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Riverdale- Anastasia Hayes- multiple D1 offers. Alexis Whittington will be D1, no question about it, even though she is only a sophomore. Brine Alexander--again only a sophomore but will be a D1. Those are three from Riverdale...I am sure there could be one I am missing. I have not personally watched Stewarts Creek play, but I know that Oakland and Blackman both had 3 d1 talents on each of those teams. If you need proof of that please go to the Tennessean website and type in the search bar early signing period girls basketball. Does not take much effort on your part really. BC may have a d1 also, I am not saying they don't. But, in all fairness you said they had three girls that could start anywhere, I am guessing anywhere included Blackman, Oakland, Riverdale, and SC. Maybe I was wrong about that assumption. Also, even though I do not know of a d1 for sure on SC because I have not watched them, I do know they beat all of the above teams this year at one point or another. How many times has Cumberland beat any of those teams (0 for 2)? Just making a general statement there. The one thing that I would say is...until someone dethrones the Mboro schools, no one can really say much. What do they have now? 5,6 in a row or something like that??

We will see in about 3 days and change.

I think you are saying that BC has 3 division 1 level players....because I am certain thats what Riverdale and Blackman have....if they have 3 players that could start on any team in the state you are saying they are better than at least some of the D1s that those two schools start, correct?

I have seen Cumberland and riverdale. And there is no comparison at all. Cumberland is good. Riverdale is more than good. As I said before they are better than Blackman as far as depth. Cumberland didn't even compete with Blackman at Blackman. It's pretty easy to get on here and say whatever ya want, but the bottom line is Saturday night the score won't lie. It won't be close at riverdale. And I know nothing about BC so that one might be close but I would be utterly shocked if it is.

Baylor..a team that lost to livingston academy at the beginning of the year when they weren't playing very good if I remember correctly. I have personally seen William Blount a few times and they're above average but I wouldn't say they're just all world for AAA. They aren't even in the same conversation as those teams from the Boro. Whoever has to go to boro gets beat 25. Whoever plays at home gets beat 15 by the mboro school. You heard it here first. I'm not from the boro. Have no association with that district whatsoever. Just a realist. I would love to see CCHS carry the banner for the upper Cumberland area in AAA but it's not gonna happen. Riverdale and Stewart's creek have way too many horses.

I have no dog in this race...but reality is about to hit you like a 2x4 in the side of the head. Cumberland County got swept by Blackman and got absolutely railed in their last meeting. By some accounts, Riverdale (although they were young) was probably a better team than Blackman this year. I believe that to be true, but youth sometimes takes time to show their actual ability and that may be why it took them all year to finally beat Blackman. Stewart's Creek played with everyone and if I am not mistaken beat Blackman and Riverdale this year. Again, CC got railed by Blackman so....I am not sure what you are basing your opinion off of, but I would be willing to bet Riverdale is in the finals of the state tournament and I won't be at all surprised to see Stewarts Creek on the opposite bench.

Surely that isn't a realistic statement.

Tennessee Rush basketball will be fielding teams in all three of these high school age groups again this year. The 9th grade team looks to be much stronger, the 10th grade team is coming off of a Division 2 AAU State Championship, USJN Greensboro Exposure tournament runner up, and competes at the highest level in exposure tournaments in the Southeast. The 11th grade team will also be competing in some exposure tournaments this year, and they are coming off of a D1 AAU State final 4 appearance in 2015, as well as a D2 AAU State Championship in 2014. IF you have an athlete that is interested in trying out for Tennessee Rush basketball, please contact Matt Ferrell at tennesseerush@gmail.com or at 931-510-8835.

I will go one step further and say Riverdale over Stewarts Creek in the finals. One of them will have to beat a very good Morristown West team in Murfreesboro, but I think that will happen.

No one has to win AT clarkrange....Clarkrange has to travel to Watertown. PC should walk through Gordonsville but the second game will be a tough one (for all the marbles and a substate appearance). Jackson and RBS has the potential to be a good game, but I think Jackson wins it by double digits in the end. Clarkrange/Watertown and Clay/Goodpasture could go either way. Clay could get past Goodpasture. They have the talent, never know this time of the year. Clarkrange and Watertown has the best good game potential I think, as I feel like Watertown will want it fast paced, but Clarkrange will want it any thing BUT FAST PACED! Could be a good one.

Jackson county was double a for several years. Their girls won 4 straight state championships from 2000-2003. LA won the state on both sides of that (99,04). As far as LA being out of the region for the first time in quite awhile, I would say that this district is better from 1-about 6 then it has been in awhile.

AAU State Qualifier Tournament April 15-17, 2016 Livingston, TN and area gyms Hosted by Tennessee Rush Basketball If you are interested in qualifying for the AAU State Tournament, please consider coming to Livingston and attending our qualifier. For more information, or to sign up, please contact Matt Ferrell at 931-510-8835 or email me at tennesseerush@gmail.com. You can also get information on our website at www.tennesseerush.webs.com. MF

BUMP!

What would be wrong with a rating system? Honest Question. What would be wrong with a rating system in which the refs are rated after a given period of time (say a month, etc)? This is my thinking. I know all refs are going to get games, whether they are good or not, but my thinking is that if a ref has consistently bad reviews as an average across all the coaches reviewed then don't give them big games, close games, etc. For example, if Blackmon and Riverdale are playing each other...they should have the best officials that the area has to provide. Why? Because they are the top ranked teams and you know it is going to be a competitive, and intense game most of the time. Do the same with games like that across the state. If you have someone who is 0-23 and they are playing someone who is 20-4, DO NOT give that game the best officials as it should not be a good game (9 times out of 10). Will that eliminate all the problems? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Will there still be close games that probably have a less than great official? Absolutely, but that would not be the case nearly as often. In my opinion, there is nothing worse than coming into a game where the district lead is up for grabs...and then the crew comes in and its two officials that everyone knows not to be the best, and one official that is going to have to "carry the load" so to speak. I also think that the pay should be raised to $120 a night. That is $40 an hour. A good amount to be paid, but there is no amount of money that would make me want to be an official so maybe that would incentivize some. HOWEVER, if they raise the pay like they need to, then they must also raise the standard, implement some kind of rating system that officials would also agree on. (I think most officials would be okay with a system where coaches critiqued and then the average of everyone's was taken into account before assigning games). Let them know they will still get games, and that the coaches do not effect that. I think it would work, but someone may have an idea thats better??

Actually, you can't do that anymore. That used to be the case but they can no longer be X'd Out.

It is ridiculous to think that all you gotta do to play at Tech is be tall and from the Upper Cumberland LOL....He finishes more toward the rim because he cannot play on the perimeter. One could argue that Blevins would finish more around the rim if he played in there more, which he probably should BUT that is another debate for another day. In order for Endicott to even be considered, and yeah I said CONSIDERED, to be a prospect for Tech he would have to improve his strength with the ball, his shooting from 15' out, and his ball handling would have to improve TREMENDOUSLY! And that is just to be considered in my opinion. That isn't to say that he can't play somewhere at the college level, but not D1...not at this point.

Endicott could go to Tech!?? I hope you mean as a student because I can promise you it won't be as a basketball player. You just took over the most ridiculous comment so far in this thread. And that's quite a statement.

Zack castle was the district 7A MVP his senior year(class of 2012 from Monterey). They were last in the district and actually didn't win a district game. They were also eliminated in the play in game. He averaged around 25 points per game I would say and they competed in every district game, but didn't win one. I say that to say that it happens. Not often, but occasionally. There are more examples I could give, but one will suffice just to say it happens. That being said, typically there are 3/4 players per district that you could make the argument for. But let's say all the players are in a "fantasy draft," who do you take first?? Maybe one of those guys that have been mentioned? A guard? Or do you take the only versatile 6'8 player that can play inside and out? I have no dog in this race whatsoever, but have seen all these teams play and I know which one I would select first. And I am betting most coaches will agree come Friday morning.

Unless 8AA does it differently then anyone else, in the case of a head to head for, a coin flip determines the winner. If there is a 3 way tie (which is still possible I would say with the mess this district is in), then it's a 3 way coin flip. Odd man out would be bottom seed, etc.

Blevins is the best player in this district. He's the MVP. I don't even think it should be in question. Just like Coach Sanders is the COY. No question. Why is Blevins the MVP? 2 reasons IMO. #1 what do opposing coaches do to stop him or Slow him down? How much focus does he get in every teams game plan? How much do other teams have to focus on his teammates?----and this isn't a dig on his teammates at all. He has several good role player teammates but no one else that can just take over and win a game like he can. #2 by other people on this threads admission there are 4 people at Upperman averaging a double double. There are also at least two people at smith county that are being mentioned in the MVP talk. How many others would be mentioned as first team all district (possibly even 2nd team all district) from York? If the answer is 0 and that team is competing for district wins most nights, then Blevins has to be the MVP right?

I would sure hate to be coaching in this district right now!! Can't be getting much sleep at this point. 1 very good team is not even going to make the region tournament. I mean a very good team. Unbelievable. Gonna be interesting to see how it all shakes out!

In my opinion, it has nothing to do with what they want, and everything to do with what you want. If you want your team to get better, go out and find teams to play that are going to make that happen...but just my opinion again. Everyone does their own thing and most everyone can justify whatever their reasons are.

Smith over LA, Upperman over Magnet, Macon over Dekalb, York over Cannon Smith/LA would really make a mess of this district if LA could pull off the win at Carthage. I would NOT want to be in the 4/5 matchup or the 3/6 matchup in this district...2 very good teams will not be playing in the semi finals!

I agree 100% that PC does not overlook JC and CR. Both of those teams are good and very well coached. Any given night they could upset anyone. I disagree 100% about a AAA not playing a A school. Play the best teams there are around if you want to get better...I don't care if they are private, A, AA, AAA, or whatever else they might be. Play the best if you have a chance to compete and make yourself better...just my opinion.

You are right. Sometimes it doesn't last long...and sometimes it does. Be careful what you wish for. PC's "run" might not have much of a drought for awhile. Just be careful what you wish for. I would be willing to bet that White County and Pickett County won't be on each others schedule next year....anyone wanna take my money?