Hank51

Although I thought those were in poor taste, I didn't mention it. To me, it speaks to the Administration allowing this stuff to start and eventually, it gets out of hand. I am proud that for the most part, our players, Coaches, Administration and Fans did not respond in kind.

That's correct. RD certainly had no qualms pulling for Memphis against Blackman. But at the end of the day, it's all a game. And a game played by your kids and our kids. If they let US play you probably couldn't PAY people to come watch!! It has been a great year. I enjoyed every game. There is great talent in the area and you are correct, RD looks loaded and poised to make another run at it all. Heck, I've even enjoyed arguing on here. Hope the Petty girl is okay. From the replay it didn't look too bad. Maybe a mild concussion or something?? Just being overly careful with her?? If someone hears anything try to update here.

Same here.

My error on identifying commenters. I mistakenly thought you were the same. NO error on the boo's. I was there. No one on the Blackman side booed any player receiving awards. At least, certainly no one that was heard by any of us sitting right there next to them. Please take note that at least one of the commenters talking about it wasn't even at the game, but is reporting what he "heard". But for the sake of argument, let's give it to you that a student may have booed. That's a student sitting in the stands being stupid. Is that the same as the whole team, sitting in the bleachers in a game they are not playing in, singing, "nah, nah, hey, hey, good bye" when a player from another team fouls out? Is that the same as driving another player into the wall and floor, then high five'ing all the players on the floor? Skipping over to the bench, dancing and gesturing and high five'ing everyone on the bench STARTING out with the Coach? Whatever!!! Say what you want about Blackman and I'm sure they aren't a bunch of little angels. But I'm not sure I've witnessed such a display of low class behavior as the RD Team displayed at the state tournament in some 25 years or better of following women's basketball from the Parks level to WNBA. They really should represent better and I agree, it is a systemic problem. The "kids" will do what the administrators allow them to get away with. Thanks for the discussion and I guess this is where we agree to disagree......and I get my green pom poms and cheer on Memphis Central. All hyperbole and conjecture aside, it was a banner year for girls basketball in the area.

WE must have attended different games. I heard NO ONE boo ANY players during the awards announcements. Perhaps it was because I was applauding and cheering too loudly myself. Also, ALL the Blackman supporters around me cheered and applauded for EVERY player announced. I don't care if you agree with me or not. And would not consider you "uncreditable" [sic] simply for disagreeing with me. However, I know what I did and did not hear. I heard NO boos during the awards announcements and so far, you are the only one that has said they did. And I think I'm respectfully ready to call B.S. on your claim of "nonpartisan". I know what I have heard. And I know what I have observed. And I'm not taking anyone's word for it. It is a first hand experience. With that said, I really don't care. I have just related what I have seen and heard. NOT what I have been told. I suspect you are attached to RD in some way. If so, I would think you would want better from such visible representatives of your school, your team, and Middle Tennessee Girl's Basketball. If not, then that speaks for itself and pretty much proves my point.

I agree. One would think better crowds could be expected. Would have LOVED to see RD vs Blackman and see what kind of crowd that would have attracted. Perhaps the less than ideal weather has had something to do with attendance? Although according to the Tennessean, attendance is up substantially.

First, the remark was made that the RD Players were boo'ed during trophy presentations. That is not true. Period. In addition, that was a game between the two schools. Student sections cheering against the other team is expected. At the State Tournament, RD players, NOT a student section, were sitting as a group in the stands observing the game. There is a difference. Sorry if you don't see that. I call B.S. on Coach Hibdon cursing. I did take a look around. And several things I have observed have led me to my conclusions. I have observed it on the part of the adults AND the kids. I think it is a lack of supervision and a tacit approval of poor sportsmanship. That is not necessarily the "Kids" fault, I suppose, as they are only doing what is allowed. And kids being kids....... But that doesn't mean one should not acknowledge the truth. So...until people quit making excuses for them and someone steps up to correct the poor sportsmanship and activities that suggest a lack of class...I stand by the conclusion that, while it is not necessarily the "Kids", it absolutely IS the organization behind them, simply manifested in the actions of the "Kids".

I was referring to the "Nah, nah, hey, hey, good bye" chant/song they gave the Duke girl when she fouled out. As I said, no class. Where was their supervision? Or was the Coach up there singing with them? If they are not involved in the game, why would they want to sit there and make fun of another player's misfortune? Do you approve of that kind of behavior? Anyway, I just felt it was a horrible show of sportsmanship and a lack of class. I would like to think most would disapprove. But when the star player's mother is following kids from the other team around threatening them......... You know, the same lady on a comment thread in the local paper threatening other commenters....... Well...you've heard about the apple falling far from the tree? They are obviously a talented group of girls. And you are a dedicated fan. But why tarnish their accomplishments with behavior like that? "When you get in the end zone, act like you've been there before." ~ Paul "Bear" Bryant ABRD

Anybody but Riverdale. Any team that sits in the stands, observing another game, and then as a team, ridicules another player when they foul out of the game has no class. And they are a reflection of their Coach, their School and their fans. This team has no class and is not a good representative of this area and Lady's Basketball. ABRD (Anybody But Riverdale

Yes. The officials are somewhat slanted where Barbee is concerned. And it's not that they are such "dirty players", it's just that they certainly aren't any "cleaner" than anyone else! As for Barbee, she may be a wonderful player and I'm sure she is a very sweet young lady (although I notice you dodged how our players had to be escorted to the bus) but I don't care for her attitude. I overheard her at a summer game, where she was sloughing off while girls that admittedly may not have her skills were breaking their butts to play hard, comment that she wasn't trying because "it's not like it's the state tournament or something." While that may be true, it's not a very nice sentiment to be expressing while others around you are playing as hard as they can. That tainted my opinion of her and I SERIOUSLY hope she chooses a school other than Vanderbilt. I guess the only difficulty I see with your posts is, if RD wins, then it's as expected it should be and the other teams are simply bit players. But if you lose, then you try to down play the loss, which is fine, but you also try to down play and diminish the accomplishment of the other team. And I find that not an admirable trait. Honestly, I wish RD the best of luck. Our girls wish them the best of luck also. Win, lose or draw, the Blackman Lady Blaze, to a player, want another shot at them. And that, my friend, is character. I think our girls will work hard to try to hold up their end. I hope RD can do the same. A Championship Game between RD and Blackman will be entertaining and GREAT for the area basketball and every player on each team. All hyperbole, complaint and sniping aside, best of luck to both teams. Just recognize that our young ladies are neither afraid nor in awe. And are CERTAINLY not ready to concede anything! As I'm sure is true about the rest of the players and teams. GO LADY BLAZE!!!

It was a flagrant foul, not a technical. But come on now. In fairness, these girls get tired of being beat up by Barbee and not having the fouls called. On one play, in the Regionals, she was literally slapping the Duke girl in the face. When the ref blew the whistle, we were like finally. But he called the foul on the Duke girl for who knows what. On the one foul where they called our player for elbows in an earlier game, Barbee was all up in her chest, bumping and hitting her and the player actually looked at the ref to see if he was going to call it. He did not and when she brought her arms up, he called her for elbows. The thing about it was she COULDN'T raise her arms without hitting her because she was chest bumping her. If you are going to peddle Barbee does not receive "favorable" officiating, I don't think you're going to find many buyers around here. All these girls get a little mouthy. And Cobie may be a sweet young lady, but she knows a few profanities herself!! You will not make me believe Coach Hibdon used profanity unless you got tape. And you do remember our girls and Coaches had to be escorted to the buses when we played AT Riverdale? Right? I know you're proud of your girls as well you should be. Well, we're proud of ours, too. And Barbee pulls her shorts on just like the rest of them and all we (or at least I) would like to see is for the officials to call fouls consistently. Whether it's consistently bad or consistently good. But don't have one set of standards for ONE player and different standards for the rest. GO BLAZE!!!

And the Riverdale player (I think 34, sorry if I'm wrong) that took our girl to the wall and then ground. Got up doing a "boxer's" skip....all the way to the bench where she was greeted with laughter and high five's by all, including the Coach. Just saying should be no pot/kettle stuff here!! GO BLAZE!!!

You weren't there? I was. NO ONE, none of the players were booed during the trophy presentations. And as I have already noted. For a meaningless game, virtually every player and many of the parents were crying. I'm not trying to take anything away from them. But it's not fair to try to take away from or diminish the accomplishments of our young ladies either. And I'll tell you one thing you may not be aware of. While it may or may not happen. Virtually every girl on our team, after the regional game, WANTED to get to the State to get another shot at them. They aren't skeered. They have proven they will not back down. And even though there has been effort to diminish their accomplishment, they have PROVEN they can beat anyone. Let's play the games. Survive and advance. Whether by 1 point or 30. Obviously these are 8 very good teams and any one of them are capable of winning on any night. After all.....we proved it! GO BLAZE!!!!!

I really don't know. But that's only part of the measure of a good player.

I know Riverdale appears to be the team to beat. But it is odd to me to see these other teams simply dismissed. Blackman is the only team to beat Riverdale in two years. Yet the Tennessean doesn't even mention them. The MVP of the District Tournament is on Blackman's Team. Yet you wouldn't know it from the coverage. Apparently it should have gone to Barbee and no one has figured out why it didn't as yet. For all these girls on the 7 other teams in the tournament, you would think they are only bit players to Riverdale's imminent coronation. It's one thing to see it on these message boards where partisanship is on display. One would like to think the newspapers could be a little less biased. Good luck to all the teams. But if I were Riverdale, I don't think I'd be polishing up that trophy just yet. That's why they play the games. GO BLAZE!!!! Your fans know you are in the tournament and that there are excellent, notable players on the team. And we know you have proven you are capable of beating any team out there.