GoBigOrange20

She didn’t start and didn’t do much. I was waiting for the Anderson we’d seen in previous years. Must still be getting back into game shape.

Gleason 53-47!

As a walk-on.

It was close at the half, 22-19. Gleason made a run in the 3rd and another in the 4th to put it away. They hit free throws down the stretch. Lots of missed layups for Gleason and Edie didn’t do much until the fourth for greenfield. Aleyna Anderson was also off for Gleason. But Lifsey and Sophie Wilson played well. Solid win for Gleason.

Gleason won by 15.

Yes, the big girl is playing much better offensively, and other players - like Sophie Wilson - are shooting lights out. She hit 3 or 4 threes against Summertown and has shot the ball really well this year. There is also size off the bench, which really helped against the Summertown big girl. The main question for tonight is how Gleason handles the press.

47-45 Summertown, rebound and shot at the buzzer. Not that the outcome was necessarily affected, but what an oddly officiated game.

I think it was Carrington Lifsey.

Yes, happy to return to a conversation about this year. And, I do think Greenfield and McKenzie will be really tough. I love seeing the Class A trophy come back to West TN, especially northwest TN and hope to see it brought back again this year! Amazing that you called that game! The loss to Lake County at SF with such a loaded team was absolutely heartbreaking for Gleason fans, especially given a non-foul call at half court when Ashley Mc was clobbered. But, that's how the cookie crumbles. That team was loaded and had beaten Bradford by 20+ each time we played - something that never happened in that rivalry. But Bradford was the '96 state champs, not Gleason. That's why we play the games.

Absolutely, I am. We're talking about players that played 15-30 years ago. They didn't have access to unapproved website and youtube and twitter in order to sell themselves the way that players do now. And, I didn't say Greenfield didn't play defense. I said they were a great team. It's just my belief that - even with three potential division one players- that they are not the best of all time. Just my opinion and you have yours. There's no way to settle it so there's no sense in arguing. I just couldn't let another "Greenfield is the best team ever" post go by without acknowledging some really amazing teams from the Bradford-Gleason domination days.

Gleason should've won in 1996 - probably the best Randy Frazier team. Two eventual Miss Basketball winners and multiple All-State selections. Good inside and outside play. But, they got tripped up by a Lake County team that played out of their mind for one night for their first and only loss of the season. I still say that the most well-rounded teams from West Tennessee are the Butler-led GC teams. I'd bet on an Ashley McElhiney-led team against anyone and I think she remains the best player to come out of West Tennessee in any class. But those GC teams had great guards, great posts, everyone could shoot, and they played great defense. Russell was always blessed with a 6 foot post player (at Bradford and GC) that we rarely had at Gleason outside of Lee Ann Bell in the early 90s. And, yes, Kayla was a special talent. She absolutely dominated the Class A state tournament in 2007.

I agree that those GC teams were better. Greenfield would've struggled with the press. Same with the Bradford and Gleason 90s teams - especially Bradford's 1993, 1997, 1998 and 2000 teams and Gleason's 1996, 1998, 1999 (and 2006 teams). They would've beaten Greenfield by 8 out of 10 games, in my opinion because of the defensive intensity. Gleason had defensive specialists on the 98 and 99 teams (Valorie Todd, Melanie Green, Ashley McElhiney) that would've shut down down Tess and Chloe and no one would've stopped Ashley McElhiney from getting 30. She was just that good. Ashley, Michelle Street, Tonya Tuggles, Kara Sanders, Jessica Henson, and Kayla Hudson all had amazing careers that were as good as or better than Chloe or Tess. The grit and determination of those Bradford and Gleason teams was unparalleled and they made each other better. I think the Chloe-Tess Greenfield teams were very good and one of the best. But, in my opinion not THE best. Just because they had 3 D1 players (assuming Edie goes D1) doesn't equate to them being better. The role players matter in this instance. And, just because they went D1 doesn't mean they're better than the players that went the NAIA route. Recruiting was different than it is now. The 1999 Gleason team had 2 D1 players and all five starters played collegiate basketball. That's a stacked team and I'd argue more talented than the Greenfield team. Same with those Bradford teams like 2000 - when two played D1at UTM and two went to Union to play for national championships. Jessica Henson, Tashekia Brown, Kara Sanders, and Kayla Hudson were all D1 capable players that decided to play for (and win several) national championships locally rather than play for a D1 school. There's no shame in that. There's obviously no way to settle this, but that's my two cents.

Yes, my bad. Region 7.

What a disappointing showing for both Region 8 teams.

I second Ashley McElhiney from Gleason (All-SEC point guard at Vanderbilt) and Michelle Street from Bradford (All-American at Union later). Those two players had skill and grit. They'd run through a brick wall for their team. And both were undersized. Both led their teams to state championships without size and faced bigger and more athletic teams along the way. Those Gleason vs. Bradford games from 1990-1999 were something else. I know Jackson County and Clarkrange have had some battles and Gibson County and Greenfield of late, but I'd put those Bradford and Gleason teams up against any team that I've seen since 1999. It was the defensive pressure and intensity. Great teams folded under the pressure. I miss seeing that kind of defense played.