rolltideroll

... and some may be imported from the Virgin Islands

If Cloudland can't play at home...they should play at Johnson County...nice scenic drive around the lake... just a thought.

Good luck Landers, backs against the wall...just the way you like it.

From someone that has watched Luke play hundreds of basketball games, it is clicking at the right time... Congrats for the hustle to the whole team. Best of Luck Monday, darn shame I will be out of town. It would be nice to take a trip to Murfreesboro though

Who won Unaka/Cloudland?

congratulations to the rangers

Good luck to the Rangers..I guess that makes 2 Lander fans.

Somethings Rotten in the State of Denmark....I mean Stoney Creek...hmmm

Cloudland is at a volitaile point. In the next few weeks their true colors will be displayed. They can either respond or accept mediocrity. Some players must change their attitude- and I don't think all your assesments are correct. Yes, some of the players do not play to their potential at times, but others are trying and working on coming together. Smith has done a good job the past few years at Cloudland and as always, his record should be allowed to speak for itself. This year expectations are high-- whether or not this team can reach their potential is yet to be seen. My own personal opinion is that a few key ingredients are missing, especially that of Zach Cooke. Now I don't really know the fine points of the situation, but from what I know about Zach is that he is a fighter and I would definately want him on my side and though he may be short on the talent that Tolley or other possess as well as temper, he makes up for it in heart and sometimes fire. I would really like to see him come back to the team. The younger kids at the post are talented, and they will grow as players, but as of now--that is a weak spot in the team that hurts the Landers as of right now. Mark Byrd is arguably the best pg in the county, but he definately has my vote. Mark can be a scorer, for those that have been around him know that his talent in roundball surpasses his stats. Cloudland's other guards definatly have talent, and I would have to disagree with some people assessment of a "me" player. Right now the shots aren't falling, but that could change. Some people must try to increase their role as a mental leader on the floor--if that occurs the Landers could surprise some people. I am optimistic.

Did Cloudland and Cosby ever play? On the CoachT scoreboard it says that Cosby won, but I really don't think that they played. If the info on the scoreboard isn't real, does anyone know if they are going to play?

Cloudland beat Unicoi County by 9---I think the final was 63 to 54

Stoney Creek is a hard place to play, but if you get the lead "The Loud Crowd" will leave about the start of the fourth quarter, then it isn't too awful loud.

I am not sure I should comment about this but I will anyway. One thing that I can compliment Smith on is that he wants to win, and yes, he does put his best on the floor most of the time. In the past, at Cloudland, I have saw players get playing time just for political reasons such as whose parents hang out in the lockerroom after the game, and who had the most success in football (even though it didn't carry over in basketball at all) and so on. Well, Smith doesn't do this. Smith puts his best 5 on the floor. Now to really comment on the situation, I feel that one would actually have to be in the trenches to see what exactly was going on. Robbie Tolley is the most talented basketball player in Carter County, and with the exception of maybe Redd from Elizabethton and possibly Dugger from Unaka a few years back, he is the most talented to play in Carter County in the past 10 years. Is he the best basketball player, though? Well, not now, but he could be. He just doesn't realize what tools he has in his bag, and he is lazy...no bones about it. But, if and when, he ever grows out of it---Cloudland could be a force. I think Smith is laying his chips all on this if and when. Is it right? Well, that decision is up to Smith, and likewise, the benefits or reprecussions will all fall on his shoulders, so before we start throwing stones at the man, lets see how things turn out. To the comment about Smith moving down the road----would it really surprise anyone for a Cloudland basketball coach to only coach at that school for a couple of years? Now, lets be real people--how many Cloudland head coaches have had an invested interest in that program. Some Cloudland players are burdened with playing with 3 head coaches in a 4 year period. How sucessful can a program be with this sort of change? Some excellent basketball coaches have stepped on the floor at Cloudland (and I am talking about upper-eschelon---Jerry White, the legend, and Todd Barnett), but in the end, better situations and bigger money seems to always draw them down the road, and if they do not leave on their own accord, the politics of who just won the local schoolboard race sometimes costs them a job. And, quiete frankly, that is the jest of it. In my opinion, Smith has done a good job during his tenure. All the other questions and remarks are really irrelevant as to the current situation. If you go back and look at the nuts and bolts of what is Cloudland basketball---it has came a long way in the past 7 years. Starting with when Coach Jay Hall coached the Landers back a few years ago, the Lander program has been on the upswing. Of course, politics disposed of Hall (see what I mean?). But, thats besides the point. Before the schoolboard starts looking at the motives of the coaches, they should take one good look in the mirror and see who isn't getting promoted and who they are disposing of. In my opinion, the whole political element is what is ultimately hurting Cloudland. Personally, I know of some coaches who are tremendous basketball coaches that are supressed and shelved and ultimatley moved to different places in the county due to the politics of the matter. To the question of whether or not Cloudland wants a sucessful basketball program. The answer is an emphatic yes, that do want a sucessful program. Now, I know where you are coming from with this question, there was a point in time when Cloudland basketball was just a mere joke, but those times are gone. Over the past couple of years, support has been growing, and truthfully, Cloudland basketball doesn't receive the support from the community that it should. But, that is no fault of the current coaching staff of the players or anyone associated with the football program. These days basketball and football work together to the best of my knowledge. Any kid that is truly a basketball player wants to win and the chance to compete. What ever the case, I support Smith, he has to play with the cards he has been dealt. And, whatever choices he has to make after the season, well those are his own, and I am sure that he will willingly accept the consequences and reprecussions. Smith is great at teaching the fundamentals. He is no more of a politician than the rest of us.

Seems to be a whole lot of zeroes going on the end of checks all over Carter County. Truth of the matter is, Unaka was better than Cloudland in basketball throughout the 90's, but recently it has started evening out. Now, I doubt very seriously that either team will "beat the others eyes out". Truth of the matter is, Cloudland and Unaka are coming off years as to what I consider let-downs. Cloudland got surprised by Washburn. And Unaka lost the district championship for the first time in a pretty good while. No doubt, both teams will be out to prove something this year. Just to set the record straight, Cloudland has shared the past few WVC titles with Unaka, and last year won the district finally after Unaka ran away with it since conference realignment. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Rangers have this year. Seems to be a lot of hype, and maybe rightfully so. Honestly, Cloudland could go either way. They have a tremendous amount of talent, but its just according to if the pieces come together. No doubt, we could set here for the next 3 months and compare Byrd to Chambers, or how Unaka finally has size, or speculate on if Robby Tolley will come to play. But how 'bout lets leave the whole Cloudland/Unaka debate alone for awhile--at least till the game is remotely close. I am sure the rest of Coach T would be happy to have a little silence from the Creek to the Roan in Carter County.

I have a question. Does anyone that doesn't live on Stoney Creek write for the Double Play? Does Wes still right in it? Who all is on the staff?