supaballa

I tried to call Wayne County High School earlier, but the lady that answered said it was Moore County High. Confused, I called the operator to see what was the matter. She said not to worry, that Moore County just had Wayne County's number.

How did this game go? Was it close the whole game? Did either team play bad or good?

It isn't the first round that matters-it is the second to see who goes to substate and the finals to see who hosts. It's been a few years since a 12A team has hosted a substate game, hasn't it? It's been about the same number of years since Wayne County has beaten Moore County, hasn't it? I feel bad that they don't get to at least make it to the finals and see a glimmer of hope this year before losing to the Raiderettes.

Summertown in an easy one

orange, you are exactly right. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see a Huntland/MC final. 12A thinks that they are both just awful on offense, but they apparently never stopped to think that just maybe the two defenses were that tough! Huntland obviously has the talent to do it, but they really need to concentrate on the task and hand and keep their focus. They just won the district for the first time in forever, but they need to put that in the past. I was really suprised at their intensity level in the district tourn.--they usually just lay down and die at this point in the season. Huntland can't look forward to their second round game, but they also can't celebrate a first-round win if they get it. Only the top two move on, so that first win is really nothing without the second one. Moore County has to keep up their defensive intensity and their confidence. They are very young, but they know the tradition they are representing. Most of these girls were on the team last year, and the others may be just green enough to not feel the pressure. Moore Co./Wayne Co. have an extensive history in the postseason, but Moore County has had Wayne's # the past few meetings. You know Wayne Co. wants this one bad. I think if the Raiderettes can make it past that game, their confidence will carry them to the finals.

I think Forrest would have to play a really horrible game to get beat in their first round game. They have two or three guys that can step up and have a big game, and I just don't see all of them having an off night. If Jamar will step up and play like he did in the last 10 minutes or so of the dist. championship game, Forrest could walk away with the region crown no problem. Problem is, he doesn't start stepping up until his team absolutely needs him to sometimes. When he starts going inside and stops standing around at the threee-point line, he can tear somebody up--then that gets his outside game going. He is a rhythm player. Cascade also has a shot at winning their first round game, though I would still consider them the underdog. If they are on, they can play with anybody. They have a great starting five, but their bench is nearly nonexistent. If they stay out of foul trouble and knock down some shots, you're in for a long night. On the other hand, they can look absolutely horrid at times. The other two games will definitely go to the 12A teams unless they just completely fall apart and the 11A squads play their best games of the year. Eagleville is the most dangerous of the two, though. The biggest boost for 12A was Moore County getting put out. They would have been a very tough matchup for any of the 12A teams because of their versatility. Moore County just picked a bad night to play their worst game of the year, but that's what happens during tourney time. Anybody can win on any given night. You've got to come ready to play.

I think this could be a really good tournament with two very balanced districts coming together. There isn't a dominant team in the bunch, and there are probably six different teams that could come out on top? Does everyone think the top seeds will hold? The Huntland/Hampshire game is the only one that I can see possibly not being close in the first round. I'm going with Huntland, Summertown, Forrest, and Moore Co. to win in the first round. Yes, I picked Forrest for the upset. I'll say Summertown and Moore Co. in the finals, with Moore Co. winning it. Both of those teams could just as easily lose in the first round, however. What does everyone else think?

All-District Regular Season: sorry about spellings Coach of the Year--Forrest Jamar Jenkins-Forrest (MVP) Andrew Haywood-Community Chris Murdock-Richland Caleb Moore-Richland Nathan Robinson-Eagleville Hunter Shankle-Forrest Jesse Ivey-Moore Co. James Rotach-Moore Co. Jimmy Scott-Cornersville Shawn McClain-Cascade David Gallagher-Cascade Kyle Smith-Moore Co. Jake Daniels-Culleoka Caleb Waters-Cascade Donovan ?-Culleoka John Patton-Huntland All-Tournament: Andrew Lamb-Community William Van?-Eagleville Rex Brothers-Community Nathan Robinson-Eagleville Jamar Jenkins-Forrest (MVP) Michael McClure-Culleoka Shawn McClain-Cascade Travis Woodall-Community Jimmy Scott-Cornersville Hunter Shankle-Forrest Josh Mullins-Cascade Andrew Haywood-Community Caleb Moore-Richland David Gallagher-Cascade James Rotach-Moore Co.

What? I guess I can assume that you aren't on the team because you couldn't pass English.

Congrats to the Lady Hornets. Although I didn't like the outcome of the game, it is good to see that group of girls get some payoff finally for all their hard work. I also commend both teams for displaying such good sportsmanship. The Huntland/Moore Co. rivalry is one of the most heated, but also one of the most respectable. Good luck to all four 11A teams at region. Let's go to Mt. Pleasant and show them how good our district is. We want four wins in the first round. Hopefully, all the 11A fans will get behind their district teams and show them some support.

ALL-DISTRICT REGULAR SEASON: Coach of the Year-Gayle Sessions, Moore Co. Paige Provey-Culleoka Kori Knight-Forrest Laura Cowley-Cascade (Player of the Year) Sarah Karper-Eagleville Cortney Brothers-Community Hayley Hewitt-Richland Kristen Armstrong-Cascade Kaleigh Fletcher-Moore Co. Miranda Wilkenson-Huntland Jamie Smith-Huntland Stacie Woodward-Cornersville Brittany Lombardi-Cornersville Hilary Bauer-Huntland Amanda Edwards-Richland Hailey Fanning-Moore County ALL-TOURNAMENT: Brothers-Community Cowley-Cascade Brittany Johnson-Richland Hewitt-Richland Fletcher-Moore Co. Vanessa Pincheon-Moore Co. Bauer-Huntland (MVP) Smith-Huntland Wilkinson-Huntland Provey-Culleoka Tyler Housch-Forrest Fanning-Moore Co. Knight-Forrest Lombardi-Cornersville Karper-Eagleville

OK, so like I said, I was not an opposing fan. And as far as Community's coach, he has always made a horse's tail out of himself at games as far back as I can remember, and I guess Community doesn't mind it. The reason I even said anything about Forrest is that I have usually respected them as a school and a boys' basketball program. Sure there have been players, teams, coaches, and even fans from Forrest that I absolutely couldn't stand, but the respect for their competitiveness and good sportsmanship in the boys' program has always been there. I love competing against Forrest. If it was nearly any other team in the district, I would completely not care. I would have made a comment to the person sitting beside me, and that would have been the end of it. There a select few teams in 11A, though, that "carry the torch" somewhat for the district. It is nice to see them display a competetive spirit, but last night the Forrest boys carried that over the line. We see it happening more and more in high school athletics, it seems, but that does not make it right. Moreover, I did hear a man in the Forrest crowd yelling at one of the Community players, calling him a "Crybaby" repeatedly. Just grow up. That kind of behavior contributes to the kids' actions and can give a whole group a bad name. Anyway, good luck Forrest the rest of the postseason. I hope you go far, but I also hope that you represent yourselves and our district in a positive manner.

I would have mentioned the Community coach, but I have become numb to his antics after seeing him do that twice a year every year, plus a few bonus shows during tournament time. As for the coach getting the most out of his players, I think that is a load as would anyone who has seen Jenkins' wasted talents. The kid is 6'5" or whatever and goes complete games without posting up once, periods without going after one rebound. He could be great, but is just good. My point about Shankle was really that it seems to me that he gets benched and ridden about far less severe things than the coach lets others get away with. I'm not complaining, of course, because his coaching tactics have hurt the Forrest team, which I'm grateful for as an opposing fan.

I wouldn't say Huntland has been overlooked all year. They were picked by most to finish in the top two in 11A at the start of the year. They have taken the spotlight off of themselves by underachieving most of the year, but have really stepped it up at the end of the season, which is usually when the Lady Hornets crumble. I thought they'd probably fall apart again, especially after getting the tourney moved on them and all, but they have proven their doubters wrong. Moore County, on the other hand, was picked by most to finish at the bottom of the district after being ransacked by graduation last year. This would be an exclamation point on a great season by the Raiderettes, who want to hear nothing about their great future with such young players-they are playing for NOW. I wouldn't want to miss this game. Two great teams, one great rivalry--anyone who saw the second game they played this year can tell you how evenly matched they are. Hope to see both teams at their best and neither team losing because the other played poorly.

Unionville led dominated first half and led by 10 at half, then Forrest pulled ahead second half, teams swapped lead several times, Forrest won by 3

O.K., so I don't get on here bashing teams or players all the time like some people, but I am just totally disgusted. My first urge is to condem the Forrest players for being such bad sports, but it is their coach's fault for letting them constantly act the way they do. In their win against Community tonight, at which I was a neutral observer, the Forrest players were constantly talking back to their coach, cursing after calls, arguing with the officials, talking crap to the other team, etc. Shankle is the cleanest (and probably best) player on that team, yet he seems to be the only one that the coach rides. I just don't understand. I even listened to the end of the game on Forrest's radio broadcast, on which the announcers kept questioning why the coach wouldn't leave the kid in the game. I realize that the posts in reply to this are going to call me jealous, stupid, say I'm from Unionville, kin to Shankle, blah blah blah. I'm not any of those things, so just save it. I would be really embarassed of the actions of some of those players if I was a Forrest supporter, and I WILL be embarassed if that is the representation that Forrest sports for our district at the region tournament.

Does anyone else think it is just slightly ironic that Cascade was put out in the same fashion that they put Huntland out last year? I've wondered all year why Forrest didn't bring up some of the 8th graders-they would definitely have been top four in the district. Anyway, those girls sure are helping them now. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see them win the tournament-they just aren't the same team that everyone has played against all year, much like Cascade with all their injuries last season, then getting everyone back for tournament time. 11A is going to send four TOUGH teams to region.

I really don't think a player from every team should have to be chosen. How does that boost a player's confidence, knowing that they only made the team because they are the best player on a bad team? This year, there may actually be a player on each team that deserves it, but in most years that isn't the case.

Well, I already missed the very first game...should be an interesting week.

Since I first heard about Chad's accident, I have really started to take notice of parents at basketball games yelling at their kids, and fans yelling at whoever they feel like screaming at for whatever reason. Something like this should make those people step back and look at themselves and realize that it is just a game! It really makes me sick to see kids treated like they are in high school athletics. There are more important things in life. Chad is in the prayers of Moore County and all of District 11A, as are all those close to him.

There should be several teams in District 11A making a name for themselves. Huntland, Richland, Forrest, and Moore Co. all come to mind.

anyone?

I'm picking a coed team of... -Aaron Green, Cleveland boys -Jeff Taylor, Tullahoma boys -Sarah Price, Moore County girls -John Wild, Lawrence Co. girls -Gail Wild, Lawrence Co. girls

I could figure it out probably, but could someone who knows for sure the District 11A bracket and game times please post it? Thanks.

Actually, you usually do know 3Awarrior. Most years, you can hang your hat on Moore Co. and sometimes Forrest. This is the most balanced 11A district in a really long time, though. Usually, there is the top team and then maybe two others that fight for second. Moore Co., Huntland, Cascade, Richland, and Cornersville all sat atop the district standings at one point this season. All of these teams had tough games or losses against Eagleville, Community, Forrest, and even Culleoka. The mentally tough teams usually do prevail in the tourney, those with experience, support, and confidence. A tough regular season schedule helps, also. I don't think it is any coincidence that the same few teams are usually in the mix every single season. The gap between the top and the bottom is getting narrower every year, however. It will be interesting to see if the other teams can hang with Moore Co. and Forrest the next 4-5 years. Both have terrific young talent, and I believe they'll be the dominating forces not only in 11A, but the midstate in single A since the privates will be bumped after next season.