maddams

Clarkrange and Gibson will definitely be there. You’ve seen more Pickett than I have. Are they better than Clay? I think they split the regular season games. As for favorites to play in championship, that’s completely dependent on the draw. Clarkrange and Gibson could play in the first round.

You’re talking district games. I’m talking about region. According to TSSAA website, first round of girls region is Friday, Feb 26 not Thursday.

According to calendar on TSSAA website, girls regional games are Friday, Monday, Wednesday. Boys games Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday

This is an interesting conversation. Going that long without playing is never a positive. At the same time, I assume most teams have not even practiced in the past week. If you’re a coach, do you want to play 3+ games in a week after not even practicing for 7ish days? Would you rather play several games this week with minimal practice time or practice for several days before region opener? I don’t know what the right answer is. Specifically for McKenzie, I think their first round region game is basically a warmup for Loretto in the region semifinal.

Decisions are left to individual districts as to how to seed their teams for region. District tournaments are not required. Will be interesting to see how different districts handle things. I don’t see any games being played in West or Middle TN before Saturday at the earliest. Monday is probably more likely. If district tournaments are played, you’re looking at back to back nights then a really quick turnaround for region tournaments.

@pioneer42 Anybody streaming GC/Peabody? I'd like to watch but not making that drive right now

Looks to me that the nominators got it right. I don't think you can argue that any of the nominees shouldn't be there. There are always several great players that get left out but that will always be the case when only 3 are named as finalists.

I do think you’ve undersold Gibson County at times this season. They’re really good and will be for the foreseeable future. Again, I have no issue with you saying Hart is better than Weathers. She may very well be. You watch a lot of basketball and I respect your opinion. My issue was your statement that anyone who disagreed with that assessment was either biased or didn’t know basketball. I just don’t think the difference between the two is that obvious.

I wouldn't expect you to change your opinion. Nobody is discounting what Madison Hart has done this year. She absolutely would be a deserving winner. But your previous posts make it sound like someone would be crazy for thinking Weathers deserves the award - quote "I don't see how any unbiased party that knows basketball can vote against her". I just don't think that's a fair statement.

Your bias is showing. Hart is a phenomenal player. I would have no problem with her winning the award. But to discount Weathers is not fair to a kid who has proven herself to be elite. Her game, her numbers, and her college offers prove it. True, Loretto has lost 5 games but her surrounding talent took a big step back this year. Also those 5 losses are Upperman, Lebanon, Brentwood, Olive Branch and Summertown - that’s 5 top end teams. Madison Hart is a great player but I don’t think the decision between the two is obvious as you make it seem

Tell me about Scotts Hill. They played your South Side girls closer than anyone else has this season. Is Scotts Hill a threat to Westview in the region tournament?

Few things from this: 1. I think you're underselling Gibson. The talent is legit. Coach Wilkins is a top 3 coach in Single A - with an argument for best coach in Single A. Several kids were on the team that won state two years ago and had a shot last year. I know PG is young but I don't see that limiting them. 2. Greenfield appears to be playing better recently. They've won several in a row since McKenzie drilled them. You see more West TN than I do. Who's the second best team over there? Gibson is clearly the best. Who's next? Greenfield? Peabody? Gleason? Union City? 3. How long do we wait on Union City to put it together? They're 9-10. Tournament play starts in less than 2 weeks. If they're gonna figure it out, they better do it quickly. 4. I don't know what to think about Pickett Co. I had them top 5 coming into the year, but their best win all season is a home win over Clay Co (they split the season series). Red Boiling Springs scared them last week. They may very well make the state tournament but they don't appear to be as strong as I thought.

My updated Top 10 1. McKenzie - should cruise to region semifinals 2. Gibson Co - handled Peabody, I don't see them being challenged before state tourney 3. Clarkrange - impressive win over Stone Memorial 4. Summertown - rematch at Loretto tomorrow night 5. Loretto - no bad losses but no impressive wins, chance to get one tomorrow against Summertown 6. Peabody - pretty big gap between the top 5 and everybody else; fast/quick enough to cause problems 7. Van Buren Co - great record/soft schedule 8. North Greene - haven't played recently; not sure if they're quarantined 9. Whitwell - swept by Clay Co but beat Pickett Co; upcoming rematch with Van Buren 10. Houston Co - lost rematch to Jo Byrns but beat a decent Stewart Co team Teams to watch: Clay Co, Cloudland, Cosby, Jo Byrns, Gleason, Greenfield, Huntland, Oneida, Pickett Co, Richland, Tellico Plains, Union City NOTE: The top 5 is pretty clear, though you could certainly debate the order of ranking. After those five, Single A is a mess with a lot of average and above average teams. I'll be shocked if anybody outside the top 5 wins the state tournament this year.

My updated Top 10 1. Upperman - they're in the discussion for best team in the state in all classes 2. Jackson South Side - will be undefeated when they meet Westview in the region tourney 3. Northview Academy - solid recent wins over N Greene, Alcoa and Gatlinburg 4. Grainger - have a good game scheduled against Alcoa tonight 5. Westview - assuming PG is healthy, they are tough 6. Meigs Co - may be ranked too high; I think they're good but only good win was at McMinn Central 7. Westmoreland - one of the better defensive teams I've watched 8. Covington - should cruise to a sub-state game 9. Creek Wood - can shoot it, play in a weak district 10. Livingston Academy - recent split with Macon Co and win over York puts them here - can win out for 2 seed in district tournament Teams to watch: Alcoa, Macon Co, Scotts Hill, York Institute NOTE: Nashville Metro Schools have started playing basketball in the last week. East Nashville and Maplewood should be good and have a shot at the state tournament

Your point about balancing districts may be accurate. It does not change the fact that it negatively impacts state tournaments for girls basketball, baseball and softball.

I don’t think that’s a fair statement. I’m from middle TN and I don’t like the setup either. Any fan of girls basketball is going to dislike the setup in AA. It means that only 2 of Westview, Union City, Huntingdon, Gibson Co, Summertown, Loretto, and Cheatham Co can make a state tournament in a given year. That’s a lot of historically strong programs. It also means that some lesser teams will go to a state tournament and likely get drilled in the first round. No fan of girls basketball wants to see that. This same thing applies to baseball and softball as well. Smaller Memphis schools, like those that will be in AA starting next year, are historically very weak in softball and baseball. Boys basketball is an exception as the new setup with 3 Memphis districts will likely not impact that state tournament negatively. Summary is that while there may have been some logic in the decision by TSSAA, it will negatively impact the state tournaments for 3 sports at the AA level.

I'll take Gibson Co by around 15. I think Peabody could play them close in Trenton but I don't see it tonight. I'm also interested in Clay Co v Clarkrange tonight. Clay surpised me by beating Pickett Co, so I'm interested to see if they can keep it competitive against one of the favorites in A

What happened to Gleason at Lake County last Friday night? According to scoreboard, Lake County won by 8. Gleason beat them by 20+ earlier this year. Hard to think Gleason can compete with Gibson Co or Peabody if they can't win at Lake Co

Jennings is a player. Chad Hall is a good coach. Richland could certainly make it to a substate game. Their district is terrible. Region has Houston Co and Jo Byrns - both have great records with no great wins. I don't think they have enough to beat McKenzie, Loretto or Summertown in a substate game

My updated Top 10: 1. Upperman - really, really good 2. Jackson South Side - crazy deep, crazy athletic 3. Grainger - in the midst of a soft spot in their schedule; play Bearden and Alcoa later this year 4. Northview Academy - only loss is to Bearden; play Alcoa and North Greene in the next 7 days 5. Westview - weak schedule this year as their district is down; PG gives them a chance in any game 6. Macon County - lost 3 of last 4 (York, Ensworth, Upperman) 7. Meigs County - big win over McMinn Central 8. Covington - physical, tough 9. York Institute - continue to improve, get rematches with Upperman and Macon in the next few weeks 10. Westmoreland - tough, defensive team; play Macon County on Saturday Teams to watch (no particular order): Livingston Academy, Creekwood, McMinn Central, Alcoa, Stewart County, Fayette-Ware

My updated Top 10 1. McKenzie - won't be challenged again until the region semifinal - will that hurt them? 2. Gibson County - so much young talent 3. Summertown - big win over Loretto on Tuesday; physical team 4. Clarkrange - still the favorite in my mind; schedule has been tough 5. Peabody - big matchup with Gibson next week - chance to show they are a real threat 6. Loretto - back to back losses to Brentwood and Summertown (2 really good teams) 7. North Greene - play a good Northview Academy team early next week 8. Houston County - rematch with Jo Byrns on Friday then Stewart County next week 9. Gleason - playing well; will be dangerous matchup for Peabody or Gibson in region 10. Van Buren County - schedule is bad; won't be challenged again until the rematch with Whitwell Teams to watch (no particular order) - Cloudland, Whitwell, Union City, Tellico Plains, Jo Byrns, Clay County, Pickett County, Collinwood, Huntland, Greenfield

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Facebook live is the only option I know of. Summertown High School and one of the local radio stations (WDXE or X Sports Radio) live streams on their facebook pages

I usually go to this game. Obviously, can't go this year due to COVID. I expect it will be close and physical. These teams usually don't like each other very much, and their games over the last couple years have been shown it. Game could go either way but it will be close. I would expect 5 point differential or less

Loretto is really good. Summertown can score the ball in bunches but not great defensively. WC and McKenzie might play for a region championship but it won’t be easy for either of them