luvinsports

According to Chattanooga Times Free Press Bradley was led by Pickel with 35 and Eldredge with 9. Cleveland was led by Davis with 18, Isom 17, Simpson 16, Wells 9. Paper didn't say anything about rebounds but I would say Cleveland doubled them in rebounds. They dominated the boards both offensively and defensively. Both teams had critical turnovers but I would say that Bradley had double turnovers too. Cleveland played good defense but could not stop Pickel. Bradley could not stop the many facets of offense that Cleveland put on the floor, mainly Simpson, and the boards. One stat not kept was the time on the court. Cleveland was able to sub their main players the whole time while Pickel never left the court playing 44 minutes of a hard played game. Bradley and Pickel ran totally out of steam the last overtime. Johnson rarely got a break for the Bearettes either. It was a great game to watch. The momentum would swing one way then the other. Either team could have came out on top in that one. I look for the Raiders to be exhausted tonight but the Jets had a tough comeback also. It might be one sloppy game tonight. Go Blue Raiders!

I am surprised that only one mention for Bo Brown from McMinn in AA. His team is number one and he has been their leader for three years. Excellent player on a winning team. He gets my vote. In AAA I would say that Oglesby from Bradley has great potential when he keeps his game in tact. He may be a year away from this award and must mature alot before then.

Pickel and Her go head to head this week. My decision will be made at that game. Pickel has also made a name in the rich Bradly tradition surpassing such greats as Paige Redman Green, Amy Geren, Jody Adams and close behind Miss Basketball Brittany Jackson. I like her leadership off the court and the inspiring articles I read of the things she does. Since this award is given only for the accomplishments on the court though I would have to give Keke serious consideration. Two other great players whose both from Bradley County whose names should be thrown into the hat are Kerri Simpson and Alison Butler. Simpson's early injury has kept her from accomplishing true stardom this year and Butler would've been a legitimate consideration in AA where she spent three years. I will watch with interest as the two leading candidates battle it out on the floor Thursday. Until then my mind is not made up.

Isn't she a point guard and isn't the girl from Dade going there?

It would be very fitting and nice if Pickel was one of the chosen three. I just read on here that her grandfather is being inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame this year. That is quite an honor for the family. Plus I think Pickel is deserving of this award. I know KeKe, doesn't everybody, and I have heard of Mooney. Don't know one thing about the other girl on here so I can't say. But from looking at the three I would have to go with KeKe or Jackie as the winner. KeKe has the background of playing for a school like Oak Ridge. That would give her a clear advantage with the writers. I would have to go with Mount Juliet as the winner of state. I will be anxious to see how Oak Ridge fairs tonight with Butler's Walker Valley team. I am not ready to count out Cleveland, Bradley or Cumberland from the state. One of these three will make it there.

Three Terrific girls and basketball players reached milestones this weekend. Ironically enough, Simpson and Butler did it head to head. Simpson surpassed the 1000 career point mark in a win over Walker Valley while Butler scored her 2000th in the loss to the Lady Raiders. Pickel also surpassed the 2000th point this weekend either in a win over McMinn or Baylor. All three are from District 5AAA. Thats saying alot for the district and the county. Congratulations to all three girls and good luck in district.

If my memory serves me well, jetradioman, I think I attended games at CCHS when your fans taunted B Jackson and then your coach voted against her for MVP in district. You once again desired a Lady Jet to be better than a Bearette. Miss Jackson went on to be Miss Basketball and a Lady Vol. The Lady Jet went where? I think your crowd sincerely believed that you had a better player. Once again you hold that same belief, which is your right. I didn't have the opportunity nor the desire to drive up the mountain to watch the game this year. However, I did have the opportunity to attend the game in Smiddy Arena. You are correct in your assertation that Foster's team defeated Pickel's. It was the team that won, not Foster. Pickel carries a team on her shoulder and is the victim of many double teams. She faces that each and every game, yet still somehow maintains a 25 or better scoring average, leads her team in rebounds and is the leader. How many doubleteams does Miss Foster face? Yes, she has the assists. She has a team that is loaded with talent to work with. I watched Miss Pickel direct a team to the region championship a couple of years ago, which I do believe is as far as Miss Foster has ever gotten. Now, I am certainly not saying that either should be candidates for Miss Basketball. That is a very coveted award and should be taken seriously. I do think if stats are a consideration, which it most definitely is, that I have ideas of who the candidates may be. Baconbreath seems to think that only one from East Tennessee will be chosen as a finalist. If that should be the case, I certainly don't think Foster or Pickel will be chosen over Miss KeKe. By the way, kudos go out to her for her breaking her school's career scoring record. When Jackson was a junior, there were two candidates from East Tennessee--Gist, along with Jackson. They were from the same district. Several years before that, two East Tennessee young ladies were candidates, both coming from the same high school. Geren and Redman-Green. So, in my Bradley County native heart I hope two from East Tennessee get the nod. Pickel would be a deserving candidate, as she is an All-American, a team leader, and is currently ranked third in the state by sportswriters. One thing though, Mr Radio that we all need to remember is that this honor is chosen from the entire state and you, nor I have seen all the players in the state. Miss Butler from Walker Valley is a very fine player. Miss Smith from McMinn County(sister to Jujuan at UT) is also very good. If Kerri Simpson had not been injured, she could possibly have made the list. And, of course Foster. She is a very fine player, I will admit. But is she one of the three best in the state? I will admit that I have only seen those players who travel to either Walker Valley, Bradley, or Cleveland, so I am in no position to make the call. In your opinion, she is the best. In my opinion, she is not. In reality, neither of our opinions matter one tiny speck. Actually, this thread in itself is quite senseless. I believe it may be a shock to all when names are named. There will be more than one girl named that has never been mentioned on this board. Mark my word.

She did. Her team was behind by 16-1 and she came alive and hit threes and drove to goal getting her defender in foul trouble. Chatt Times had her listed as 34 points, 10 rebounds and it was either 8 steals or assists. She had 8 of something. It was the most amazing performance I have seen this year in high school. By far one of the best players in the state on any level. Jackson didn't look very good that first quarter but by second half looked like a complete player. Would like to see her get a good scholarship. She can help some teams from the perimeter. Just seen Bradley twice this year but looked like a different team than at WVHS and against a quality team. Glasner and Logsdon seem to be doing a fine job with these girls. Young and fun to watch.

Pulelo, Hollifield, Chumney (i think) and Dudley are all sophmores.

Is Bear22 from Cleveland or Bradley? You used the word we in one of your posts about Cleveland. I assumed you were a Bradley Bear and maybe number 22 on some team there.

Walker Valley by the run rule. They haven't had any competition in the district. Only competition has been out of state or AAA

I don't see how anyone can question the fact that Farragut has to be the best coached team in the state. The record speaks for itself. Mike Turner from Walker Valley always has good records but hasn't a state tournament appearance since going from A to AA. Looks like this year may be a possibilty though.

Go Justin!

My favorite all time team has got to be Bradley Central. I have been watching ball around the Bradley/Cleveland area for many many years and I have loved watching this team more than any. So sorry to say that after all these years watching Kellen, Cori, Justin, Wes, Ya-Ya, and Hobbs that I missed their final game. Like many others I assumed that they would be playing Saturday, and missed their final. I hate it so bad for them. They are a great group of kids and players. I love the way they worked as a team together. All I can say is that some college is missing out not taking Hare and Pickel as a twosome. Can't think of any group of guards as good as those two together. I' ll be watching Jusin at Belmont, Kellen at Lee or MTSU(?) Cori at wherever and the others at Bradley next year. I would have to say that this is my favorite all time team. I am sure there are other basketball fans out there that would agree. And if any of you players read this, I am sorry for missing your final outing, and thanks for the pleasure of watching you for six years.

there is no perfect ref

hang in there kellen. everybody is thinking about you

I know that 7AA is a very good district but so is 5AA. 5AA and 5AAA do not get the respect that they so deserve. 5AA has McMinn Central who year after year is a state contender and they also have the new school Walker Valley who at this point have only lost one game. What an awesome team! Talk about no respect, why are they not ranked in the top five. When a team has only one loss they deserve a better ranking than that. I believe that there will be two representatives from 5AA in the state tournament, McMinn Central and either Meigs County or Walker Valley. In 5AAA how can there be a tougher district than to have Cleveland, McMinn and Bradley. I don't think any of them will be in the state because they would have to go through Shelbyville to get there.

Bradley/Cleveland There are always 4-5 thousand people there and between the two schools there are 4 of the top juniors in the state. Cleveland also has a sophomore post that may be D1 if he keeps improving.

You all seem to think that Bradley and Cleveland are the only quality basketball teams in the county. Don't forget about Walker Valley who made it to the semifinals of the region the first year of existence, more than CHS did. You are also forgetting that one of the main freshmen off that state 8th grade team chose WVHS and will be a mainstay for the Mustangs. And while the Bearettes may be talented there is no way that they are more talented than the Lady Raiders. Both teams are young and both have a good bench. Harlow may win in the coaching category, but don't disregard the other two teams. Sometimes talent outweighs the coaching. Walker Valley may be right up there with CHS and BCHS before the season is out. Afterall, the soccer team, volleyball, softball, and golf teams have already beaten the Bearettes and Lady Raiders. Why not basketball too?

Never seen this Kait Macmahan play but I assume that when you are talking about potential you are talking about the underclassmen. In Cleveland we have a player that I am surprised hasn't been acknowledged on here and that is Holly Rogers. Holly is a sophmore who is strong, can rebound, pass, and shoot. She helped as a freshmen to turn the Cleveland program around. There is an 8th grader that will be at Walker Valley next year that may surpass any player that has come out of of Bradley County and that includes Brittany Jackson. Kerry Simpson. Her coach says that she is already the best that he has seen. Cleveland, Bradley and Walker Valley all have a freshman that has great potential. Wells, Pickel, and Butler all have the potential to be some of the best to come out of this area. Potential is the big word here. Alot depends on how any of these players grow, how much they want to get better, and what type of coaching they have. This Kait girl must be very good but as a freshmen it would be hard to predict if she will be the best in the state as a senior. There are too many factors to consider. Alot of times a player has potential that goes undeveloped. I hope to see Rogers, Simpson, Wells, Pickel, and Butler all develop to be players that are known by everyone in Tennessee by the time they are upperclassmen.

Seems like this is the same old stuff we read last year about where a player is going to school. And most of those girls did not end up where they said they were going at this time last year. So wherever Kerri says she is going, it really doesn't matter until August... Obviously Spring and summer practices and camps are no indications, because she can change her mind at any time if she does not like one program or the other like some have done in the past. So all these speculations are exactly that... speculations... Why do you people not speculate about the boys basketball, baseball, football, or any other sport... is it just the girls you are concerned with. I have seen this girl play twice over the summer and I have to agree that she is awesome. Maybe the best ever to come out of Joe Spencer's teams, and that included Jackson. I think she will play at Walker Valley and she will take the Mustangs very far but who knows. This is a long year. She may end up at McMinn where her family is from. She may end up at Cleveland. Never know... [Edited by luvinsports on 8-26-02 1:27P]

In answer to the why question, maybe it is because she could not be the "phenom" at BCHS that she can be at WVHS. I don't really know the answer. Maybe she can't take Jack's harshness. I have seen the girl play and I know she can help the WVHS program grow. She can walk in as a freshman and see extensive Playing time and possibly even become a starter. Which makes a player better, sitting on the pine or playing quality minutes? Bradley is tradition true but WVHS is building a program. And I expect that by the time this young lady graduates that Tucker will have a team that can compete with any AA team around and many AAA teams. I don't see her decision as being a wrong one. Good luck to her and the Lady Mustangs. Who knows, there may be another "phenom" joining her before the final bell rings. Don't count her fellow teammate and best friend out of the Mustang picture just yet. I hear that she will be next to make the move.