little1

Coach Tim Smith of Cumberland County should be a candidate for this honor. He demands the best of his players on and off the court. He has brought at average program all the way to the top in less than two years. He is a great guy, and he always sets a great example for his players. He is very classy, and players respond very well to him. I have never seen a coach get in to practice and drills the way I have seen him do at times. He really knows how to get to his players and fire them up.

You've started another good one Clevelandblueraiderfan. I've just done a little research on CoachT. The combined win loss record for CCHS, McMinn Co, Bradley, CHS and Walker Valley is 109 - 38. Of the 38 losses, 20 were district losses. Take them out and you have an astounding 84% win record. All 5 teams have 20+ wins with the exception of McMinn Co...I wouldn't bet oldest pair of underwear against them ending the season with 20, perhaps more. Yes, WV does have 10 losses; however with the exception of the late season loss to Oak Ridge, WV has not lost a single game by more than 10 points and that was the loss to CCHS at Crossville, a game that was really closer than that. The game at WV was just as close. The point of all this is to emphasise what has happened in 5 AAA this year. It is the best district in the state. Outcomes of games between these 5, this year, were never guaranteed. Any of these teams would win almost any other state of Tennessee district, regular season, championship this year...all 5 are that good. Since there are no guarantees, we do have to play the games. My bet (my best baseball cap) is that CCHS, CHS, McMinn Co., and Bradley will comprise the final 4 in region play. If 10 teams went to the region, WV would be in the final 5. Here's the fact...We have been a part of phenominal occurrence. We have competed in a district that has 5 teams that can play with the best teams this state has to offer. Savor it while it lasts...you'll likely never be a part of anything like this again. Whew...OK, clevelandblueraiderfan, back to your original question. I remember the district championship in Crossville last year. It was the absolute best girls basketball game I've ever seen. I like to think I'd say that even we (CCHS) had come out on the loosing end. It was a classic...a 32 minute battle and it wasn't decided until the buzzer sounded. Two things I know for sure: 1) if we knew the outcome ahead of time, we wouldn't have to play Friday; 2) you don't have to go to Thompson Boling on Sunday to see the best ladies basketball in the state this weekend...go to Bradley this Friday. Picking my Lady Jets in a battle. I wouldn't dare attempt a point spread.

Interesting. There have some excellent strings on Coach T this year. A couple in particular are: "Defense vs. Offense" (started by shs2004; last post on 2/4...in case you dare to visit) and "Why no recognition" (started by utladyvols18; last post on 1/26). What is interesting in the resulting strings is the consistent theme that things like defense is what wins championships and stats such as assists go unnoticed...primarily because fans and observers don't understand the details of the game well enough to even notice when important stats like assists occur. I suspect, jumpincat you fall in this category. Also interesting is that all posts on this string, with the exception of yours have been to speak positively of a young lady's skills and to try to promote to help them get deserved recognition. There is nothing bold to hiding behind the anonymity this site allows you and putting down a 17 year old girl. You are to spineless as Casha is to Miss Tennessee, a legimate contender. Casha is consistent game in and game out. She puts up the stats, but not just the gamour stat (individual points scored), but the stats that display an understanding of the game and the reason it is played...to help your team win games. If I'm choosing players to help me win a state of Tennessee championship, Casha will be on that team.

Yes, johnnyfrank, that is exactly what Miss Basketball should be about. I too am a Casha Foster fan. Unfortunately Casha's style isn't what gets Miss Tennessee voter's attention. Voters tend to favor the glamour stat...individual points scored. Not that Casha's scoring is anything to sneeze at...she has well over 1000. However, it's her team play stats that set her apart from the rest. She has as good a total package as anyone...steals, assists, ball handling, setting up and executing plays, and her amazing rebounding...you didn't mention that she's only 5'4". Yep, her total package and God given sixth sense for the game make her a front runner when choosing the best all around. The catch is that Casha is more interested in helping her team win games (and she does that with uncanny precision) than she is in logging the glamour stat for herself. Unfortunately the voters don't give that reasonable consideration. Carson-Newman may well have landed the best catch in the state this year...and you can bet they know it.

I agree, unfortunately, that the point stat is huge in considering Ms Basketball honors. It is important but there are other stats that are at least equal in my mind. utladyvols18 started a post on assists (see "Why no recognition" thread). It has gotten some good food for thought posts. I obviously have to take issue with your thoughts that Casha Foster is not Miss Tennessee material. She may not put up huge #s for that glamorous stat...points (although she does have over 1,000), but her defense, assists, steals, ballhandling, running the point skills, and, amazingly, rebounds (she's only 5'4") are too good to overlook when you consider Miss Basketball candidates. When you say she doesn't have the credentials, which ones doesn't she have? Teams literally have to make, and adjust game plans around her. She may not draw the attention of those putting up big (glamorous) point stat, but to overrlook Casha's talent when picking Miss Tennessee would be plain wrong. She quietly goes about doing her business, and her business is putting together a total package basketball game, as well as any girl I've seen. Yep, District 5, 3A has some exceptional talent...Pickel and Butler are the real deal...so is Casha.

Right, as ususal, clevelandblueraderfan. They will make it to the regions but perhaps not without a loss as they go through the districts...with Cleveland, Bradley Central, Walker Valley, McMinn Co & my team, Cumberland County all in District 5, 3A, I say it is not only tough, but the toughest district in the state...which could easily result in the Regions being comprised of District 5 only teams. Along those lines, if our district doesn't prepare a team for a run at the state, nothing will. Hood, Elmore, Smith, Brown, Martin, Henry, Dishman, others, and my pick for 3A Ms. Basketball, Casha Foster, are lucky to be teammates and can go as far as they choose. They have to (and maybe do) realize it's in their hands...not their oppositions, but their own. There is no room to take a breather, not in our district. Among our challenges is to learn to put teams away when we have the opportunity (not run up the score, just put them safely away). We tend to let teams hang around too long. No doubt the Blue Raideretts (spelling) will have their ears pinned back tomorrow. We should come out on top, but, as they say, if we knew the outcome beforehand there wouldn't be any need to play the game.

reallybigfan, Don't be so ridiculous. The theme of this thread is to discuss those we think have the potential to be a Ms. Basketball. If everyone were required to follow your criteria, no one would be qualified to make a post; or, worse yet, no one would be qualified to cast a vote at the end of the season. Onward. Casha may not be 6' tall (5' 4", actually), but I stick to my argument. She's the best natural talent in the state. Will she out rebound a 6 footer, no. Will she beat a 6 footer one-on-one, almost every time. How about you...anyone out there that you dare pull for?

Great posts...great points made for our respective choices. This debate has gone on since the existence of the game and will go on just as long...and it's necesary, because the fact of the matter is that this is not an apple and apple comparison...never has been, never will be...hence our debate. Again, these posts are good. There are two primary exceptions I'd take to these posts, though. First is that too much attention is given to the points scored stat. Scoring is the most abused stat in the game. Second, is that Bradley's Pickel carries her team. There's no such thing as a one man (or woman) team..."never has been, never will be". This point is not debatable. That kind of talk is wrong and will do nothing more than alienate a team. Moving on, Division 5, 3A has to be the most competetive division in the the state. (Bring on the debate.) Cleveland, Bradley Central, Walker Valley, McMinn Co. and Cumberland County. Any of these teams could give any team in the state a run for their money...not just on a good night, but on any night. Among these, there is one that has somehow managed to separate themselves, Cumberland County. They've done it as a team. Incredible girls (Hood, Elmore, Martin, Brown, Henry, Smith, Dishman...and the bench goes on, and the one name that we've seen posted on this thread several times...Casha Foster). This year, these girls will go as far as they choose to go. They're destiny is not in the hands of their competition, they're destiny is in their own hands. Whether they do it is up to them. Yes, my vote for Ms Basketball is Casha Foster. I argue that she is the best natural talent of any player in the state. Is she tough enough, I don't know. Is she talented enough, yes, no doubt. Carson Newman has landed the best catch in the state...and they know it.

At 5' 4" Cumberland County's Casha Foster is one of the best kept secrets in Tenn. She's a truly natural point guard with a sixth sense for being in the right place at the right time...check her rebound stats...remember she's just 5' 4". She is unselfish and is able to push her dribble through double/triple teams as well as anyone. Casha's assists are deadly accurate and her defense is mystical. Her ability to penetrate the lane and throw up a layup from places you wouldn't think a shot could be taken from are no less impressive. In my 40+ years of watching bball she may be the best all round natural talent I've seen. If you're down by 1, 2 or 3, inbounding the ball on the far end of the court with <5 seconds left on the clock, you have a surprisingly good chance if the ball is in Casha's hands. Her style of play naturally results in many knocks. If she develops a tolerance for pain from the inevitable knocks her style imposes, she's a legimate Miss Tennessee candidate. Casha is lucky to be surrounded by talented teammates (Hood, Brown, Smith, Martin, Henry, Elmore, Dishman...and the bench goes on) that helps showcase her talent. (Each of these just mentioned have had their times of stepping up, and when they have, they have held their own with the best...from Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, all the way north to Ohio.) Keep your eye on Casha...keep your eye on CCHS. How far these girls go is in their own hands.