SpottedGoat

Huntingdon & Riverside favorites from the West.

Yes it sure did.

7A rivalries renewed!! No easy weeks makes teams better. 1. DHS - for those outsiders thinking we graduated our entire team, keep thinking that. Hodge & Co. ready for year 3. 2. UC. - always talented, physical play & good coaching. 3.SF - better respect that air-raid they run. They may have to score 35+ to win games. But, they can. That's a well coached prideful young team over there. They could really be a force in '24. 4. LC or Humboldt. The 4 spot means no disrespect & is nothing to downplay here, this region is going to be a battle every week. All 4 teams that make the playoffs will be ready to make some noise.

100% need a shot clock. Trying to stall the last 5 minutes of a game with a 6 point lead is horrible for the players, fans & game itself. Talent rich larger schools with aggressive fast paced play may not be such an issue. But these smaller schools with maybe 1 or 2 really good players, "stall" is just as much part of their game plan as "make your free throws". It's awful.

100% needed. It may not matter much in larger schools that are multi-player talent rich with better coaching where they play fast & aggressive the entire game. But, 1A schools with maybe 1 or 2 really good players & coaches that stay in power for years because of their local last name &/or of slack school leadership, rely on & teach "stall" as much as " make your free throws". Trying to play chase/stall for 5 minutes to end a game with a 6 point lead is horrible, for fans, players, and the game itself. Happens all the time.

The bowl at South Gibson when Westview girls play there. Gleason, Greenfield, Dresden, South Fulton, Bradford. Like someone else said, small schools, but will pack the stands.

It's a little more than football. Hosting one of the state tournaments has not and will never be a money maker if we only count football dollars from that weekend. Having that event on campus brings hundreds of players, fans, parents, brothers, sisters, etc to the campus. If just by being there, somebody falls in love with the campus/city and they end up gaining 2 or 3 students that come to the university and stay 4 years for a degree, they will make 10-fold more money off those few students than they will ever make from the tournament. Hosting the games is merely cheap advertising (the people pay to be there!!) for the school. Some campus execs simply see a bigger picture than others while some, (Vanderbilt) maybe just don't need the money.

And absolutely shredded that all-star game like it was against JV. His McKenzie coach or not, that kid is right there with Ty Simpson to me. Maybe not quite the long ball thrower, but every bit as smart on field & tougher because he plays both ways. Where is he playing college ball at?

Yes they sure were. One of those teams that could have won a gold ball in a few classes.

I thought MASE got bumped to 2A???

Not a fan at all. It will essentially legalize what happens in Memphis and other places all the time. Rural counties that are divided up among multiple high schools, will start the age old "consolidation for the betterment" box preaching when every athlete in the county lands at one school because they can make a few bucks. Hate it every way.

It just don't get as much press in rural schools. Lots of country kids that live way out where, takes them just long to get to this school as it does that school. One school has a sports tradition of winning more than the other, which one would you go to if sports were king to you? It happens all the time. Such as here, you can go to any school in this county & have 4 to choose from. When I was in high school here in the 90's, there were 6 high school options. Three girls, two of which very good basketball players came completely across the county to go to school. While they were a bit shamed in their own very small hometown high school community for doing so, they were welcomed open arms in their new school and excited about playing on a larger stage with more educational opportunites. This has happened forever.

Absolutely.

This is high school sports at every level right now.

I'm a Lion fan to the core. But honestly here, McKenzie beat Huntingdon by bunches. Huntingdon beat Dresden by bunches. The Dresden teams are far out of sync as is. It's better to be hot at playoff time than now, the girls proved last year they can do it & only lost one to graduation I believe?? But, the rather unorganized play makes it hard to see them as State potential right now. They are going to have to learn how to break a press. Every single game it's like they've never seen one before with coach in meltdown on the sideline. Gleason, Greenfield, Dresden; all neighbors, always play each other like its their last game on earth with fans packing the stands. Can't wait to see how DHS responds to those games, get it together and start marching toward the playoffs. They will be scary good if it all falls together.

Yes, my apologies, I meant Madison. I had just read something about Micah & typed the wrong on in.

Westview #1 by a mile if they stay healthy. Gibson County losing Micah Hart is going to hurt. She was very, very good. That leads me back to Westview, right now, all is good. But afraid Westview is going to see just how much they miss Angelina Barr down the stretch and in the playoffs. She never got the press she deserved on that team. WV is still star studded, no doubt about that. If they stay healthy, the title is theirs to lose.

They were definitely a tough scrappy bunch last year. Lot of fun to watch. Just for conversation because I'm still trying to catch up on whos who in basketball, not trying to be smart here, with Alana graduating last year, who/what is left to call Gleason at the top?

Go McKenzie Rebels & Coach Cobb! Bring that gold ball back to NW Tennessee!!

The Dresden kids played their hearts out from start to finish. The coaches worked as hard as ever too. FC was just too much. Very, very proud of the Lions. FC looked like a college team compared to the Lions, but there was never any backing down. They gave all they had and that's all any one could ask for. Good luck and safe travels to FC coming to McKenzie.

Have seen both teams play last 2 years. Definitely some differences in both teams from their year prior. One game a year doesn't define a team, but it's what I've seen, McKenzie is way out in front in coaching and discipline. FC team loaded with size, talent and athletes front to back and side to side. To be honest, they are a VERY impressive looking group of kids, that looks like they have the #1 ranking & don't have to be championship hungry. The school band starts playing when the play comes in from the sideline & stops with the refs whistle every single down of an opposing teams offensive play. Not the parents or fans supporting the team, not spirted student body, the full on band playing. Pure non-sportsmanlike bush league. There's an adult behind that somewhere. Unbelievable. McKenzie doesn't need that side show, talent everywhere as well, not as sizable as FC, plays like a well-oiled machine with a playoff ready mindset and showed it at the season opening Jamboree when they absolutely bludgeoned a 5-6A team from Kentucky. The 3-4 hour travel is hard on a team and the Rebels have home field. These are two heavy weight teams and should be a great game, hope everyone stays healthy and has safe travels. McKenzie by 2 or 3 td's.

Then where did I get the 21st? Is that when the schedules come out after everyone has has their say in region/district changes?

Monday the 21st

No doubt about it. Well said.

Yep, yep, yep. That's exactly right. Mr Football nominations, fan numbers, booster money, etc, etc, etc, it all comes down to one thing. Winning. High school, college, everywhere. Congrats to all the young men of the list and many more that were close. Keep showing them on the field you should have been on the list.