KevB1990

Saw the stat line for Grainger. They've got to shoot better as well. I say this is great for ET hoops and hope we see a great game.

This is Grainger's first trip to the tournament at the new school. When they were still Rutledge they went twice: once in the late 70s and again in the late 90s.

The argument for East Tennessee stopping at Knoxville is laughable. My guess is CyclonePrider isn't old enough to remember the 90s and 00s when there where NET teams were season long top 5 and even No. 1. Usually the media around that area votes in a bloc for their best teams. Over the years it's been a bit more based on records without looking at who the teams have played.

Betsy has a great team. They've been one of 3 AA teams to beat Grainger the last 2 years. No one is taking anything away from the twins. Allison Hodge is most definitely worthy of this honor in being a finalist. She was last season as well, but didn't get to that point. Maybe one of the twins will get the nod next season. My guess is there's a lot that can happen over the remainder of their prep careers, so anything is possible.

The Grainger County kid that you speak of scored 19 points Wednesday night against a Super Good Elizabethton team.  I would hardly call that shutting her down.  She averages 20.4 points per game on the season, so I think she maintained her average against a very good team.  No doubt about it, Elizabethton has a better team than Grainger and they deserved to win the game.  But, we are talking about an individual award here.  Not, one that a team wins. I would expect that next year both of the twins will get serious consideration for this award. But, the young ladies that are selected in AA this year have had stellar 4 year careers, all of them scoring over 2,000 career points, and in the case of the Grainger County kid, also collecting over 1,300 career rebounds.  By the end of next season, those twins will be approaching those types of numbers as well.  Best of luck to them and their team.  They are very good.  I just wanted to clarify that a 19 point game against good competition is a bit different than being shut down.

And to boot, 19 points with an ankle sprain.

Grainger is not in the Sonic shootout this year. They're playing in the LandAir Ladies Classic in Greeneville.

If SH is playing in the Farragut tourney it's possible they could play Grainger, but right now no.

Also, I'm fairly sure that Coach Combs understands that he's limited with district competition, so they beefed up the schedule. There's not going to be a 32-0 streak this season more than likely, but this schedule gives them something more: a chance to see how they stand week in and week out with the best programs on the eastern end of the state.

Ugh. This is why I stay away from this site. The discussion deteriorates way to quick. Let's leave it at this. Grainger finished the regular season number 1 and then lost when it mattered the most. Nothing is lost on what was a great season otherwise. For the ones who clearly just like to poke holes in that fact clearly have issues with someone somewhere. I'm not going to point out the obvious for those that choose not to recognize it. Congrats ladies. You did the county proud again this season. We hurt along with you, but know you're going to be even better next year.

That's a bad deal when you look at it. But the first thing that crossed my mind is the buzzer. Refs probably waited until the buzzer and if it did get released prior to the buzzer then that's why it was called good. Also the point was speculated that the clock might've started early, but I'm here to tell you having been on the clock a few times myself it usually doesn't start when it should rather than starts early. Starting early would be a clear premeditated move a real reason for concern. Replay is the knee jerk reaction. What happens when they get it wrong with replay? It happens in the pros ya know...

Hey BEARCLAW, several years ago, my team went 33-0 during the regular season, district and region tournaments, and sub-state....then we got to Murfreesboro and bounced in the first round by Livingston Academy. I thought my team was the best in the state that year too.....

It can and does happen. No one is assured of anything. Gotta play like it's the last game every time.

Grainger played Elizabethton AT Elizabethton. That could have had an impact on the outcome. Could be an indicator of whether or not Grainger is ready to make the next step or not. My feeling is that it's an indictment of the postseason for hoops in general. Time to start having neutral sites for all the tournaments. Been that way for years. Goes back to all those years Hal Henard was the site for many tournaments that South Greene won. It's basically their home away from home. Rotation between districts is fine for the region, but playing at Milligan, the Mini Dome or somewhere else acceptable is preferred.

And the next good article Doug Fritz writes will be the first.

I'm like a bad penny...I always turn up.

KevB sighting? Wow it's been a long while!

This is the time of year where the trolls and haters come out. I'd say that Grainger has answered 28 different challenges this season with great success. The whole argument of making state only because they're AA is ludicrous. It's the same mentality we've long heard from other teams pining that they're a class too high based on skill level rather than enrollment. Grainger has beaten every opponent on the schedule, A, AA, AAA and D-II alike. It's time to squash the sour grapes and give the ladies their due. They owned you Seymour. You thought you could just show up in December and win at Grainger because you're a AAA school and you're upset that they wore you out. You're also upset that Senior night got spoiled by this same AA team that you couldn't beat. There's a reason I don't post a lot anymore, but sometimes I get a little burnt over ill-thought comments.

Great information. I was aware that Grainger essentially replaced Rutledge, but don't know anything about Rutledge's history. Do you know the records for the previous Rutledge girls' state tourney teams? My reason for asking is to know how their record's compared to this year's Grainger team and which team had/has the most wins in a season. Also, do you know who Rutledge played in the Region/Substate/State those years? By the way, Grainger seems like a great community. I have traveled over there a few times over the past 5 years watching my daughter play softball. The Lady Grizzlies have been a major nemesis to the Lady Cyclones in softball during that time...

I'm not at all certain about the '77 team's record (I was only five ). The '98 team set a record for wins with 31 and ended up 31-5 that season. The '97 team won 30 games, but lost at Lenior City in the sectional. That means that as of right now the Lady Grizz hold the school record for wins and are assured of finishing with the best record in school history.

Oh and Rutledge played South Greene in the sectional in '98, which is also the last time they won three in the same season over the Lady Rebs. It was a standing-room only, overflow-into-the-lunchroom crowd which probably made the T$$AA set seating requirements for the sectional games...after the short-lived sectional tournament died a painful death.

Funny how you continue to say I have a hard time giving others "credit." The real issue must be your perception of what "credit" really is. I have said multiple times that Grainger deserves "credit" for their performance and record this year. They have done presumably what no other Grainger team has ever done, i.e. won the district with 30+ wins (unless I'm wrong). I guess that doesn't count as "credit" since I didn't pick them to win the state championship. Honestly, I don't understand your apparent anger and why you seem to be so offended by my comments. I haven't degraded Grainger at all - just offered an opinion about how I feel they stack up against others in the state. I could expound my prognostication to say that I don't think either R2 team has a realistic chance at winning state either. I guess that could be misconstrued as not giving those teams "credit" for good seasons either. Also, I think it's funny how you are compelled to take shots at EHS during this discussion too. You have your opinions and I have mine. I suspect most that know high school basketball and have seen these teams play this year would agree my assessment is fair. Oh well, I'm done with this exchange. Good luck to the Grainger girls in their quest for regional, substate and state championships. The games will surely be decided on the floor and not on this forum.

Seems like a good place to jump in...being the former SID for Rutledge High School...

The Rutledge records, trophies, All-State recipients plaques and so on now reside at Grainger High. The Lady Pioneers (now Lady Grizzlies) made two previous appearance at the TSSAA State Tournament. 1977 (or 78, forgive me I've been in Ohio for the past six years) and 1998.

They made the Final Four of the 98 tourney.

The 77 team was coached by Curtis Wells, who is the great uncle of one of the current team members. Doug McBee (yes the father of the "stache") coached the 98 team and he is also the great uncle of the previously mentioned team memeber as well as the uncle of another one of the current members. A lot of family ties are with this particular bunch. I'm sure I'm forgetting some other notable ties that while they didn't play in the State Tournament, they were important in the history of Grainger (Rutledge) girl's basketball.

Also, head coach Justin Combs' father Ronnie played on the only Rutledge boy's team to make it to the state tourney...he played with A.W. Davis on that 1959 team. Like I said a lot of family ties. Grainger County is tight-knit and boy do I miss it!

I'm glad the fans and parents of Grainger haven't given up on the team. They've always travelled well. You can expect that when they get things together and get back to winning a few it will be an even bigger following.

This move to this classification plan came on the heels of losing a 3-year starter at quarterback and I keep hearing about injuries and kids quitting. I've not gotten to talk with anyone about the team except the AD a time or two, but I would say it's all about the inexperience factor either by attrition or necessity. We've seen this happen on occasion. My advice to everyone...get the Grizz while they're down because things won't always be like this.

And to Claiborne...you guys have really surprised me this season. I really thought you wouldn't make it out of Rebel Hill victorious, but you did so the winner-takes-all district title is up for grabs next week. I still think Greeneville is going to win it, but at this point I won't be surprised if they don't.

LOL! Losing to Grainger? WG fans forgot who their team really was until last night...probably shouldn't have been talking like they were going to romp all over Grainger. It had been about 4-5 years since West Greene played Rutledge and it's been 15 years since the Buffs beat Rutledge/Grainger. The streak continues and thankfully for Grainger it was a district win.

 

Some of the woofing mimicked the way Cosby fans were yapping last season when they were undefeated coming in...and the result was the same.

 

Thanks guys...I'm sure all the chatter fired up coaches and players during the last few days. The young Grizz needed some added motivation as if losing two a pair of KFL schools wasn't enough.

 

Anyway...good luck the rest of the way, but keep the expectations on an even keel.

For the record Kev.....I am not a WG fan....but its an off week for Greeneville and I thought after 2 W's in a row, the Buffs could pull it off.

I knew you weren't a WG fan barb...I've seen your posts in the Greeneville threads before. 2 W's yes, but against a second year varisty team and a rebuilding Cloudland.

I wasn't thrilled with the prospects of Grainger starting 0-3, but I felt like WG well-wishers were getting a little to boisterous in thinking the Grizzlies would let them run all over them.

LOL! Losing to Grainger? WG fans forgot who their team really was until last night...probably shouldn't have been talking like they were going to romp all over Grainger. It had been about 4-5 years since West Greene played Rutledge and it's been 15 years since the Buffs beat Rutledge/Grainger. The streak continues and thankfully for Grainger it was a district win.

Some of the woofing mimicked the way Cosby fans were yapping last season when they were undefeated coming in...and the result was the same.

Thanks guys...I'm sure all the chatter fired up coaches and players during the last few days. The young Grizz needed some added motivation as if losing two a pair of KFL schools wasn't enough.

Anyway...good luck the rest of the way, but keep the expectations on an even keel.

Yeah...OK...this will be the year that West Greene has any shot of beating Grainger/Rutledge in the last 15 years...so if you're gonna do it you'd better.

All I got to say about this one is...YIKES!

I read the account of the jamboree in the Sun and Grainger had more interceptions than first downs...not going to beat anyone doing that in a quarter's time...especially not a team that's historically played up in class all these years and has been moderately successful to boot.

TSWA team won't be announced until after their convention in late June - early July.

Skylar is going to walk on at UT. He's a Volunteer through and through. I hope he gets his scholarship as a sophomore.

Grainger is just the renaming of Rutledge High School. The new school is 5-6 miles from the old RHS building. There was not any combining of any other schools to make Grainger High School.

That's not totally accurate. The county is now an open zone and there were a few kids that started coming over from Washburn. I'm not sure if many if any decided to play any sports during the year, but the word is more are planning on attending Grainger in the fall.

Good...so we'll start a new thread when the tournament comes around. I'm tired of the ump issue.