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Tennessee Rush now has a full roster for the 11u/6th grade team that went to AAU Nationals last year, and look forward to getting started on this year. However, we are still in need of ONE post player (although we might take two players if one of them is a good post player) for the 12u/7th Grade team. We are also in need of ONE post player for the 9u/4th Grade team. We practice is Livingston and they will probably be on Tuesday and Thursday. We plan on playing in D1 AAU Basketball (substate and state as well as nationals if qualified). We plan on being very competitive in these age groups and the only thing keeping us from being one of the VERY BEST is a post player in the 9s and 12s age groups. Anyone that is interested in taking these positions should contact me IMMEDIATELY!! We are also having a 14u/Freshman team so any freshman that would like to tryout needs to contact me immediately as well as we will begin playing very soon. Thanks alot and GO RUSH IN 2010!!! Matt Ferrell 931-510-8835 mgferrell21@tntech.edu

I am not sure what part of middle Tennessee that you are in, but there is freshman AAU team that going to be based out of the Jackson Co./Baxter, TN area. This is the Tennessee Rush AAU Freshman team. We would love to have your daughter come to tryouts. Please send us any info on her and let us know if you are interested. Contact Matt Ferrell at mgferrell21@tntech.edu or (931)510-8835. GO RUSH IN 2010!!!!

I can only speak for our team, TENNESSEE RUSH, but we do not charge players an upfront fee at all. They are required to do one fundraiser to get the year started but as far as parents paying upfront, that is not required. That being said, we are not a PREMIER organization like that of Tennessee Team Pride, etc, but we do have EVERY kid from our two teams last year starting on their 8th grade teams (as 6th and 7th graders) so that was a big accomplishment for us because we are more interested in improving every player than we are winning a national tournament, etc. We practice 2 times a week, no matter what, and play about 10 weekends from March until June. We are still looking for 3 or 4 more seventh graders if anyone is interested, we are based out of the Livingston, Tennessee area. Come try Tennessee Rush and you just might be pleasantly surprised. mgferrell21@tntech.edu or call me at 931-510-8835. GO RUSH IN 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We had a great turnout today at all the tryouts. It looks like we are going to be very competitive at the state level (and possibly at the national level) in ALL age groups, but we are still looking to fill a couple of positions. The following teams are in need of players: 7th Grade (12u): Needs a Point Gaurd and A Post Player 4th Grade (9u): Needs another Post Player Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in trying out because these spots will be filled as soon as possible. Matt Ferrell mgferrell21@tntech.edu 931-510-8835

Just so everyone knows we are having tryouts for the 9u Tennessee Rush AAU Basketball Team at Hilham Elementary (in Overton Co.) Sat. 2/27/2010 from 3-4:30. Also, the 12u (7th grade) Tennessee Rush basketball team will be trying out from 1-2:45 on Saturday at Hilham Elementary School in Overton county. We still have several spots opened on the 7th grade team and if anyone is interested in attending tryouts, please let me know. You can reach me at 931-510-8835 or mgferrell21@tntech.edu.

As far as the obscenities go, etc...We often play Christian schools from the other district in our high school region tournament...Also, entirely too often those Christian schools are no more sportsmanlike, etc then any other team that we play throughout the year. In fact, there were several times in the past few years that we were cussed, etc by the opposing "christian" schools student sections...Just gonna give you some advice..lay off your almight better than thou attitude as far as your team and child goes. They do wrong also, and if you think by sending them to a Christian school you are somehow sheltering them from the real world out there..you are sadly mistaken... And yes it may be true that the multiplier is not for recruiting PERSAY....but it is there due to the fact that I can drive my kid from an hour away to this "private" school if I so choose...Not exactly recruiting but you get the picture..

This is hilarious and shows how out of touch with reality that you are...2 to 3 kids on every team play with Pride..hmmm?? Not around here. Shows the true arrogance that you have, thinking that you have that big of an outreach haha. MTCS must teach the great and mighty art of gloating too based on this and what you said at the beginning of this forum about how great and almighty they are...

Pickett Co. beat Clay Co. by about 10 or 12 points with Terrah Garner leading the way for Pickett Co. with 37 points. Rachel Burnette also played extremely well and kept Clay Co. in it by scoring 23. Below are the all tournament selections that I know. There are some I missed but here are some of them: Terrah Garner-Pickett Co. Sarah Ogletree-Clay Co. Kayla Kymes- Clay Co. Molly Heady-Clarkrange Emily Bowman-Jackson Co. Victoria Stafford- Jackson Co. MVP- LAKEN LEONARD- Jackson Co. Congrats to all those that were awarded tonight and to Jackson County in the District 7A Championship. Good luck to 7A in the Region Tournament.

Congrats to Brad Jackson. This is a kid that has had to work extremely hard for everything he has got. Congrats on MVP Brad!!

You are saying they dont recruit??? MTCS has been terrible in basketball for the most part of the schools existance and now for the last 2-3 years they have become not just a little good, but outstanding on the court. They couldnt compete at a single A level but now compete at the large division. Come on now, whats up with that? I would bet that most girls that play ball there live further away from MTCS than most going to country schools. How many schools do you pass up to take your child there? The coach there is a very good coach but alot of kids that play there play for Pride. You know its true, just look at your screen name. Don't act so innocent and treat the rest of the coacht readers to be so ignorant. I honestly could not have said this better myself. This is exactly what I am saying too, if they went to the school closest to them (as almost all people do that play on A county schools), my bet is that MTCS would not have a whole lot of those players. As I said, it was not long ago that we came to MTCS and run them outta the gym on their home floor in the James C. Haile State Tournament. Just saying that you don't go from being THAT BAD to being THAT GOOD that quickly. Do they have good players? OF COURSE!! Do they have a good coach? OF COURSE!!! Do they have several Pride players (coincidentally?)? OF COURSE!!!!! Just saying that the facts are there and they cannot be covered up, especially not when the person defending them is PRIDEMOM!! I mean come on now??

First, let me clear some things up really quickly. First of all, I am not making excuses because we did not ever play MTCS. Secondly, in the past when we have, we have won and in some cases won BIG. No excuses, they are an extremely good team. I am not even meaning to belittle them for recruiting (if they did, which I don't know for sure they did). They are a private school so they can do that. Anyways, what I am saying is even though their class sizes may be the same as a 1A school, they still should not really be 1A because they have the option to go find talent, 1A schools do not have that option. That is all I am saying. I am simply saying they cannot really be compared to 1A schools from small counties like most 1A schools are. If you would like to think that you belong in a 1A bracket with these schools, feel free to, but that is simply not the case. Anyways, congrats to MTCS on a great season.

Ezell girls win by 3. Led by a 6th grade point guard. Ezell Harding beat Celina by 3 in the TNT State Finals...dunno about tonight but when I seen Ezell play #15 was the leader of the team..the PG was pretty good too but 15 is the one that done the damage. Heard it was that way again (dunno if that is the one that is 6th or not). Anyways Congrats TO EZELL HARDING!!!!!!! The following are the 2A selections that I know of: All Tournament Team includes: Ashley Owens (Celina), Marley Sells (Rickman), Kalona Meadows (Celina), Jayna Ferrell (Pickett County), Alesha Copas (Celina) Honorable Mention: Olivia Copeland (Celina), Ruby Richards (Celina)

Not one player might have been recruited but the bottom line is still this..They all go to a private school (which in my personal opinion should be all playing DII basketball). If no one else can get kids from whereever their parents want to drive them from, then they shouldn't be allowed to either. I believe that these kids would most all be zoned away from MTCS IF they were zoned to the schools they should be playing for. Now, even though they may not be recruited in, that is a very populated area in which parents can drive thier kids wherever they want if they go private instead of being zoned (aka what MTCS does). That is still not to take anything away from their team as I said before, they are very, very good, but it is still not like this is a normal 1A team like the ones statewide that have to compete with what they are given. IF it was, it would be a different story. Anyways, CONGRATS to MTCS on the win against Livingston. They were both very good teams and that is a huge win for any program. As far as the 2A State Championship, Ezell Harding vs. Celina, I am going to go with Celina if they play to their capability. EH is also a really good team as well, as they have a couple really good players and beat a good Rickman team to get there. Good luck to both!

Congrats to DeKalb County!!

First, I don't think I would be talking my team up like this if I was about to play an undefeated and VERY TALENTED LMS team. I think this is going to be a good game...Also, making it sound like this is a country school that just soo happened to be this talented when that is NOT EVEN CLOSE TO THE CASE... I am almost 100% sure that the TEAM PRIDE machine is at the heart of the MTCS team (aka the recruiting machine has been in full motion). Now, if this was a "small school" team like there has been in the past that come through and just dominated everyone it would be a little bit different, but let's be honest with everyone out there, it is not. They may be a small school, but they are a small school with a recruiting arm that reaches far outside of their "small school" area. Now, that is not to take ANYTHING AT ALL away from MTCS because they are a VERY, VERY talented, good team..maybe even a great team, but I think that was a little bit misleading. Great team but just wanted to get everything straightened out there. Good luck to both these teams in the TNT Friday night..should be a good one!

Got some scores for 1a and 2a...Ezell Harding over Pickett County by 10-15 pts, Rickman over Thurman Francis in a blowout game, Celina over Allons by 10...Rickman vs. Ezell Harding in semi's on one side, Celina vs. not sure on the other.. 1a Hilham lost to Lobelville by 5. only score I know for sure on that side.. 2A boys Thurman Francis beat Pickett County big, Rickman boys won, Allons boys won...Allons plays Holy Rosary to see who plays Rickman in the semi's..Thurman Francis looks poised to come out of the bottom side of the bracket, and most likely will win it! Good luck to all those in TNT!!

Tennessee Rush may also be interested in having a 15u/10th grade team. If you have a sophomore that may be interested please let us know. mgferrell21@tntech.edu, or call matt ferrell at 931-510-8835. GO RUSH IN 2010!!

Just a reminder that the Tennessee Rush program is still looking for players for the 12u/7th grade girls team, and the 9u/4th grade girls team. Read the above post and contact Matt Ferrell at 931-510-8835 or email me at mgferrell21@tntech.edu..

Anyone know anything about Ezell Harding??

We are looking forward to another exciting year of AAU basketball in the Upper CUmberland. We are looking to expand the Tennessee Rush program this year to include 3 girl's team and 1 boy's team. One team will be the 12u girls (7th grade) and one team will be the 9u girls (4th grade). The boys team will be a 13u-6/7th grade. We are also looking to have an 11u Girl's team but currently are not needing players for this team due to the majority of the players returning to RUSH in 2010!!! We are wanting to get a rough estimate of the number of players that might be wanting to tryout for each of these individual teams. If you are wanting to tryout for 12u-7th grade girls 9u-4th grade girls or 13u-6/7th grade boys please contact MATT FERRELL at mgferrell21@tntech.edu, or 931-510-8835. Practices will be help more than likely in the Livingston, TN area. We would love to have your kids tryout for Tennessee Rush Basketball in 2010!!!! We are also looking for sponsors for the 2010 season, so if you know of any company that might be willing to sponsor please contact me at mgferrell21@tntech.edu, or 931-510-8835. The website for the Tennessee Rush Girl's is http://www.tennesseerush.webs.com The website for the Tennessee Rush Boy's is http://www.tnrushboys.webs.com GO RUSH IN 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the Class 2-A Bracket for both boys and girls for the TNT State Tournament in Springfield. Boys 2-A Bracket Top side of the bracket: Bruceton Vs. Rickman 2/6 12:10 at Springfield Middle School Scotts Hill gets a first round bye Allons vs. Celina 2/5 4:30 at the Center- Winner of this game plays Scotts Hill Bottom side of the bracket: Pickett County gets a bye in the first round Thurman Francis vs. St. Mary's 2/5 2:10 at the Center Ezell Harding gets a first round bye Trinity Christian vs. Merol Hyde 2/12 9:00 at Springfield Middle School- winner of this game plays Ezell Harding. TNT State Tournament Class 2-A Girl's Bracket Top side of the bracket: Allons vs. Celina 2/5 3:20 at the Center Dyer gets a bye in the first round and plays the winner of the following game Merol Hyde vs. Trinity Christian 2/12 7:50 at the Center Bottom side of the bracket: Rickman gets a first round bye and plays the winner of the following game St. Mary's vs. Francis Thurman 2/5 1:00 at the Center Pickett County vs. Ezell Harding 2/6 11:00 at Springfield Middle School These are the full brackets for Class 2-A at Springfield, TN. Good luck to all the teams involved in this years TNT STATE TOURNAMENT!

Congrats to both Team Pride and TN Elite for making top 5 in the nation. That is a huge accomplishment and makes Tennessee look really good with teams this competitive at the national level.

Hey I was just wondering if anyone can get me some info on this. I seen in the 10u Girl's division where the Lady diamonds won a Super Regional and therefore qualified for AAU Nat'ls. From what I seen on their website, it also says they won the AAU Sub-state for East TN, but for some reason they were not in the AAU State Tournament at Memphis last weekend. Can anyone get me some info on why they were not in the state tourney because I thought you would still have to play in that to get your National bid??

La does lose alot of talent in those 5 seniors, but they are still going to be the class of the field in 7aa. may even be the class of 4aa but at least they will be second I think. TJ Smith has got to step up and be a big time leader, but he can do it if he will. He has to keep his confidence and he will be an excellent leader. Also coming back they have Kendall melton, brad jackson, both of which will be good, and they have a pretty good group of sophs, like Kailen Melton coming up. They also have at least one freshman that will be a soph that will get a ton of PT in Dakota Key, although that may be the only freshman that gets a tremendous amount of playing time. All in all, by post season next year LA boys will be a region finals team probably, and who knows may make as deep a run as they have the past two years, maybe even deeper. ALot of faith in Coach Melton, these boys will work their butts off this year to make sure they are in tip top form come next season. Good luck to the CAts next year..

No..they are not taking all the teams from both the middle sub states. May have taken all the 13u teams but I know they took 3 10u teams from north middle, and they took 4 sub state teams from north middle for 11u, and only took 2 from the south middle 11u tournament...even though there were more teams in the south middle substate than there was in the north middle (does not seem right, but that is in the by-laws). AAU is in decline because it costs too much money for one thing. And..if someone is going to spend that kind of money they want to have a fair shake at winning in these big substate and state tournaments at least, and as of late the big teams have dominated all these areas. Big teams that are getting shoe sponsorships and everything else is one major reason for the decline of AAU. There are 3 11u Lady Trotters teams and one qualified from East and one qualified from South Middle (assuming that they beat the home team..TN STARS). TROTTERS, Pride, A-Game etc is alot of the reason for this decline unfortunately because they are getting so big that the small teams and organizations are having a really hard time competing. This is a shame. The big teams have always been really hard to compete with as small organizations but usually they would only have one team per age group and now these teams are bringing 2 to 3 teams per age group, and trying to qualify all their teams for state and nationals, which does leave the small teams out in the cold much too often. Trotters, A-Game, Memphis, and PRIDE are going to be the downfall of state AAU unfortunately from the looks of things, but got to give them credit they have established dominant organizations and until some of them stumble and alienate people (not to say this will happen, but for small teams this is definitely a hope) it will be really hard to compete with them for a state tournament. Good luck to everyone from the South middle substate, Represent us well!!