bw3

I don't think Coachh was suggesting that GP should stand there indefinitely waiting for the celebration to end. I suspect he was implying they should have given it a few more seconds (like maybe 10). The Lady Cyclones players were surrounded by the student section that stormed the floor afterwards. Anyone that knows this group understands they would not intentionally snub the GP girls. The GP bench did immediately line up at the buzzer but quickly abandoned the idea and headed for the dressing room. Both reactions are understandable given the emotional circumstances of the game. I say, "no harm, no foul" by either group.

I agree. I can tell your girls are a class act. Was wonderful to see them take a break from shooting before the game to spend a moment with the young person in the wheelchair. I was mostly speaking to the fact the coaching staff didn't shake hands but I'm not surprised. Good luck at state!

Man, there are some sore losers out there....

You give Betsy fans a bad look, man. Need to be more like lawnman, coachh, sparky, etc.

I was bragging on your team until you called the coach a cheater. Besides one big goofy guy from GP who was running his mouth when they were announcing our senior teams accomplishments, I thoroughly enjoyed the game. GP played us closer than anybody else this year.

Well that's nice of you. However, this wasn't senior night or awards night. All that was for was to try and intimidate. No one was fooled on that one. Coaches from other schools were laughing about it, a college coach said, "well this is complete bull crap, how classless." And I'm sorry for calling your coach a cheater. However perception is reality and he has been caught breaking rules MULTIPLE times. That takes nothing away from your girls. They are very deserving. Not him.

I figured you would go there. Hate it, your Fulton transfer didn't beat us like she said she would tonight. Maybe next year..... Oh yeah, y'all have fun playing softball!

This makes no sense? Like I said, was just a crappy move by the Elizabethton program. Maybe they'll learn from it.

i didn't see your coach and girls line up to shake hands.....it was an exciting game! Probably got caught up in the moment. No bad intentions I'm sure.

You're wrong. They did and that's no excuse. Teams all across the state lined up after wins. Maybe it was extra emotional for your coach since he'll be a goner after this year anyways. Wouldn't want the cheater to go out without a trip to state.

Great game. GP is a very talented team. Just got in foul trouble and had too many turnovers. They pretty much shut our big players down on outside.

Shut them down so much the entire team and coaching staff couldn't shake hands. What a joke.

There won't be any because the circumstances don't warrant any. Much adieu about nothing reported by a jealous competitor that is likely guilty of much more. Quality programs with quality coaches don't have to recruit quality players. They just naturally want to be part of something good. Just a thought...

Or he attempted to recruit a young lady who said, "no thanks!".....................

I'm highly doubtful it was actually Dugger the flesh. I would be surprised if it was even Whitimore. The other assistants, who knows.

Likely excuse. These things go straight to the top - always.

bw3

I think that his Elizabethton team has a great squad this year as they did last year. Their coach is a class act and his girls have worked their tails off to get where they are. I think it would be awesome if they could win a second gold ball in a row. That being said, some of there fans make you wish that somebody would shut them down and send that gold ball home with another team. A little humble pie would do them some good. As hard as that program and those girls have worked, I would hope that Karma doesn't take them down. Go Cyclones. Keep that gold ball in East Tn. But don't just assume that you are unbeatable. Complacency will get you beat. Oh and congrats to Grainger county. They finally made it over that hump! Great job girls.

Thanks EBTHER. Great game tonight from both sides. I think GP may have had a little more for Elizabethon than most thought they would. A four point game late in the 3rd. Kayla Marosites is a great basketball player and should run away with Miss Basketball the next two years. Didn't like the timeout with under a minute from Betsy when GP had conceded but sometimes coaches don't think of the way that looks in the moment. Betsy has a great group of girls who play extremely well together. While we all thought their pressure would do in GP it was more of missed layups and free throws. Good luck to Betsy the rest of the way!

All Betsy Has to do is Double Haris Price and then Gp is pretty much done. Coach katie at GP is a terrible coach, wait isn't her dad over sevier county schools... Betsy by 30

What does that have to do with anything? What an idiotic statement. Good luck to both teams!

I can tell you they better be awful good to stay close to our girls. First half will probably be close, 10 points or so. After halftime and with proper adjustments, I say 20+ point win by Elizabethton.

These two teams play very similar. Whoever's outside shots are falling and can win the battle of the boards will have the upper hand.

Should the players on these teams that have run miles of suicides, practice shooting thousands of freethrows and spent countless hours in the gym getting ready for the post season run be denied their opportunity at a gold ball because of weather? Something completely out of their control? I don't know so help me out on this, These other areas that are still playing, have they been closed all of these days that Knox county has in the past two weeks? Do those county school boards allow their gymnasiums to open for games on snow days?

This is not just a Knox county issue. I know that Gatlinburg Pitman is in the mountains in Sevier county and they have not played there quarter final game yet against Scott County High. Kingston which is a roane county school has not played their game against Fulton yet either so it must not just be a Knox County ruling.

CAK and Union County have both advanced in regional play. Is it fair to them because these other county schools are out due to weather and can't play? Should they be allowed to advance if the others have to forfeit?

The tournament is about the kids that have done all of the work so they should not be punished because of some untimely weather and policies set by the county school boards. This will be a tough ruling for the TSSAA to make if it comes down to it.

Gatlinburg-Pittman beat Scott 95-66 according to the scoreboard and newspaper article on Mountain Press website and the Knox News Sentinel.

Side note..EBTHER..I see now that you weren't aware of this. Sorry, man.

The Knox County board of education is handicapping not only their own athletes but schools in other districts as well. If Knox County doesn't allow their teams to play over the next two days they should have to forfeit. You can't tell me places like Cumberland County which had 20,000 without power could get in a quarterfinal game by now but Knox schools couldn't? What about Cosby and more rural areas like that? Gatlinburg in the MOUNTAINS! Other schools should not be punished because of Knox County and their leadership.

There's probably no less than 10 in each class that are deserving. I can think of several in 8AA alone.

There are always great players left out. Very true.

Everyone has a favorite from the school they are partial too. And thats great!...I love watching Harris Price play....Watched her and had teams play against her for years...No one respects her game more than I do.

 

but I thought all had more class than your showing......You don't think these kids read the boards....???

 

Bunch of grown men and women whining and throwing a fit.....comparing stats....amazing..

 

For every argument you throw out I can counter it.....but why? and what good would it do anyone?

 

love the old cliche that fits so well here....

 

 

Sports do not build character. It reveals it

Seems like there's only one person with their panties in a wad. Everyone else just seems to be supporting those players who they believe are deserving. Nothing wrong with thinking one player or two or three or four is more deserving than another. It's life. Deal with it.

From East TN alone in AA:

Tara Shields - Alcoa

Keke McKinney - Fulton

Haris Price - Gatlinburg-Pittman

Blake Lamb - Grainger

All more deserving. 

No way it's political or Callie would have been left off.

There are numerous ladies with much better statistics and team records. There has to be some sort of explanation. What could it be other than politics?

How did Hammaker make this list in AA this year? Would have made much more sense last year. There are many many more deserving in AA this year. What a shame. It's all political.

Gatlinburg-Pittman is very good at home with Smoky Mtn officials and a very good student section. They seem to be a different team on the road posting a losing record at 5-6 with one of the wins in overtime at Union County. If Smith Co played them up in gatlinburg they probably lose...play them at home and they probably win. GP is 7-0 at home with impressive wins. Their schedule has been upgraded from years past but name am impressive win they have had on the road this year. Top 10 team at home with their refs...not top 10 on the road and that may hurt come post season. As matter of fact, looking back it may be that their only district tournament championship of last several years was the one time they hosted the tournament. They should be the pick to win it this year though as PF is down and Fulton is inconsistent.

Good post. Looks like they have upgraded their schedule but have no quality wins on the road. Had a chance to get a good win at Alcoa and didn't. One of their parents said they were missing a starter, but still. Lost at CAK by 2 last night. Price looked to be throwing up during the game and didn't look well but who's to say that won't happen come tournament time? GP had the bigs to match up with Hooper but still got killed on the glass. Hammaker got to the lane and line at will. CAK looks to be coming into its own late in the season like most thought they would. I'd say it will come down to these two teams in the region but Alcoa seems to be finding a way to win night in and night out. Probably the best coach in the region, so that may have something to do with it. 

Gatlinburg-Pittman is very good at home with Smoky Mtn officials and a very good student section. They seem to be a different team on the road posting a losing record at 5-6 with one of the wins in overtime at Union County. If Smith Co played them up in gatlinburg they probably lose...play them at home and they probably win. GP is 7-0 at home with impressive wins. Their schedule has been upgraded from years past but name am impressive win they have had on the road this year. Top 10 team at home with their refs...not top 10 on the road and that may hurt come post season. As matter of fact, looking back it may be that their only district tournament championship of last several years was the one time they hosted the tournament. They should be the pick to win it this year though as PF is down and Fulton is inconsistent.

Good post. Looks like they have upgraded their schedule but have no quality wins on the road. Had a chance to get a good win at Alcoa and didn't. One of their parents said they were missing a starter, but still. Lost at CAK by 2 last night. Price looked to be throwing up during the game and didn't look well but who's to say that won't happen come tournament time? GP had the bigs to match up with Hooper but still got killed on the glass. Hammaker got to the lane and line at will. CAK looks to be coming into its own late in the season like most thought they would. I'd say it will come down to these two teams in the region but Alcoa seems to be finding a way to win night in and night out. Probably the best coach in the region, so that may have something to do with it. 

Wouldn't put Pittman on that list.

Gatlinburg-Pittman is AA.

Not sure about coach Parton but do know GP has a great assistant coach in Conchita Johnson. She was very successful at PF. As far as the girl that transferred...doesn't she have a sister in middle school still living with their mom in Knoxville-could be wrong about that...not sure but if it's true Maybe that's why tssaa didn't accept hardship. From fulton's perspective they lose a freshmen who helped lead team to state tournament to the team they have played last two years for district title so can understand why they aren't happy. She may be in a better financial situation now but what evidence was there to suggest that moving away from mom and sister was best overall for her...don't know the family so I can't say if it was or not. Maybe the move will have a great impact on her life but with history of transfers to GP in boys and girls basketball over the last decade it does create questions...even to those with no dog in the fight.

Anyone who knows the whole story here doesn't question the move at all. My daughter played with the young lady growing up and she is in a much better place and has a much higher quality of life and that's what matters and it has nothing to do with finances. 

Mo west has most impressive resume so far having beaten everyone by an average of more than 35 points. There closest game was 22 points. All the AAA teams from Blount county are off to great starts. It will be fun to see who wins county bragging rights as William Blount and Coach Wright are playing a style that can beat a lot of teams this year. Knoxville- Bearden and Farragut are above Hardin valley but the gap has narrowed and we'll see who comes out on top. Other AAA teams to keep an eye on would be Jeff Co as they made run to state last year. As far as AA, Fulton and GP are probably best teams closest to Knoxville this far with GP most likely having edge since they got Fulton's PG...even if she is only JV helps GP because she is not leading the falcons anymore. Thought Alcoa would be little better and CAK has had quite a bit if adversity but didn't expect such a slow start. Haven't seen them play yet. Is their KState guard hurt too? Saw they recently lost to south Doyle (definitely an improved SD team though). I don't know much about single A teams so can't comment. Coming weeks will tell us a lot as teams play more and more district games.

The truth will come out about the Lady Govs the next week or so with big matchups. Should be fun to watch this district all year. So many different teams could look like the best in the district on any given night!

CAK has faced some adversity with Hooper being hurt and the loss of Bryant. The K-State guard isn't hurt but it wouldn't hurt if she'd pass a bit more.    I'm sure they'll hit their stride after Christmas. It's always a big adjustment with a new coach. 

Fulton looks to be a little down so far this year already losing 2 games, one of them to DB. DB lost convincingly to Science Hill who Elizabethton beat by 15 points. Did the team break up from last year. I was looking forward to a rematch.

Fulton lost a couple of players from graduation and their PG from last year. They still have McKinney, coach is still trying to find some pieces that can compliment her and get her the ball inside. Still don't think anyone in AA can compete with Elizabethon in this area, or in the state. 

Anybody want to update their rankings after the first couple of weeks of games? Farragut had a big win against Heritage last night and Morristown West rolled over Sevier County. I'll go with:

1. Morristown West
2. Maryville
3. Farragut
4. William Blount
5. Fulton
6. Heritage
7.  Jefferson County
8. Grace
9. Bearden
10. Webb

Ok...I think all of you forgot about William Blount.  Already beat Gatlinburg Pittman, Webb and Oliver Springs....and Tonight Hardin Valley.  Only loss....Blackman!

I had them at #6. I think they will surprise some teams in their district this year. The tourney will be fun to watch this year! 

We typically see this at the beginning of each season. These guys are all hopped up on their egos and points of emphasis. Things typically settle down after Christmas and we're back to the same bad officiating instead of terrible by the end of the year. HA!