PHargis

I would likel to thank all who posted for their thoughts and some down to earth reasons what has happened at lavergne High School. There was a problem, there were alternatives, there was somewhat a mass exodus and reasons were given and transfer policies allowed two schools to be much better and the standings reflect that within the rules, not because of the rules, 7AAA continues to go on. The winners were all of the students who bettered themselves. At the first of the season, some knew what was happening and some didn't. Its time to leave this scene and let the season run its course. Rules are made to go by. Sometimes many don't know why what happens but the barn door is open and the time frame between the end of school this year and the start of school next year likely will be wild and wooley with the winners and maybe losers being picked without a sport or a game being played. Players, parents be careful how much money you spend in trying to better yourself in an extracurriculer. Pay attention primarily to your academics. Like the Federal Government its hard to depend on the rules. Zoning is very nebulus and very selective.

Now TT, you are getting in to an analyzation that we could spend the rest of the year on when looking at the total picture, the players ego, the parents ego and the many reasons plus and minus for even entering in to the sport to start with. It includes, family time, family enjoyment, alternative choices, financial alternatives and you can go on and on and on. Even scholorship alternatives have upsides and downsides as well as potential injuries, being able to play close to home, future employment, girl friends, boy friends, and I think you would know the story, many can write books becasue it effects so much of ones life. So it gets a few more chapters on the book than what you have mentioned again with DEFINITE pluses and minuses and the real question is according to what you know now as opposed to what you knew when you started, would you do it again? You think a large majority would say yes and I would agree. But there are still a lot of tradeoffs most occuring out of High School. Its a great time for a family to to thru.

Clarksville, as every year, in in a large AAA District which means playing quite a few schools who are not close to being in the top tier in the State. That is the reason they are not rated even higher than they are. They certainly have recovered from the slow start at the very first of the year. If anything slows their progress, and it may be ample enough, they haven't exhibited the speed and quickness other top ranked schools have shown. The rest is there. Any one of the top 5-6 schools on any given matchup is capable of playing the others close. As usual, Tennessee is the only sleeper but to win back to back games at State against this competition is questionable. Clarksville will have to get out of their region to show their stuff.

Rank Team W-L Record Win Percentage 1 Riverdale 3-0 100.00% 2 Blackman 2-1 66.70% 3 Oakland 2-1 66.70% 4 Siegel 1-2 33.30% 5 Smyrna 1-2 33.30% 6 LaVergne 0-3 0.00%

Maybe some of my postings had really nothing to do with Riverdale and they don't. RD is playing by the rules and really no one can say they aren't. That is really not the issue. The issue is transfer rules are so far out of whack that it is very easy to load up a school with the best in the county, it will tear up most any District in the State. That is the only issue. There are no illegalities or anything else. Send many of the Lavergne players to other Schools. Have Special programs at schools for easily transfer. After a couple of years, why has the District gotten so top heavy. So this has nothing to do with recruiting, etc. that I know of. it does have something to do with coaches not being able to keep players at their schools without it not being so easy to transfer. Likely some of the current coaches don't know how to keep their players. Likely some principals have a problem in finding coaches. Really nothing has changed in the past two/three years. 95/8, 55/6.

I have posted on this subject a number of times starting this past August. Now I am really going to post about how 7AAA Girls Basketball has been intentionally reduced to one of the worst Districts in the State. It is the case of gerrymanderiing students from school to school in a District of very large schools. Riverdale has been reduced from a great basketball school to a basketball school of "within the rules" transfers who now its hard to analyze the talent for them to compete in College/University. Yes Riverdale beat Lavergne did beat lavergne 95-10 after many transfers from Lavergne were allowed to transfer to Oakland. Everything legal. Oakland doing very good this year with lavergne transfers, and Siegel transfers the past two years with a transfer policy of the school being able to transfer to Smyrna the same thing students with a special college degree program that allowed such. Everything legal. It is very possible that the same thing could happen at Smyrna. Everything legal. Look for numerous transfers using the rules. Something tells me that Football is involved in all of this. Dirk Ash is blamed for most of this but has had little to do with what has happened. A rule which would take care of many situations was not allowed to be passed but after what is going to happen at the first of this coming year, the TSSAA IMO and its schools will have no choice but to redo the transfer rule or allow the rule to destroy High School Athletics. In the meantimes, students will line up in long lines to transfer to other schools within the rules. Transfering between counties will be easily done. The Director of Schools in Rutherford (outgoing), will have a busy time at the first of the school year. The winners, big schools in large counties. The losers will be small rural schools. A whole new era in school transfers becasue of below par performance has begun under the guise of education.

Ok, don't know the details and now trying to look up the rules, but lets see just about much money that cost the coach and the school on that many. Surely there is a quantity discount on that many and likely a game record. It must have been worth it or was it. Surely this is a typo.

Grainger and Cloudland have a record. Next year, so that the record might be clearer, there are some great playdays that you might bring your team to that will better define the teams. There is no doubt East Tennessee can play great ball but with as many teams in these events, a lot of the State would like to be aware how good they really are.

Done, if what you say is true and I have no doubt it is, you competition in the East in AA is pretty good but I'm not sure I have seen them around. In A, you might should circulate around the competition to see where you stand. Circulating around the State is humbling sometimes. Those who've tried to hide their way in to some recognition seem to be short lived. Grainger and Cloudland are known.

If I might throw something into the posts, it could be of some help. I am unsure of the coaching in upper Tennessee. Posts make me wonder how systematic it might be. I am very familiar with the expectations of the big schools in Middle and to some degree in West Tennessee. Mt Juliet is one of the top schools in the State this year. You might beat them some but not very often. Coaching is very solid. Wilson is the same. But to compare the two this year, close but quickness and the way its used, Mt Juliet. Conditioning, MT. Juliet. Both are in District 9 and 9 is full of historic and legendary. If Lebanon High School elevates its game within the next two years and it could, it will be a great District. Coaching will wind up as a group of winners. Clarksville, will be a super District as right now there is going to be some good building programs in Montgomery County. There are other good players at Clarksville and also other Schools. So 5 great Coaches and schools in 9 and 4 good schools and players in 10. Unsure of coaches but sure enough to know they will try to beat you "bad". District 7AAA continues to be ledendary in Coaching and Players. 7AAA is their own worst enemy. Internal transferring will cause w/L percentages to change. Right Now, Riverdale, Blackman, Oakland and Siegel will lead the pack. lavergne is being killed by the transfer policy and will not be able to keep a coach. Smyrna has great opportunities under great circumstances. District 8 is down a little but the coaching in the District has a chance to again be better than great. Lawrence County might be great as Columbia, Shelbyville with some seasoning in coaching, and Franklin County. The coaches there work and so do the players. Look for it just about every year. District 11 has finally decided they will play basketball with Brentwood, Independence, Hillsboro in some years and Ravenwood in others. This could be a fine District in AAA/ The Difference??? Obviously so. Great summer programs with great coaches. Big Schools. AA and A will be very good in Middle and Northwest/West Tennessee. Could be as good as many AAA schools. Coaching might be classified as almost great. Many have found that it might be good to schedule the trip to the Riverdale playday that generally has a Blackman Playday the same weekend to see how your school migh fare. A huge amount of schools with some very hign profile coaches , IMO, just makes this not only a chance to play but watch some very fine coaches exhibit thier coaching styles. This is not the throw the ball out on the court and watch technique but some fine styles. So, yes West Tennessee is getting bettere also with Dyersburg, Lake, Gibson and all os the smaller schools around jackson along with Overton and Whitehaven, Southwind and Millington. As you likely know players are getting bigger, more trim, and exhibiting greater skills. C.oaches are learning from each other.

This was the game I was expecting all along. The results likely could be different. CR took every advantage they were given and many they were not given. Blackman was made to play like CR wanted them to. The same with Blackman. I think the obvious statement was "but we are happy to get the win". The score was exactly as I would have thought. Blackman can look back after this season is over and see this was a pivotal win. The trail of tears of schools returning from the Plateau is long and well traveled. There are only a few great coaches who understand that. Both schools knew that. Respect was at a high level. Something tells me at this time in their careers, Rogers was looking for another casualty and Hibdon was looking for something to prove. The fans from CR were really looking for one of the many games they had expected to be played and like every other one, they were looking to win. This Tournament is one the Plateau Folks look forward to see. A chance to see one of the little guys to teach one of the big dogs how to play the game. Such will be the legend of CR and Rogers and that group of A and AA schools, and that Tournament and their coaches. WHEW, got thru that one.

It is obvious that Science Hill has bounded their way thru some of the best competition in the State and has now gained the respect of being able to be posted about in glowing terms as one of the best teams in the State. They beat MT. Juliet 55-45. This was a great Tournament, that was obvious. I am now putting a check mark by Science Hill to watch their progress the rest of the year. This was a big win. This does not diminish the ability of Mt. Juliet. The Middle Tennessee contingent did a good job. Franklin County, Wilson County and Mt.Juliet will be heard of again. A point of interest, Riverdale was beaten in the finals of the Georgia Peach Basket after having beaten the great Memphis Central team last week. Clarksville keeps winning as do a number of other teams who play great schedules.

I would bet that this was like a war. To beat Clarkrange on the Plateau with Hibdon playing Rogers must have been a game to watch. Must have been a great game.

Franklin County is in a Monster Region in Region 5. With Riverdale, Blackman, Oakland, Siegel, Lawrence County and Shelbyville, how could you be so lucky? it will be interesting to see how they do. I would say they were both ready to play. And remember the name Wilson County. You will likley hear their name again this year.

We know what has happened with the Big 8 and the District around Morristown the onoly two major AAA Districts in Upper East Tennessee but there is AAA Districts in District 3 and 4. its also obvious where the thrust of the tournament is, Greene County. You are drawing great schools even with the travel to Greene County. AA schools there must be pretty good.

Sorry to hear the brackets were stacked the way they were. In AAA State, IMO, Clarksville, MJ and Wilson will fight it out for two of the spots in State. It is becoming obvious that they are 3 of the best teams in the State. One will not make it. Some have said that Science Hill will make it but we aren't close enough to know. We will watch the results if you will post them. I doubt very seriously if anyone cares how the brackets were made except whoever made them out, which was someone from Greene County. The schools who were there came to win and if they are'nt playing for any spot except the finals did'nt make an exciting trip. I think you realize that. Sorry you were missing a couple of teams that seem to duck this Tournament every year. The Tournament deserves to have your very best schools in that part of the State. Some schools just can't stand to lose or maybe they have a trip planned. Lets see, Arizona, Missouri, California or Hawaii. Globetrotters.

Just to have a mention in the same paragraph as Riverdale, Memphis Central, Clarksville, Mt. Juliet; Wilson Central, Jackson County, Clarkrange, Moore County, Whithaven, Bradley, Blackman, Oakland, Science Hill, Southwind, and a few of the schools in the North West of the State tells me its no wonder MTSU and other Universities who recruit the area are sitting on a powerkeg of talent. Someday Shelbyville will be back, Franklin County will have one of those 5ers talent years and 7AAA will wind up with some huge talent again with Siegel Smyrna and Lavergne and everyone is on to the races again. There is a huge stability in Tennessee Womens Basketball. Tennessee Mens has less stability but only from an educational point of view. When the boys decide they are going to have to back their play with excelling in classroom will they be able to excell. Too much emphasis is being placed on prospects without any emphasis on the books. Everyone is not a Pro prospect.

I think I have to say something about what is going on in Warren County and what is going on in their basketball programs. It was true that there was a group of very good teams there. To organize a Tournament like that with the Schools forgetting about who was best where ever is to say something about someone caring what is going on with the program. To have a coach taking a position in their boys program as he did, makes the team understand what a coach thinks is at stake in life. It brings to life meaning and a new vibration to a program. Sure it doing so, it makes some feel a little uncomfortable and maybe even some around the District feel the same way but someone has taken a position. Doing that makes some other schools feel the necessity to come in and make some noise. Its a whole new attitude at the school. Congrats.

The more I see and hear of Coach Bray, the more I am respecting what she does. The same thing about the coach at Clarksville. They both understand very well both on the floor and off of the floor what High School Basketball is supposed to be about. They are leaders and do not put up with mediocracy. While I'm not sure, if they require the same thing of these young ladies in the classroom and the young ladies respond, these two schools and their coaches have now laid outa mission for the rest of the season. A few losses really mean very little. Being a so called #1 in the rankings tells one nothing. Discipline and an expectation of excellence is the prescription of Champions. Just look at the ones at the top. they have all got the same ID. An expection of Leaders on and off of the court. All of this just doesn't just happen. I, for one, am very proud of the Coaches of these teams in Tennessee. There is a reason they made it where they are. Its just this year there are a lot of great players and teams all thru the State. University Coaches have already recognized many and its just started. But they have recongized the job coaches have done in expecting leaders to step up and where to go to find players who the leadership Coaches are developing. A lot of players can play. It takes a special person that can lead and play. It takes a REAL SPECIAL PERSON that can LEAD, PLAY, and ACCEPT COACHING.

You are right, the TSSAA did the right thing and if they continue to push back with these so called supers and give the right impression that to make it in life they are going to have to do something besides play basketball, things thruout the State will settle down. Nothing wrong with asking for all of this special treatment, that is not the issue. What is the issue, you try to get it once and twice and one will never make it thru UT. The greatest achievement he can make is to make it thru the university as a student and then build up his reputation as a completer by graduating and completing what he started. Hearing what he has done in school makes me think that is the first thing he has done to finish the job. Sme may agree and some maybe not. He is doing the right thing and someone is advising him in doing the right thing. If anyone in the TSSAA has a part in that, pushing back should be a trend that should be a major part of their ID. It will help growing up and will help a lot of others finally decide to be role models. Its time to grow up and help a lot of his peers to do the same thing. Memphis advisors, I am impressed.

I am glad yu cleared up my misunderstanding. My misunderstanding had to do with information on the facebook advertisment.. It mentioned King but that was for a national Golf event for the NAIA. that simular to the NCAA held at the Legends in Williamson County in May which TV mentioned could draw 5000 fans. Greenbank has alway been a great event and knew it was in Greenville. You might answer this question since sponsership has changed. Is this a TSSAA event and which school gets the proceeds, if any, from the Tournament. It is impossible to know this expecially when schools from out of State are included. The advertisement concerning the Golf Tournament was included in the same Facebook Advertisement and was involved in a Tourism company in the area. I hate to be the one asking the question when it could be someone like an auditor asking the same question from your LLC. In addition, a high school is not involved but an elementary which is all right. You do one of the finest jobs in the State in handling situations about Corporate sponserships and that is the reason I am asking the questions. Nothing else. And now I see Etown handling a Tournament the same way and I believe its a good way to make things work

WoW, on point I thought you were from independence or Tullahoma. Good to see you posting.

Purely a question and hope you do well with the Tournament, Belmont University was asked to not have a Tournament at the School due to NCAA Violations on the site. Thanks to landair for sponsering this tournament at NAIA University in Bristol, Tennessee, Lee University. This Tournament was sponsered by Green Bank in Greenville, Tennessee. Untils they were not able to do it this year. I'm not sure anyone knew the Tournament was at King College. Many mught think that this is nobody's business and rightly so. Just would hate to see some players lose a year of eligelibility because of playing in a NAIA event if indeed they have the same rules as NCAA.. This was in from the first year for this event and i quess the event was moved from Greenville to Bristol. I'm not sure who is sponsering the event and who gets the proceeds. A facebook advertisment is on this thread but cannot be read very easily. Hope that someone has asked the school and also some school is able to get the proceeds of the tournament.

Oh my. Here comes the Indian

Blaze, the nail on the head. The skills of the players are not even in question. Comparison of coaches is of some question. Someone wanting the schools to compete for some mythological national title is just an ESPN/USA Today Media Hoax which is now trying to be covered up by the Memphis Media. Those Tennessee Schools falling in to the HYPE of these exposure events are spending their hard earned travel money for things that many Universities already know. The great players are already known and already on the lists and if seniors have already signed. If the Insells have seen or heard of them, they are known everywhere. If someone wants some of those events to be seen in Middle Tennessee, likely no University will be able to do it becasue of NCAA Rules now. But a large scheduled event at a large High School in an accessable area could be managed. But thats even questionble about marketing such an event. Groundwork has been laid with so many Tennessee schools in some of these events. How they can be justified is beyond me because it is well known the skill of Tennessee Coaching and players and how their teams are coached and how they win. Most of these are solid Teams and Players with some of the best Coaches in the Southeast. The things that will mess up some good things are what you have mentioned. These things about loading up schools does effect a lot of things. Just naturally, great schools with great coaches will attract great players and High School is a little late. Coaches in the mid State have already realized it. Great Middle school Coaches are and have alreeady been found. Destroying the current High School infrastructure is not the answer but playing around with it will certainly effect the consistancey of the product. Of course some may say that that it will bring up the play of all of the schools but other things may have some bearing on that, i.e., some private schools. Now who is the winner there and what is the cost. I look for the transfer situation to elevate with proof of residence turning some strange ways. But I also see the big schools getting better and the schools getting better because of it. There are pluses. IMO, its possible that with all of the confusion going on with AAU and the scandal, the money is going to run short in AAU and the exposure event thing is going to slow down. Its likely that travel will slow down and the sugar daddy may have slowed. The loading of schools will continue due to ammendments not being passed.