dgeeman

Wow BigENS...that may be the nicest thing you have ever said in all the years I have been posting in CoachT. I've been checking in here and there throughout this season. Not much to talk about since the kid has moved on and that on top of that the growing pains of a young Ezell Harding team hasn't left too much to talk about from the Eagle camp. From what I can tell it could be an interesting finish for a state berth. Naturally would love to see all the teams from the East/Mid make it. Would expect BGA to be there...but they have to get the job done. Webb School of Knoxville the same. FRA needs a big game from their big guy. (losing Cooper really hurts this team) Big Rob has to play like the Mr. Basketball he should be. DCA always has a chance! Remember 2012! You guys give me someone to root for at Lipscomb! Good luck to all!

From the East side...look for these players to have a big impact from the Top 4 Schools from the past. Someone has got to give me little help from the newcomers BGA and Friendship Christian. FRA loses starters Chance Bouldin and Kessler Bell. Finally you might get a chance to see players like Tori Smith, Kenny Cooper, and Rob Marberry put up some huge numbers with the need to put in more playing time for FRA to stay competitive throughout the season. DCA loses Carson Outlaw, Joshua Joy, and D Ewin...look for Clay Hertel, Jake Singer, and Shannon Fayne to carry the boys in blue. Knox Webb seems to always be strong. With Burton Sampson gone...look for Austin Cox and Justin Jenkins to lead the guys in green this season. Finally, Ezell will hope that the young guys grow up quickly. Those returning from last year's team that will be looked at to produce will be TJ Smith, Ryan Caldwell, and Al Batson. That is it for now. Good luck guys! We'll See you on the hardwood. Gman

Boogie, You make the Gman proud! Obviously with no longer a dog in the hunt...looks like to get this thing going or things stirred up enough to get BigENS involved. Kudos to the small privates so they get some recognition...often overlooked by the newspapers when it comes to post season accolades there are definitely some decent athletes to watch at this level for sure. While a few good players have left from last season...a few good players remain which should make for some good games throughout the season this year. Plus add in Friendship Christian and BGA...who knows what the season will bring. Even though my own son is at Maryville looking for PT at the next level because my wife is an Ezell Harding teacher I'll be at a number Eagle games when I can. Speaking of the Eagles, Coach Farmer is in his 3rd year as head coach and this year he has a lot of work to do. Gone from the team are 3 of the top scorers that accounted for 65% of the teams points. And he has a brutal schedule that his team playing Hendersonville, Centenniel, Huntington Prep, (yes that is national power Huntington Prep) FRA, JPII, Giles County, and MBA in the first 9 games. In the east...I like Knox Webb to take their division I look for Ezell, DCA, Friendship, and why not Sewanee to fill out the rest of the puzzle. In the other division...look for FRA and BGA (by default...don't know much about them) to benefit from a weaker side. USN loses their only threat this year...so it could be an interesting battle for the remaining places come tournament time. The West I would favor Skal and company at ECS to make it back to the state to take care of some unfinished business. Notable players ... I'll have to get back with you on that. Till then good luck to all the teams, parents, coaches, and players. Try to keep it on the cool side. Be nice to one another and treat others as you would want to be treated. It's the most wonderful time of the year! Gman ,

Well it's been quite a while since basketball season has wrapped up but was just wondering where some of the players in our division were going to play at the next level at. Austin Gee will be attending Division III Maryville College in the Fall. http://blogs.tennessean.com/high-school-sports/2013/05/21/ezell-hardings-gee-signs-with-maryville/ FRA graduated two of their big guys. Chance Bouldin will be at Division II Dominican and Kessler Bell is at Division II Flagler. I believe Carson Outlaw, DCA is going to Welch College and might be playing two sports. I think Gunter Miller, DA, is playing attending Centre College. Who am I missing? I am particularly interested in Joshua Joy...where is he attending next year? Oh...always forget about those guys in the East. Knox Webb's Burton Sampson is at Belmont. Help me out...who else is playing and where? Still keeping it clean! Gman

Well this is very well my first post under Boys Soccer and may very well be my last post as my son is playing his last few games as a high school athlete. All I can say is "Phew" as the spring sports are coming into their Region games now, Substate Games, and for some High School Graduations. It appears we are at a stretch where games must be played and they have to be played today! Just thought I would share with everyone the kinda messy game that went on when Ezell-Harding faced DCA on Saturday, May 4th, at DCA. It was pretty sloppy, pretty wet, and for the winners...maybe pretty neat. Ezell-Harding went on to Knox Webb and faced the Spartans yesterday, Tuesday, May 7th and lost to them in the District Championship game 1-2 in Double OT. Congratulations to Knox Webb, DCA, Kings Academy, and to our own Ezell-Harding Christian School Eagles on advancing to the Region and Good luck to all. Here's a look at the game from this photographer's/dad's perpective. Gman

BigEns, I will say that Dan Carter is a great man and a good coach and should not be confused with anything that has happened with our girls season this year...However in my mind I believe Coach Carter would have had the Girls team back to the State Championship this year if he would have been allowed to coach them. However, the rest of your questions really are not basketball related and deal with real people and life issues which...unless you are a minister, a loved one, counselor, etc...should only be praying for these folks and not looking to fuel a messages on a high school sports website. Because in all honesty...I am not perfect...no one is...so have compassion and love...eventually all of us are going to need to receive some sooner or later. Gman

Hey Boogie I was at the game... even sporting some FRA "Fan Gear". And not taking anything away from Lausanne but they were a very athletic and good team (obviously now that they are State Champions) but thought maybe some things should have or not have been done as far as FRA getting the win. Take something that I have seen from Coach Ramsey from DCA in the past. Seen him win a championship with only 5 guys one time and nearly take his DCA team this year as well using the same approach. Sometimes you have to let your best guys play...alot. Going 6 deep for this team would have been plenty as really none of them were in foul trouble throughout the game...Marberry did foul out but only after picking up a few late game fouls. I thought a few of your guys were out too long considering the situation. While rotating five in and out and subbing religiously throughout the season works well for Zion Christians, the Webfeets, and Riversides...not sure if the same approach you should have been used against this level of opponent or at tournament time. Please keep in mind this is easy for an Ezell parent like myself because we didn't have the depth of an FRA, Knox Webb, ECS, or Lausanne...and obviously a big reason why we were not there at the State Tournament. If needed I would have played the starters the whole game. Bottom line I thought the coach my have left himself open to some questioning with some substitutions during the game...this from an outsider who has not seen this team play but a couple of times...but just my opinion...who am I ... just a videographer without a game to video on that day... My opinion only... gman

Well the Regions have been played and the seeds were as expected in the East/Mid. No upsets, no surprises...but I can't answer for the West side. But here is what is going down for games this Saturday for a berth in the State Tournament. FRA vs FACS will find Franklin Road Academy hosting FACS Knox Webb vs Harding Academy will find the true Road Warriors Harding Academy who have to span almost the entire state to play the Spartans DCA vs Lausanne will find last year's State Champions with a chance to repeat traveling to Lausanne Ezell vs ECS basically a true David vs Goliath matchup While the Mid/East dominated the state tourney last year some are thinking that the West side might be a tad stronger. I guess we'll know in a few days. Good luck to all the teams who have made it this far! Keeping it clean! Gman

Praying that Austin will be able to play somewhere that will provide a great atmosphere, education, college experience, and a chance to play. A few colleges and jucos have contacted Austin...but the process is more complex than just an offer to play due to scholarships available, costs at schools, etc...We'll have to see what happens in April...but for now...it is about finishing the season strong. Go Eagles! See you at FRA this weekend...good luck to all the teams that are still alive. It doesn't happen all the time...but I feel that all the teams who deserve to be at the Region are there this weekend. Personally I would love to see all four of these teams at the State Tournament...there is just a lot of good players and parents from each team that I have actually come to love. Good luck everyone! Keeping it clean! Gman

Good job BigENS! You picked our Region perfectly! Just to test your basketball knowledge of late then who do you like in the Region. It looks like DCA vs FRA then Knox Webb vs Ezell. What seeds do you place on the teams in this division. Also I am curious to know who do you think will go with the boys II-AA group? 9aaFan...missed you last post...but you gotta know me by now...not gonna guess to much at predictions and stuff...while BigEns was pretty confident of his Region selections...I was not wrong either predicting that Davidson and USN was in the hunt and they were. On a personal note...so glad our boys overcame some questionable first half refereeing with a solid 2nd half performance. It was totally miserable watching the Region Tournament from the sideline last season. keeping it clean, Gman

Fan, The division is broken into a East and West District now. Ezell just won the coin flip so they are the #2 team from the east behind Knox Webb and followed by DCA, MJCA, SAS, and Kings. On thursday DCA hosts Kings and MJCA and SAS will play. Winners of those games advance to the District at Knox Webb on Friday and Saturday. Knox Webb plays the winner of MJCA and SAS and Ezell will take on the winner of DCA and Kings Academy. The West side of the division are playing at FRA has FRA #1, USN #2, probably Davidson #3 and the rest well your guess is good as mine. Three teams will advance from each district to play for a berth in the Region. I would assume that the top two teams of the district tournament get a bye, then 2 in the west will host 3 from the east and 2 in the east will host 3 in the west. The winners advance to the Region at FRA to determine 1,2,3,4 for the substate games. The season is almost coming to end for some and getting fun for others...Hoping Ezell's team is part of the last part of that season. keeping it clean and fun! Good luck to all the teams down the stretch. David

Or maybe I should have said partially right. So BigENS what kinda of report can you give us on the teams to the West? Or can you? Who can? Where my old buddies in the west from USN when we need them...don't care that your sons have graduated...tell us something ....about the West side of the state.

Hey! Well this time BigENS....we hope you are right!

Hey you know there is a good chance that FRA will make the State Tournament and very well should. At a minimum they have 3 Division I or II college players on their team. Everyone would be disappointed if they don't make it to the dance. Then you have about 5teams with a fighting chance to go to a sub state game in the other 3 spots. I think Knox Webb, Ezell, DCA, USN, and Davidson all appear to have a chance to make it to the Region Tournament and a chance to play in to the State Tournament. I think it was surprised everybody when there was only one west team in the State tournament and the team not to make it to the state last season was FRA. At this point...nothing can be assumed. The best 4 teams a the end of the season...advances to the Region. The others just stay at home and watch from the sidelines. BigEns...your gonna miss the message board next season! Admit it...and what are yall going to do without Corn? Keeping it clean! Gman

Thanks WarEagle and Boogie...we enjoy watching Austin as well . WarEagle the East/Mid has gone I think to the same format that the West used last year. The Region is divided into two sections. In one is Knox Webb, DCA, Ezell, MJCA, SAS, Kings Academy and I guess the other is FRA, Davidson, USN, Webb-Bellbuckle, Riverside, and Zion Christian. So I am referring to just our section (and this is probably not what it is called). I believe the top 3 teams in our division have wins over the others and both of us DCA and Ezell have losses to Knox Webb...so this is how I came up with battle for #2. Personally I would love to see the teams mentioned in the top 4...but you never know for sure. It's the most wonderful time of the year....