Soxfan1

I will be at the OR/Powell game tonight. Word is Shoffner will play. Not sure how that is legal. Given the other "troubles" at OR earlier this year it is surprising that the TSSAA didn't hammer him.

Karns: Hill, Roberts, Friar, Kennedy

Shoffner has played mad several games this year. This is going to hurt OR against Powell.

Folks, not only does athletic tradition "sell Oak Ridge" but a far superior education committment by the community works in it's favor too. I mean superior to the surrounding District schools (don't want to anger the Maryville folks).

T, I don't think it will be close. Powell is loaded. As long as they keep their heads on they should probably win every game in district play. Their pitching will blow most young hitters away. AC and Halls will be second and third. HV is good but pitching will be a problem. They have solid kids but no "shut down" speed in any arm on that staff. OR and Karns are about even. Karns is super young and will either be better at the end or fall apart from lack of early success (they play HVA and Powell in the first two weeks). Campbell Co. was improved last year as was Clinton. They will beat one or two of the 4-5 teams and mess up seeding. Central will have a tough time.

Interesting game last night. Karns obviously came to play. Oak Ridge looked like they had a really good plan for the Karns press and executed well at first. The pace was fast and when OR subbed they fell apart. The press break got out of sync and they fell behind. When Karns is ahead the seem to really have confidence. The free throw shooting for both teams was horrible. I think that will cause one of those two teams to miss the District championship game in the tournament. Oak Ridge played mad when they got behind, especially Shoffner. That won't do in a close physical game either (which is basically every game in the district). Also, I understand two OR students were kicked out of the gym during game...come on now. Did anyone else think the gym was terribly hot?

Two words...free throws.

Karns has a tough week going to Halls on Tuesday. Any slip up will take some luster off the Friday game.

My son feels like the sweet spot on the BBCOR bats is bigger than on the old bats. Not necessarily as much pop as the old bats but he hits better with the new one.

Bless your little heart...I not only have seen them play. I have seen them practice. Some of the stuff you are saying is just nonsense. Not sure who you are talking to when you say you lost to someone. Obviously you are a child with limited experience in this district. It is never over until February. No one is a sure thing. There is no simple math here. A lot of teams have a long way to go in a tough district. Wait until the weather turns bad and teams play several district games in the same week...then come back and talk to me. Also see the Knoxville paper for 1-6...I believe the Karns coach mentions what I talked about too. Hey I am going over the the Central game. Come over and we'll exchange phone numbers.

1) Karns will not even make it to the state tournament this year for these reasons: The have never been a big winner before...it's hard to win at a high level when you have not done it since Doug Roth and Joey Brooks (the 80's). They have an outside oriented offense an no true big man. The team's guards sometimes get a little selfish They play good defense but foul a lot They don't shoot free throws well under pressure They don't have one true "go-to-guy" (several good players but no true "the man" type) 2) Oak Ridge doesn't recruit, if they did they would never have had a down period in any sport. (see football the last years before Blade) 3) If getting the crap beat out of you by a team makes you mad...get good and get revenge. (see 2011/12 OR girls team) 4) Looking at this thread you would think that Karns has already swept Powell, Halls and Central. Last time I checked they were good too. 5) Good luck to all!

That HVA bunch really looked lost against Karns. They had no answer for the Beavers press. The HVA coach was at the Karns/OR game on the Tuesday before the 102-56 debacle. They didn't seem to learn anything from the scout of the game. It looked like HVA had one kid that was a decent inside guy but he had bad hands and fundamentals. Looks like a long year for the Hawks.

It seems strange that no one on this board knows why a successful coach was fired.

Karns coach is a really good pitching coach and they don't really have a good right handed pitcher. Your son would get to potentially pitch against Farragut, Powell, Halls, Grace, Hardin Valley....he would really get to see how he stacks up. I would go to the school and enroll before the Knox Co. system gets out for Christmas.

I have truly enjoyed going back and reading all of the posts on this thread and as a result havde decided to become an atheist. nrgrizzles you have changed my life and I now put my faith and trust in you and your logic. I know you posted all of this long ago but your spirit has led me to the truth. I am sure at the end of my days you will be standing there smiling...right?

It is funny to me to hear any AC fan complain about poor sportsmanship...have you ever been to a baseball game up on that hill? Listened to that PA guy? Talk about a chump? AC folks should, as stated already, shut up and take their beatings. You are getting what you deserve this year and it does come around doesn't it.

At West it's business as usual, just head down the bike trail a few yards off campus, never get in trouble if you are a Sequoyah kid. For Powell folks you have to drive to Anderson County for the good stuff. West wins by 7 but check your valuables before the game.

The tanning beds are buzzing all over Powell today to get the mommies and cheerleaders ready for the big game. The Powell players will be so distracted they won't play well.

Good job catholic fans...#1 you all seem to be illiterate. Good thing you send your kids to a private school. #2 your guy was all world when you recruited good kids, oh wait you can't recruit. #3 you should realize it is your kids that weren't that good this year. The coaching was the same.

Powell had one close game last year...they fell apart and lost. If they get behind they will get 5 or more personal fouls and lose. This is same team that did that last year in football and baseball. If they get Mobely off early they will only have 4 personal fouls and win.

Powell will implode if they get behind. If they get an early lead they will win.

I really like Lane from OR. Not sure he throws over 82 or 83 but he is a great kid. I saw a kid from Bearden this weekend that threw 88 several times on a scouts radar gun...not sure of the name. Hill from Karns fits the crafty lefty mold low 80's, good change-up.

Maryville.

Great Post! We have come full circle from a couple of years ago!

Difficult to compare educating children who's parents care enough to sacrifice like that to educating children that barely make it to school because of their drug addicted loser parents. I am not sure that "product" assesment is valid. Let's compare the children of equal situations and we will see that the educational results will be about the same. Good kids, good parents, good motivation = good grades and test scores.