limestonecove

Looks like some new Cyclone posters have come out of the woodwork, and have all but given the Cyclones not just the conference and district but regional, and sectional. If Dugger hadnt dodged Science Hill, perhaps the juggernaut could have had some competition at HV. Duggers gawdy record last year did them no good in that regional semifinal game. I thought he would be smarter than to repeat that mistake, but chickening out on SH isnt the way to do that. Anyway, got to see several games at HV this weekend and dont disagree with the cyclone coaches'and fans assessment at this point. 1. Eliz 2. Unicoi 3. Hampton 4. Cloudland 5. Happy Valley (season ending knee injury to point guard hurts) 6. Unaka 7. Johnson County I like Unicoi's new uptempo style but worry about whether they have the depth to play that way with the South Greenes and Elizabethtons of the area. Eliz has more depth but its young. The injury bug could change any one of the top teams seasons in a heartbeat. Lets hope that doesnt happen. I hate it for the HV kid who had the makings of a very good point guard.

Is Elizabethton not playing on friday at HV so the kids can go to Alcoa for the football game? No I dont think so as I understand that Dugger backed out of the Science Hill game weeks ago when there was no way to know Betsy would still be playing football. I will tell you why I think he backed out of playing SH-----in his mind he has nothing to gain by beating them and much to lose if he doesnt. Sparky you have a pipeline to Dugger and have been asked for weeks why he wouldnt play SH-----do ask the Man why and let us know what he says.

The new coach is definitely bringing his own style to UC girls BB. The numbers are down somewhat this year but talent-wise this years team can stand toe to toe with SG, Greeneville and Eliz. Might still be a year away from knocking Eliz from the top spot in the conference but we will be much closer this year than last. The uptempo style should make for exciting games with Eliz as they like to run and gun too, and we all know SG invented that style of play in UET. Funny that the Hampton fan posted about Dugger starting his practices early. Apparently its no secret he operates that way. Problem is in my opinion it backfires as the team can peak too early as they did last year.

Glad to see a few more Blue Devil fans posting. Everybody knows Dugger started his practices way way early. Disguises them as open gyms. And from what I hear the UC transfer isnt too happy with her new choice. Since Dugger didnt recruit her he will not give her any special treatment. One thing he does do is make kids earn their spot. Even the D-1 recruit he got to transfer from HV had to earn her spot----which of course didnt take long. Dugger's peers view him as a very good coach with questionable character.

Didnt Elizabethton play a home playoff game last friday night against Austin East? Did those kids have to miss that game to travel to Murfreesboro for three scrimmages against two weak teams and one decent team? Thats crazy. There are plenty of teams available to test your vaunted cyclones much closer than that and those kids could have supported their football team. If you think the kids didnt mind you are crazy. As I said in an earlier thread, kids talk and word travels fast.... And then they play Tenn High last night in a glorified scrimmage and miss the qtrfinal win game. Wont get to see the semifinal game next week either. Good planning Lin. Dugger is not a team player, unless its his team. And as for the earlier comment sparky about how the dirty laundry should remain inhouse, thats normally very true but in this case the fact that the coach apparently was involved in the decision making process this year............AND last year too..........what a guy.

coachh and sparky, I agree with your assessment----Eliz will be very good this year. When have they NOT been very good over the last ten years? Unicoi will still be young and must adapt to the new coach. Early returns are positive although it will be hard to replace a legend. I look for the Blue Devils to finish second to Eliz in the conference. I think next year will be the year Unicoi can unseat Eliz at the top. Coachh you must be out of the loop. Sparky knows exactly what I'm talking about. And I will leave it at that.

KK: You are forgetting that kids talk, and adults talk more! Its no secret among your rivals what's going on in ETown Sparky. Will they do the right thing? Or repeat last years' "mistake"?

Sparky, cat got your tongue? A week and no response? Must mean there is something to the info. I hear Len may be back out on a limb again over there. Kids talk you know...........

Let her cause locker room problems in Duggers lair. She won't play much varsity this year, but might have a chance next year as Lizzy loses four senior starters.

Aint Ned Hardin's style to recruit. Now Dugger in BB is a different story.

Gibbs is pretty good as the clones found out tonight. They didnt get those multiple state title banners for nuthin. Good season betsy, perhaps peaked a week too early..... Now go Big Blue!

Good season for the Lady Cyclones. First district title in a long time. Beat the defending state champs twice. If they can replace their senior pitcher, they could perhaps join the Devils next year at state. Etown Sparky your daughter really had a great year. She should concentrate on softball her senior year and should get some college looks. She is a good BB player but at the next level her sport is softball for sure. Go Devils. Repeat.

Fish is 60 years old and Doyle has been his sidekick for all 30 years Fish was HC, so Doyle must be pushing 60 too. He should be considered, but he may not want it. The other assistant Parkey may also be considered. She's a former player and has been with Fish for about 8 years. There will be considerable interest in this job from outside too.

Hey hoopy take your recruiting somewhere else. Cara got pretty good coaching this year and in the offseason---her dad I think coached her aau team, and of course Dugger is a pretty good coach himself.

Sparky your little girl is a very fine player, and is tougher than nails. Hope she is okay from last night (other than the hurt of losing). Hopefully our two teams can return the favor to the Greenies next year and make it an all District 1 Regional final.

So proud of the blue devils for how they played the rebels tonight. Unicoi really has something to build on next year. They had the lead early; lost it in the second half, but came back and never quit, and almost pulled it out. Congrats to SG and to Greeneville. Both those teams will make state. As for Eliz., their lightweight nonconference schedule combined with the watered down new conference makeup this year helped do them in. They had not been in a close game all year or so it seemed. Duggers team appeared to panic at times out there tonight. Missed a bunch of layups. Did not get their posts involved at all. Wonder how Fitz will write his farewell article?

sportsfan, good observation about the zebras. the region 2 guys do tend to view things a little different. dare, get your facts straight. Greenville beat betsy by 5 in Nov and Betsy returned the favor in mid dec by 18. Perhaps you have the 30 point difference confused with eliz's other loss-----it was by 30 to mo-west. If unicoi can withstand the pressure SG will put on them at the start of each half, and hang around, who knows what the blue devils might do.

oh come on sparky, of course I know its fritz; but I like fitz better. kinda suits him dont ya think.... hope to get another chance at your cyclones wednesday. upsets do happen......

Blue Devils were lucky to escape last night. CG is a good team though. Honestly, I do not see us beating SG. If we compete like we competed against Eliz on monday, we will be in the game. This is still a very young Blue Devil team. They have gotten better as the year goes on. As for the heckling, I didnt see what the paper was talking about either. Those JC Press guys sometimes see things thru rose colored glasses or in Fitz's case through orange colored glassesI I wonder what Fitz will do next year. His youngest daughter is a senior. His keen interest and coverage in cyclone BB began when he was coaching there, and continued through both his daughters careers. We call him Homer Fitz over here on the Cove. haha Eliz should beat Greeneville although it could be a close game. Since Eliz hasnt played a true close game all year, will they tighten up?? Greeneville could win, but it will take an off game by eliz's guns. Region One will have two teams in the Boro----I see both SG and Eliz making it. Go Blue Devils. Prove me wrong!!! As for Fish retiring, that talk has gone on for a couple years. With his team so young, the next two years should be better, and with both SG and Eliz graduating so many of their studs this year and next, 2011 or better yet,2012 may be the year Fish gets lady devils way down the road When he does retire, I wouldnt be surprised to see Unaka's old coach considered.

No question the cyclones are the class of the conference this year. Unicoi will have to play a near perfect game for 32 minutes just to have a chance to win. I do not like Duggers' methods off the court and have said so; but on the court the guy absolutely knows how to coach. I wouldnt be surprised to see him take over the boys program next year as street is not getting it done. anyway, I was sorry to see cara bowling get hurt last night. Looked like a nasty fall and blow to the head. Hope she's okay although it wouldnt hurt my feelings if Dugger kept her out monday. I still say eliz will win but that gives unicoi a little better chance. Not sure if I would rather play greeneville or south greene in the reg semis. Unicoi likely wont beat either unless they learn that the game is 32 minutes, not 24.

Bullcrap Sparky. Eliz has played in the Doc Maples tourney for many years and its always counted as a tourney. Dugger didnt self report. tssaa caught him. Cheaters always cry mistake when they get caught.

http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Sports/ ... p?ID=72935 Great win Cyclones. Unicoi and Betsy in the Regional Final would be nice and may not be such a pipe dream. At the end of the article it was interesting that the tssaa has slapped coach duggers hands for illegal scheduling. Lynn "Cheatin Heart" Dugger lives on. A Tiger doesnt change his stripes.....

Gawlee Ned, I agree with you two. Thats scary. I just have a question, why does Betsy not claim the loss to greeneville, but yet they claim the win over ChuckyDoak? Both were hall of fame games, if ya count on you ought count both of them, right? I saw where the jc paper has them at 4-1. It oughta be 3-1 or 4-2 dont ya think. Betsy has lost two games, not one, Mr fritts, the unbiased sportswriter (cyclone homer). for the record, I think betsy and the blue devils split in the regular season and both end up with one conference loss. Nobody else in the three rivers can play with them. Much weaker conference this year with Doak and SG gone.

both teams cruised to the finals. Unicoi blasted Knox Bearden by 25 and MoWest hammered Lizziebethton by 30. The cyclones kept it close for awhile but absolutely laid down in the fourth quarter. I am sure the ole ball coach Dugger is not happy with how his team responded to Mo Wests intensity and pressure. Taylor Hall put 30 on them. It will be interesting to see how the Lady Devils hold up to the very talented trojans this evening. Go Blue!

No axe to grind. Its simple Sparky. I have been around long enough to know the history, and know the truth about the VI kid Brunn using a bogus birth certificate to play at Eliz. Dugger is an outstanding coach in many aspects, I will give you that. He has burned some bridges around though. But everybody cheats, right? Keep that nose buried.