sunshine01

Who was the best player then? You are making no sense at all. By the way, I am not a Pickett County fan.

These Clay County fans are absolutley stupid to think that neither Wright or Laws would start for them. These two have separated themselves this season as the two best players in the district. Both draw the opposing team's best defender and have continued to produce each game. It's just funny that if you put a Clay County jersey on Wright, then Dawg05 and Devilfanatic would be pushing Wright for Mr. Basketball. I have news for you two: the best player doesn't have to play for the best team. And another thing: if you traded Wright for any one of Clay County's three guards, then Pickett County would be 6-6 in the district. Also, if you did the same with Laws and a Clay guard, then Clarkrange would have won two district games this season.

You would have to be crazy to say that Jacob Wright isn't the best player in the district. I agree with you in that a Clay County player will be the MVP(probably Godwin), but that is only because the award usually goes to an upperclassman who is on the winning team. Wright is, however, easily the best player in the district. He averages more points than anyone else and controls the flow of the game better than anyone around. He draws the other team's best defender each night as he is always the focal point of the other team's defense. You'd be kidding yourself to say that you wouldn't trade one of your guards for Wright. And by the way, I think Laws is the second best player in the district. In other words, there are other players who compare to the "Fab Five" in Celina.

You maight be right, he may have made the best decision for himself. I just didn't understand why he never even gave Pearl a chance. I wish him nothing but the best as long as he isn't wearing a Memphis uniform next season! No, I am kidding. And as for Pearl not releasing Smith and releasing Dotson, he just didn't feel like Dotson had the ability to play at the SEC level and did what was best for both sides. He didn't release Smith because he knew Smith wanted to go somewhere in this region, and didn't want to have to face him so soon. At least now he will have a few athletes who can match up with him.

I don't understand why Tyler Smith never gave Pearl a chance. He would have fit into the new system at Tennessee a lot better than he did in Peterson's system. There is no doubt in my mind that Smith would be starting this season at the small forward position and would be flourishing under Pearl. It is ironic that when Smith signed with Tennessee he said he was "going to turn the program around." He missed out on a chance to do just this.

Yes, Devilfanatic who is a Clay County fan for two years and two years only, I do know what the word "contradicting" means. I used this word to describe you because of how you complain when the Pickett fans blamed the refs the other night and then you casually throw in the age comment. You didn't come out and say that is why Pickett County was better last year, but you definitely meant it. You mak excuses just like everyone else on here does. You know this group of Clay County players are actually good sports and seem to be good kids but fans like you make us all want to root against them everytime they step on the floor. Why don't you quit running your mouth and maybe more of us would be supportive of your adopted team. And by the way, I am not from Pickett County but I do keep up with them and watched last year's group play a lot of games over the years. I now know it to be a fact that only one player was 19 last season. You can check the birth certificates if you want, but even then you will claim someone has changed them.

I may be wrong, but if i remember correctly last year Pickett County only had one player who was 19. Besides, it is not illegal to stay back a year in elementary school as kids all over do this. It sounds like you are making an excuse for Pickett County beating Clay County last year and for your soon-to-be beloved Blue Devils being inferior to Pickett County the next couple of years. What is the difference in this and the Pickett County fans talking about the poor officiating the other night? It seems to me that you are once again contradicting yourself.

I think it will be Clay County and Pickett County in the championship game. This should be another good one because I think Pickett is continuing to improve while Clay County hasn't really gotten any better as the season has progressed. I still think Clay has too much firepower but Pickett does have a chance to win if they can keep it a halfcourt game. The consolation game will be Jackson County over Clarkrange. I would like to see the Buffaloes win but it is hard to beat a quality team with only three players who can score.

I watched both championship games last year between Pickett and Clay and I am not sure what you mean by poor play. Are you referring to the missed free throws at the end of the game by your point guard? Or was it letting Bailey drive the length of the floor virtually unguarded? That was poor coaching by not putting more pressure on him than Clay County did. And one more thing. Pickett would have also won the district championship game if they had not had some poor play down the stretch so don't make excuses. You fuss on everyone else when they do.

Come on, Dawg05, quit being so negative toward Pickett County. They supposedly closed the entire school system down until Monday so I doubt the adminstration would have been happy if the basketball teams proceeded to play during this time. Besides, at least they are going to make the game up later on. It's not like they backed out of the game. And another thing: all we heard about when Clay County lost the first time to Friendship and then to Unaka was how things would have been different if Walden had been playing. Don't get on here and make excuses for your "Dawgs" if you are going to attack other schools' fans when they do the same. Open your eyes and realize there are other schools besides Clay County. And let's all thank the Lord for that!

Jackson County has the talent and outside shooting to hang with Clay County but I don't believe they can beat them at Clay. But Jackson County could pull this one out if Clay County is just "sizing them up" like they did against Friendship (ha,ha).

This should be an entertaining game between two very good teams. I see LA pulling away late with their depth and superior athleticism. I'll take the Cats by 8.

Byars was heavily recruited out of high school. I believe he was the highest rated player in the state and Rivals had him rated as the 10th best small forward in the country his senior year. Not bad when you consider a few of the names ahead of him: 1)Carmelo Anthony 4)Rashad McCants 5)Kennedy Winston 6)Curtis Sumpter 9)Fransisco Garcia.

I do agree that the Memphis area has more top players than any other area in the state. In fact, this year's Memphis talent ranks up there with any other city in the country. I find it hard to believe, however, that Brandan Wright is the fourth best player in the state. He and Young are 1a and 1b with Chism and Kemp alone on that next tier.

That is a great point. Back in 1990 Pickett County and Clarkrange played in the consolation game of the district tournament. Baxter and Celina were the two best teams in the district that year but Pickett County and Clarkrange upset these two in the region semis on their way to the state championship game, which Pickett County won. There is no way that the third and fourth place teams this year are capable of making runs like that.

I may be wrong, but I believe Mercer was in the same class as Kevin Garnett, Vince Carter, Antwan Jamison, etc. Garnett was the consensus #1 in that class. I do believe that Mercer was right behind him, though. Haislip was more of a sleeper in high school. I believe he may have been a top 100 player but he was still very raw in high school. His unmatched work ethic allowed him to reach his full potential by the end of his junior year in college as evidenced by him being a lottery pick by the Bucks. I really thought he would make it in the pros.

I can't go too far back in the history books either but in the last 15 years or so, three names come to mind: Penny Hardaway, Ron Mercer, Vincent Yarbrough.All three of these players were ranked in the top five or ten in their class depending on the publication.

To ladybulldogfan: Your post was absolutley uncalled for. Dawg05 was not questioning these group of girls' God-given ability, he was questioning their desire to work hard and put out the effort it takes to improve each day. I know who Dawg05 is also, and he is a good guy who gave it all he had while he was on the court. He sacrificed himself for the Celina/Clay County program and I am sure that is why he is so upset with the girls team right now. He wants them to win and it hurts him to see them lose games they are capable of winning. P.S. I'm sure Dawg05 will tell you that he was never the most talented player on the court and was happy with the playing time he got, because he worked hard for it and deserved it. His work ethic and desire to win was a positive influence on the entire team. Every successful team needs a player like Dawg05.

I understand what you are saying and that would probably be the thing to do. I sure would hate to play RBS in an elimination game at the region tournament. However, I don't see Brown or Rogers throwing a game, especially the district championship game. It is kinda like in the NFL at the end of the season when losses actually benefit the teams at the bottom. All the fans and media say they should just throw the game so their team can get a higher draft pick, but in reality the coaches and players are fighting for their jobs and have absolutley no intentions of throwing the games.

I don't necessarily think it is the coach's fault. The Clay County fans are getting all worked up on here after losing to a team that returned four starters from last year's state semifinalist team. Also, let's not foget that Clay County was without their best player. Just because you may finish fourth in the district this season, and yes I do think you will, that doesn't automatically mean that the program is going down to nothing. The number one team in the district, Jackson County, is a team that returns all but one player from a team that won what is traditionally the strongest district in the state in AA. Obviously, Clarkrange is very good again this year as they start four battle-tested seniors and a freshman who may be their best player this season. And the third spot goes to RBS right now. This is the best team RBS has had in quite some time. Also, if you think about it, Clay County is one missed call away from beating a solid Pickett County team, and that too was without Watson. It seems to me the Clay County program is in fine shape, just be patient because the top three teams are extremely talented this year.

So, Devilfanatic, are you saying that Clarkrange and RBS are going to finish first and third or second and forth in the district tournament? I'm going to go with Clarkrange winning this one by around 8. It will be close throughout but Clarkrange will pull away late behind the strong post play of Howard and Phillips.

Thanks TopDawg83. At least one Clay County fan was able to inform us on the game. I thought that Howard and Phillips would be too much for Clay County inside. That doesn't really surprise me about the guards. If Ramsey and Cravens don't step it up then they could be headed for an earlier than usual exit come tournament time. To win in the postseason at any level you must have solid guard play. By the way, Phillips is a really nice player and I feel sorry for those who will have to play against her for three more years.

I was just wondering about some details on this game since the Clay County fans can't get on here and tell us. I guess I will just have to wait until the Clarkrange fans get home. P.S. It doesn't look like Clarkrange was looking over Clay County. It was absolutely crazy to even think that.

This game may not be the talk of CoachT anymore, but I guarantee that Lamar and the Lady Buffaloes know how big this game is. Just because we aren't talking about it on here, that doesn't mean that Clarkrange will overlook Clay County. This is a much bigger game than the Upperman contest so I see Clarkrange pulling away in the second half. It won't be easy since it is in Celina and Watson may be back, but Clarkrange has both superior talent and coaching.

After much thought and deliberation, I make the motion that we crown Clay County High School the District 7A champs for the next four years. It has been stated from a very intelligent and unbiased source (Dawg05) that the Bulldogs are loaded with talent and no one in this district deserves to play on the same court as the almighty "Dawgs". Let's worry about this season first because if I am not mistaken, there is a team in Gainesboro who will be fired up to face a couple of old teammates. I am not saying that Jackson County will beat Clay County, but they definitely have the talent to match up with them and could pull out a victory, especially at home.