FranklinHSfan

It appeared to me that Coach Gamble did less with more talent than just about anyone in our district. Saffore was just one of 3 or 4 apparently talented kids that they had. But they rarely had the discipline to play as a TEAM. I would blame that on the coach.

They should be able to win 2 or 3 more the way they played tonight. A lot of heart and emotion could take em all the way to the Boro. But don't take it out on Antioch. They were clearly the better team when they beat us earlier in the year. But they sure didn't utilize their big men tonight. Franklin was clearly the more driven and composed team in the heat of the battle tonight.

I think it's a toss up between Franklin, Hunter's Lane & Whites Creek. Whoever brings their "A-Game" in the match-up against the other could be the winner. I predict that both of the teams that make it to the Region final will win their sub-state games. I just don't think that Hendersonville is as strong as everyone is saying. At least they weren't when Franklin played em in the Hendersonville camp this last summer.

FHS girls were 0 and 4 against Brentwood & Hillsboro during the regular season. After loseing to Brentwood twice by a total of 20 points, a win in the semi's was SWEET. But they didn't just lose to Hillsboro, they were beat like a drum by a total of 45 points during the regular season. So a 58 to 50 win over Hillsboro tonight could be called a major upset!!! The FHS boys followed the girls game with a dominant performance over Ravenwood. A smothering defense allowed only 5 points each of the 1st two quarters and they took a 31 to 10 lead into the half. The final margin of victory was 60 to 29. The FHS boys are now ready for a re-match against Antioch, their ONLY TN loss of the year!! Many of the Antioch players were in attendance tonight. We shall see what happens Sat. night @ Glencliff.

Yep, District tournament should be a cake-walk. But getting past Antioch, Hunters Lane or Whites Creek will be tough. We seem to play down to the competition quite often. Only one game this year with 80+ points. (BGA - early on) Hopefully, it won't be another "tournament melt-down" for the Rebels.

Nope, according to the Tennessean, Oden led all scorers with 26. But, yes, 4 LHS players in double digits.

Again, FHS got off to a slow start but led at the half 28 to 21. Then, a kick-###### third quarter that featured dunks by Derick Batt & Redbone got the team fired up! The Rebels stretched their lead to 21 points at the end of the 3rd quarter. Final margin of victory: FHS 71 to HHS 48. FHS was led by John Glover's 22 points.

The FHS Rebels did better tonight. I'll post the results on a new thread

Wow, how did Oakland lose the ball at the 40 second mark? Great D or unforced error? In that situation, if I was Oakland, I would have held the ball for a last shot @ about 5 seconds, leaving enough time for a possible put-back. Sounds like the last minute or so was crazy. That put-back by Oden must have been big.

Does anyone have details??

Wow, three tough games in one week! If Antioch survives games at Hunters Lane and Whites Creek, they deserve to beTop Dog in their district.

Looks like Siegel 78 to Cookeville's 57. Is that right? I can'tbelieve the SN is being so quiet about this one. (O rmaybe they just haven't gotten home from the game)

Well, FHS won but it sure wasn't pretty. Halftime score was only 21-20, FHS. Theygot an8 pt. lead goin into the 4th: 35-27. Then a strong 4th quarter made the final margin 52 to 34. Their play sure won't cut it come Region tournament time.

OK, so who showed up and who didn't?

I happened to pull out the AP poll for AAA of Feb. 15 2005. It had Franklin #1 - we didn't make it to the Sub-State. Ditto for Bradley Central who was ranked #2. Siegel wasn't even in the top 10 and we know how well they did. The finals for AAA and other divisions last year were dominated by "West of the TN river" teams!! I certainly hope that middle TN teams do better this year, whether it be Shelbyville, Siegel, Hendersonville, Franklin, Whites Creek or Oakland. Basically, the AP Poll or the Hooley Poll are just one man's or group of men's opinion. Polls are pretty useless. The "proof of the pudding" is really just who makes it to The Boro and who does what once they get there. It was embarrasing to see how Jackson Northside dominated Glencliff two years ago and Hillsboro last year. I haven't seen em play but I would guess that AP got the #1 team right this year, Hamilton looks like The Real Deal! Let's hope someone from Mid. TN can make it to the finals this year! (and hopefully make it competitive)

To get thru the region tournament & then to "The Boro", the shots that need to fall need to come from inside and out. Franklin has been know for their "perimeter" scoring. Only recently have they changed from a 4-guard offense to starting two forwards. (Batt & Glover) I believe that 15 of Franklin's (dismal) 17 first half points came from the forwards. Only one three point shot was made by FHS vs BHS and that was by Glover. (again-a forward) Now, granted, FHS missed the contributions of Antonio Murray.(out - sick) But they have plenty of depth at the guard and forward positions. IMHO, FHS has lots of talent which could be utilized at the forward position. To do so would open up the inside-outside game. But Coach Johnson seems more intent on a guard-focused offense. Hopefully, he can find ways to motivate these forwards to contribute like they did a few times earlier this season. It is true, FHS should have had the BHS game put away by halftime. I have heard the statement that FHS has played up and down to the competition this year. Come region tournament time, we will likely be running into Antioch, Whites Creek and/or Hunters Lane. We will need all players (at least 8-10 of em)contributing to avoid the kind of melt-down that we experienced against Whites Creek last year. We had their big guys in foul trouble early but didn't attack that weekness. Hopefully, this year will be different.

Wow, that's a shocker. Does anyone have some details on how Whites Creek pulled it off?

At this point, I say that it is between Hunters Lane & Whites Creek. Both are very talented.

Yep, Antioch is a very athletic team. But I don't know about that "won't lose" part. There are some mighty strong teams in the Memphis area. I believe that FHS & Antioch will certainly go deep in the Regionals & I would be very proud of both of them making it to "The Boro". Any wins after that would be a BIG PLUS. Good luck to both of them representing Middle TN Hoops well! PS: Looks like Hamilton & Mitchell had a heck of a game last night.

I'm for a shot clock. It would keep the game moving, like college hoops.

FHS & Antioch played even through the first two quarters. But Antioch took charge the 2nd half and won the game 73 - 61. The FHS starters were playing "uninspired" to start the 3rd quarter & Coach Johnson took them all out for most of the 3Q and part of the 4th. But Antioch dominated the boards. That McAdoo kid is the real deal! Hard to believe that he's just a Sophomore. Not saying that the refs were bad but they were calling it very tight the whole game. The slightest hand check or box out could earn you a foul. Both teams were in the bonus to start the 2Q. Antioch ended up with 38 points from the free throw line to Franklin's 10. At least 10 of those, though, were in the last 2 minutes when we were playin catch-up and had to get a steal or a foul. Oh, yeah, FHS also got two T's in the 2nd half. One on Dante Brown when the ref made a rediculous tie-up call when it sure looked like a foul. And the 2nd was on Coach Johnson. FHS will possibly see Antioch again come Regionals. They better figure out how to adjust to the 3's not fallin or whistle-happy refs. Congrats to a very athletic Antioch squad!

During the Siegel game, Derek is the one who got his teeth knocked loose & went to the hospital, missing the second half. Both Dante and Derek have been very consistent after coming back from the Christmas break. Antonio Murray has also had some strong games for us, including tonight, but he is more of a point guard than a wing.

I would put my vote in for Siegel's Jimmy Oden, Hunters Lane's Jeremiah Ctutcher and Franklin's Dante Brown & Derek Anderson. Time will tell. (i.e. Tournament "Time") What guards will lead their teams to The Boro.