vanbureneagle

I'm not into making predictions, but our girls have as much talent as any single A girls team in the state. If we do lose by 18-20 it will not be because of talent.

CSAS wins the 1st game 37-31

Here goes: Cascade by 3 (in a nail biter) Forrest by 10 (they will get this lead quick and keep it all night) WH-H by 5 (they seem to be clicking and Eagleville will rush just enough shots to keep them out of it) VB by 1 (I admit I am picking with my heart - we must play an entire game or we will not have a chance of pulling this out) Semis: Forrest by 2 over WH-H (i think the district finals were a wake up call and shankle will go out with a bang) VB by 3 over Cascade (again a heart pick - I think we are just as good as them, and away from their home floor will make the difference) Finals: VB by 8 over Forrest ( I just think it's our time) Let me end by saying we all pick based on who "want" to win and obviously I am doing the same - but in all reality every game in this region will be a pick'em game. You could have just as much luck drawing from a hat in my opinion. Good luck to all!

And what exactly does this mean? Coach Binkley has done a TREMENDOUS job with this team! He has taken a team that lost their best player and that has only one true guard and guided them to a district championship game that was then thrown away with missed foul shots (which is completely in the players' hands). He also led this same bunch to a win over the defending state champions which no one would have given them a chance in. In all honesty, considering expectaions, etc. he really should have been voted coach of the year in the district. Now I really hope that this is not what you meant and if it wasn't then please explain, but all i will finish with is this: If it does as you say depend on the VB coach then VB will be meeting Forrest in the region semis next week.

There were no over the back calls because our players either had inside position or they were going straight up. This is generally what happens in our games. I sit in the stands and get a kick out of the other teams fans or the coaches because they beg and beg for over the backs because they are frustrated with all of the offensive boards our boys get. The frustration should be toward boxing out though. As for the fouls being 18-4. Well, about the last 8 or 10 of those were off of dunlap's fouling to get the ball back which would actually make it about 8 or 10 to 4 in favor of us. Then when you take into account that dunlap pressed and played tight man defense while our boys played zone all night then that explains the difference. I promise that the indian players got away with a lot more fouls than we did.

MTCS is a solid team, but don't rule us out of the district discussions. I really believe we would have pulled out the W down there had our best player not gotten injured (torn ACL - out for the year) and we still almost did anyways. After everyone adjusts to their new roles we will still be solid. And don't forget about community either.

Yes, the tennessean is correct - Baker did score 43 points last night against a solid marion county team. He is a junior now which would have made him a freshman our last year in the old district so that is probably why you have never heard of him. As far as pub goes I agree. He's probably one of the top players in A ball, but to my knowledge he has never played AAU (i could be wrong on that) which is what helps a lot of the other players with their recognition. I know he won't unseat any of the early favorites this year, but he could make a run for finalist in Mr. Basketball next year. As for the old district - we miss you guys too - good luck.

Oh, give me a break. You guys won, be happy.

Well, ptguard12, we are definitely in no position to move up your rankings now. Our best player (the best guard in the district) was hurt tonight against MTCS and it looked serious. I'm not sure if she has been to a doctor or anything yet, but she didn't go back in and we took a tough loss on the road. Maybe everything will work out.

Well grammar, much to your dismay we were able to pull the upset. We played pretty well, but MTCS is a good looking club who should give everyone in our district all they want. Good luck to you guys in the future. And as far as your other questions about our team- I think eagleprotector was saying we are breaking in new inexperienced players this year. We have 4 players that have played a lot, but have 3 more who are really getting there first game time this year.

Van Buren getting close to your top 25? I know we are not top 10 material, but you stated earlier this year that us & Cascade were not close to the top 25. After a 4-1 start (the one loss to AAA cumberland co.) are we better, worse, or about as you expected?

I'll go out on a limb and say our boys pull it out late in the 4th even though we're undermanned.

Van Buren junior guard Darrin Baker deserves some pub. He has put up 23 and 29 according to the tennessean and probably had 20 or so against AAA cumberland. Also had a nasty dunk last night against Clay co. I know he will not unseat demario, skogen, mcmasters, etc. because everyone knows them, but I do believe he is very underrated.

Will our girls win last night against Clay Co. move us up closer to the top 25? Last year they dominated us both games.

Wow- i didn't realize it would be that lopsided. I mean in the past we've been competitive with everyone. Play 3 or 4 AA schools every year and it rarely gets into double digits. Split with Pickett and Clay last year both of whom were substate and state participants in the last 2 years. And all signs point to another year where we are better than the previous year. Oh well, I guess things are just changing. I'll try to get in touch with the coaches and players and see if we can just go ahead and forfeit and not even have to make the trip. On second thought- maybe we'll come anyways just to see what happens. I mean David did beat Goliath.