't any old Waves or very few left for those teams. Most of them went with the Elite organization. The Glory does have 2 coaches from the Waves and the head of it is Dennis Colley from the Waves.

What do the girls actually do at such an event? I'm new to all this. Do they need to go with a team or is this just an individual thing? Do they choose up teams and play a tournament or is this like running one big tryout with some playing and some drills? Excuse my ignorance but I'm trying to learn. Thanks.

Spree1024: I did not mean to suggest that the Memphis people were at fault. I'm not sure how you arrived at that conclusion. Are you aware of something that happened at the game that I am not aware of? From what I was told by several people who were there, the gym was full of teams and parents including Alabama, Tn Elite, Tukwila (probably scouting the Tigers), Memphis Elite, and of course Tiger parents - not just from Memphis. I was not aware of anything being said against Shelbyville. I do know the local paper in Kingsport was following Shelbyville closely and gave that team a lot of coverage - even stating that #14 for Shelbyville was among the top 5 players in the nation according to the Shelbyville coach who was quoting some internet site. This is just a theory, but all that exposure in the paper may have not been such a good idea - especially that part about #14. My guess is that there were some players who felt they were as good or better and that statement got the competitive juices flowing extra. It might have been better to stay low like the Memphis Elite. They were state champs and there was no mention - except scores - about them or their players in the local news. I don't think the paper even identified them as state champs. If you're thinking there was bad blood because of the Memphis girls playing for Shelbyville, I think you're mistaken. The Memphis ppl I talked to before nationals didn't have anything against the two Memphis players playing for Shelbyville or for the TN Elite before that. In fact, they said they wished them well. They didn't pick the girls up because they wanted to go with the girls that got them to Nationals not because they had anything against the two players. Do you know if that attitude changed? But, again, I wasn't at the game. If you know something, please let us know.

Well, it's all over. Fairfax Stars are now the new National Champs. Oklahoma, the team that put the Memphis Elite in the loser's bracket will be the 2 seed. Fairfax is an excellent team with a game dominating player in #4. I understand from talking to a team in their association, though, that if (that's a big if) you can get 4 in foul trouble, the team is beatable. Oklahoma is just big, strong, and aggressive. When they fall behind, they get angry not panicked at all. The W TN Tigers ended up in the top 8 in the country while the Memphis Elite is a top 12 team. One correction from my earlier report: Memphis Elite played the Red Stick Rockets, not the Silver Bullets. Red Stick put them out of the tournament with one player - a number 32 - a big and quick post player. The Elite did not have anyone to match up with her. The W TN Tigers were knocked out by Kansas City Eclipse (most are the old KC Belles). With 25 seconds left in the game and the Tigers down by 1, a foul was called on one of their players and a tech on the Tiger coach. The Eclipse player missed the 1st two but made the next two and it was over. As for the gyms. The gyms I saw were great. Never seen so many top quality school gyms in the same area. (You did have to do a lot of driving to get to them. though}. The central gym, Dobyns Bennet, was lacking. I don't think any of the players liked the gym although it was comfortable for the fans. The advertising behind the goals and the cavernous nature of the gym made it difficult to shoot in. I believe that's what happened to the Elite team shooting against OK. I wasn't at this event but heard from plenty who had been there. From what I know it sounded like the ugliest event at the tournament. It was Shelbyville vs. the W TN Tigers. From what I understand, about 75% of the gym were yelling for the Tigers. Some yelling and screaming between the parents and at coaches of both teams occurred. 3 or 4 Shelbyville parents were thrown out of the game - rightly or wrongly, I don't know. But, apparently the police were called because there was fear that something would happen in the parking lot after the game. Nothng did happen from what I heard.

Spree1024, Yes, I'm at the tournament. More news about TN teams. The W TN Tigers continue on in the winners bracket by beating the Tukwila Reign. They play the Garner Flames today at 1:45 PM. Speed and quickness against speed and quickness. Should be great game. The Memphis Elite lost to the #2 seed Oklahoma Select. They jumped out to an 8 point lead from the tip off. Couldn't hold the lead, but only trailed by 1 at half. Foul trouble and the worst shooting I've seen this team had, led to the 13 point loss. They play the New York Silver Bullets today at Noon. Then another game at 7PM against the winner of the Eclipse and Mission Rec. Center if they beat the bullets. The Tigers are in the Elite 8. If the Elite win today, they will join the Tigers in that medal group. TN should be proud.

Unfortunately, SSS lost to the Missouri/KC Eclipse this morning . Not sure about this, but I heard it was by 20. But, you can't be sure, because all kind of things get said around here at Nationals that aren't necessarily true. But SSS did lose and are out of the tournament. Congratulations to SSS for all their success this year!!! Only the W TN Tigers and the Memphis Elite are left from TN. They're going for the Elite Eight this evening.

By the way, the Tigers and the Memphis Elite are now in the top 16 teams. Shelbyville still has a chance to join them tomorrow in the Sweet 16.

Actually the score was Tigers 55, SSS 42. The Tigers looked very sharp tonight--#3 is awesome. They will face Tukwila Reign from PA tomorrow night at 5:15. SSS is not out by any means, tomorrow at noon they play the Missouri Valley Eclipse. Good luck to both of these TN teams, and to the Memphis Lady Elite who must face OK Select tomorrow evening. Lots of awesome basketball here!