Tri-County Seven - Week of 6 January, 2008

[krichunaka]

1) Cloudland

2) Unicoi County

3) Happy Valley

4) Elizabethton

5) Unaka

6) Hampton

7) Johnson County

 

Three standout games this past week: Unaka and Unicoi County went to the final, blocked three-point at the buzzer; Elizabethton was very good at home against South Greene; and Cloudland's win over the Lady Huskies made it a three-game Carter County over Greene County sweep.

 

Quality home win by the Lady Highlanders over the very-talented Lady Huskies of North Greene. Cloudland plays the Lady Junior Bucs in Johnson City Tuesday, before entertaining the Lady Bulldogs Friday in Roan Mountain.

 

The Erwin Ladies held off the much-improved Lady Rangers. Alisha Mainer made a nice defensive switch to block Unaka's last-second three. The Lady Blue Devils can become the run-away regular-season favorite with a win this Tuesday at South Greene.

 

Happy Valley defeated Chuckey Doak at home by nine. Hannah Banks continues to lead the Lady Warriors, while making a case for a scholarship offer. Friday night, she scored 19 points. With Courtney Byers healthy, anything is possible for the Lady Warriors.

 

One game does not a season make, but the Lady Cyclones played as well as they've played since last season. Most significantly, the guards played well enough for Elizabethton to hold on and win against South Greene's last-ditch trapping effort. Not perfect, but the overall Team effort with Mariah Pietrowski in foul trouble is good enough to break the fourth place tie with the Lady Rangers, who lost by two in Erwin. A very noteworthy performance by the Lady Cyclones, who, with continued play like we saw Friday, could win the Seven Championship.

 

Unaka lost in Erwin by two, and drops out of the two-way tie with Elizabethton. But the Lady Rangers are vastly improved since the home, sixteen-point loss to the Lady Blue Devils in late-November. Two huge, home challenges this week; North Greene, Tuesday; and then the non-conference re-match of Happy Valley game that Unaka lost by two, in over-time, Thursday.

 

Hampton handily defeated University High at home. The Lady Bulldogs are obviously over the shocking home loss to Johnson County, and hope to stun Cloudland this Friday, after Tuesday's home tune-up with Providence Academy.

 

Johnson County continues to stuggle. Unicoi County thrashed the Lady Longhorns by 48 Friday. At Chuckey doak Tuesday, then Friday, South Greene plays in Mountain City.

 

Standout Performances?

[zAZa90]

1. Cloudland- they were very much challenged by North Greene. The Lady Highlanders can't afford to think things will be easy for them. Wins in Baileyton and Snavely are critical.

 

2. Unicoi Co.- they continue to play up and down. The matchup with South Greene and the rematch with Elizabethton will be pivotal.

 

3. Elizabethton- I can't put anyone else in the seven above Elizabethton. They are too good in the paint and the guard play is coming around.

 

4. Happy Valley- they are definitely a threat to beat anyone on any given night. Hannah Banks is one the better players in the area.

 

5. Unaka- this team is scary. With an upset or two, they could be right in the thick of things. Chambers is one the better girls coaches in this area.

 

6. Johnson Co. - after they dismantled Hampton, they've went back to the old Johnson Co.

 

7. Hampton- they have a chance to to gain more respect if they can play Cloudland close.

[coachh17]

1. Cloudland- they were very much challenged by North Greene. The Lady Highlanders can't afford to think things will be easy for them. Wins in Baileyton and Snavely are critical.

 

2. Unicoi Co.- they continue to play up and down. The matchup with South Greene and the rematch with Elizabethton will be pivotal.

 

3. Elizabethton- I can't put anyone else in the seven above Elizabethton. They are too good in the paint and the guard play is coming around.

 

4. Happy Valley- they are definitely a threat to beat anyone on any given night. Hannah Banks is one the better players in the area.

 

5. Unaka- this team is scary. With an upset or two, they could be right in the thick of things. Chambers is one the better girls coaches in this area.

 

6. Johnson Co. - after they dismantled Hampton, they've went back to the old Johnson Co.

 

7. Hampton- they have a chance to to gain more respect if they can play Cloudland close.

 

I agree with these rankings, again!

[screenandroll]

What a way to start the new year. The "king" speaks and coachh and myself fall in line. I must agree with the "king" in his rankings. Think Cloudland showed a little weakness in the game with North Greene, while Elizabethton showed a little improvement with a big home win against South Greene. Unicoi continues to be the team which is hardest to rank. If a team plays a half court game then Unicoi could be the best team around, then again if it is an uptempo game the Lady Devils could be the fourth or fifth. Happy Valley is close to being a good team but the lack of a true post game comes back to get them when their perimeter game is not going well. Unaka is a lot like Happy Valley with the exception of their post game may be a little better and their perimeter a little weaker. Hampton needs to start playing better now that the conference games are getting into full force. Johnson County needs to ride the big win over Hampton as long as they can. Teams now will begin to show their true colors. Most of the experimenting should be done by now and each team will start to prepare themselves for their conference and post season runs. Again will be interesting to see which teams pick up their level of play and which teams have already gotten as good as they will be.

[zAZa90]

The weakness with Cloudland is underneath the basket. When they don't shoot well, they go underneath and Tolley is not reliable. And its not just her, it seems when the Highlanders get an offensive rebound, they throw up a prayer and hope it goes in. They must develop technique under the goal. Use the backboard. Look at the goal and make a good shot. Those prayer shots could prove fatal one day.

[krichunaka]

Solid home win for Unaka over North Greene.

Twelve-to-ten, Unaka after one.

Unaka up by three, 25-22 at half-time

Lady Rangers 16 North Greene 12 in third, to lead 41-34

Unaka 17 North Greene 14 fourth quarter. - - Final Unaka 58 North Greene 48

 

For the Lady Rangers:

Kayla Winters was eight-for-eight from the field (including a fourth quarter, two-plus one on an assist from Brittany Scott) for 17 points

Natalie Johnson scored 3

Taylor Byars had 10

Kaleigh Elsea a two-point basket in the second, two huge threes in the third for 8

Brittany Scott led all scorers with 20 points

 

For the Lady Huskies:

Freshman Mariah Britton scored 5

Nikki Weems 1

Sophomore Dakota White 11

Samatha Weems hit three threes and a free-throw for 10

Sheleen Platt led North Greene with 17

Nicole McKinsey scored 4

 

Unaka had four players with two fouls in the first half (Winters sat out much of the first and second quarters); but managed to play better, smarter defense in the second half.

The difference in the game was Unaka's second half, and specifically the fourth quarter adjustments to the North Greene press-trap. Brittany Scott, as always, came up big against pressure and scored 11 of her 20 in the fourth quarter.

 

Unaka's bench came through in a big way - - Danielle Jones and Chesnie Cox were very solid. Tayler Nidiffer was in and out throughout the game, and Ally Nidiffer and Kayla Wilson played well.

 

An overall TEAM win against the very good North Greene Lady Huskies.

 

Big Bonus: Got to meet Coach James Buchanan's two daughters (How cool is this?) "Grace" and "Mercy."

[coachh17]

Two of our top four went down last night. Unicoi Co. lost a tough one to South Greene, which makes it a three way tie for first place in the Watauga Conference. I said earlier in the season that West Greene would beat somebody and they did it last night, by knocking off Happy Valley. West Greene and Happy Valley are very similiar teams, in that both are quick, athletic, and perimeter oriented. Neither team has enough post presence to move in to the top three in the league. I look for them to finish 4th and 5th and they will play in a tough elimination game in the District Tournament first round. The Warriors get their first shot at Elizabethton Friday. The Lady Cyclones really need to run the table to capture the title. They have their rematch with Unicoi at home, but still have to travel to South Greene. Go Cyclones!!!!!!

[krichunaka]

Unicoi's loss in Greeneville gives the Watauga Conference a three-way tie, with all three - Elizabethton, Unicoi County, South Greene - having held serve at home.

 

Happy Valley's loss at West Greene makes this week's game at Elizabethton, Friday, the day after playing on Stoney Creek, even more daunting, and brings into question the scheduling of three-road-games-in-one-week. Granted, the Unaka game is a non-counter as far as the conference race is concerned; but the game between the Lady Rangers and Lady Warriors, at Happy Valley suggests that the Thursday re-match will be highly-contested, and though, both coaches might choose other than the win-at-all-cost approach, the players might look at it a little differently. This one will be interesting.

 

Meanwhile, even after the sub-par performance against Wartburg in the Harriman Christmas Classic, Kenneth Chambers was surprisingly optimistic about his Lady Rangers' upcoming conference schedule. Unaka is settling in after all the summer-time and early-season distractions. Kayla Winters' shooting clinic against North Greene is noteworthy, especially considering most of the shots she hit were from beyond fifteen feet. Unaka already brings match-up problems with Brittany Scott's ability to shoot the three, and/or drive to the basket with equal proficiency. Winters improved shooting strengthens Unaka's inside-out offensive potential.

 

Back to Happy Valley: The Lady Warriors can put themselves right back in the hunt with a win at Elizabethton, but the Lady Cyclones are playing awfully good basketball. Mariah Pietrowski already gives the Lady Cyclones the inside advantage, and if the EHS seniors - Hannah Fritz, Jasmine Treadway, Kyla Jones, and Kelli Culler - continue to play steady, then Happy Valley faces the possibility of dropping to two-and-four in-conference by this weekend. So, the game with Unaka looms, but more as a "pride" challenge, and thus, expect both Kenneth Chambers and Ben Godsey to place more emphasis on player/depth development, and somewhat less on actually winning the game.

 

After all, the Lady Rangers have a pretty important home game with Cloudland next Tuesday.

[coachh17]

If the posted score is correct, Happy Valley absorbed another tough loss tonight in overtime to Unaka. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors bounce back tomorrow night at Elizabethton. It must have been a good game. Go Cyclones!!!!!

[krichunaka]

Lindsey Toney hit two, first quarter threes, including one at the buzzer to put the Lady Warriors up 17-10.

In the second, Happy Valley cooled slightly, but still led at half-time 27-18.

Unaka won the third - 16-6, to give the Lady Rangers a 34-33 lead after three.

The fourth went 16-15 in Happy Valley's favor for an end-of-regulation tie at 49.

Unaka won the overtime 10-5.

Final: Unaka 59 - Happy Valley 54.

 

For Happy Valley:

Hannah Banks continues to play very well, and had 18 points.

Summer Ward slaved under the basket and scored 11.

Cara Bowling scored four points in the fourth and three in overtime, and totaled 13.

Toney was the fourth Lady Warrior in double figures with ten;

and Heather Hughes scored two.

 

Kayla Winters led all scorers with 22 points.

Brittany Scott had a good all-around game and scored 14.

Kaleigh Elsea hit two huge, third quarter threes and a two-pointer in the second for 8 points.

Natalie Johnson scored 3 in the fourth and hit four free-throws in overtime, for 7.

Taylor Byars hit all four of her points at the free-throw line in the high-intensity fourth quarter.

 

And, the Player of the Game is Chesnie Cox! She scored only four points, but they were huge and timely.

Chesnie twice stripped the Happy Valley point guards and converted them into layups, to ignite the Unaka

defense.

 

A tough order for the Lady Warriors tonight as they now have to face the much-improved Lady Cyclones

in Elizabethton. And their next two games? Unicoi County and South Greene.

 

More later . . . .

[bigsportdad]

I guess since Unaka won this match up you wouldn't consider it physical.... /flower.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":flower:" border="0" alt="flower.gif" /> Look at your last post when these two played (Unaka lost) and the comments....vs.....last night (Unaka won)...last night was as physical as they come!

 

What a game....but the Warrior Ladies left with pride and didn't retaliate for the locker room smashing they received from Unaka when Unaka lost on Warrior Hill.

 

 

 

 

Lindsey Toney hit two, first quarter threes, including one at the buzzer to put the Lady Warriors up 17-10.

In the second, Happy Valley cooled slightly, but still led at half-time 27-18.

Unaka won the third - 16-6, to give the Lady Rangers a 34-33 lead after three.

The fourth went 16-15 in Happy Valley's favor for an end-of-regulation tie at 49.

Unaka won the overtime 10-5.

Final: Unaka 59 - Happy Valley 54.

 

For Happy Valley:

Hannah Banks continues to play very well, and had 18 points.

Summer Ward slaved under the basket and scored 11.

Cara Bowling scored four points in the fourth and three in overtime, and totaled 13.

Toney was the fourth Lady Warrior in double figures with ten;

and Heather Hughes scored two.

 

Kayla Winters led all scorers with 22 points.

Brittany Scott had a good all-around game and scored 14.

Kaleigh Elsea hit two huge, third quarter threes and a two-pointer in the second for 8 points.

Natalie Johnson scored 3 in the fourth and hit four free-throws in overtime, for 7.

Tayler Byars hit all four of her points at the free-throw line in the high-intensity fourth quarter.

 

And, the Player of the Game is Chesnie Cox! She scored only four points, but they were huge and timely.

Chesnie twice stripped the Happy Valley point guards and converted them into layups, to ignite the Unaka

defense.

 

A tough order for the Lady Warriors tonight as they now have to face the much-improved Lady Cyclones

in Elizabethton. And their next two games? Unicoi County and South Greene.

 

More later . . . .

[krichunaka]

I guess since Unaka won this match up you wouldn't consider it physical.... /flower.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":flower:" border="0" alt="flower.gif" /> Look at your last post when these two played (Unaka lost) and the comments....vs.....last night (Unaka won)...last night was as physical as they come!

 

What a game....but the Warrior Ladies left with pride and didn't retaliate for the locker room smashing they received from Unaka when Unaka lost on Warrior Hill.

 

 

It's apparent the Lady Warriors have a lot of pride, as they should have. They played very well, and the two over-time games demonstrate that they're everything Unaka expected, and more: Happy Valley is a very good team that, until the Unaka defense caused some poor, third quarter execution, appeared on the way to a double-digit win on Stoney Creek.

 

Everyone whom I'm spoken with has been very impressed with the Lady Warriors. You have a probable, four-year all-star - Cara Bowling - and two of our area's best overall players - Summer Ward and Hannah Banks. Plus Lyndsey Toney and Heather Hughes are playing very well; and when Courtney Byers is back at full strength, the Lady Warriors bring multiple match-up problems to everyone remaining on their schedule. The one-point, over-time loss in Erwin, and the games with the vastly improved Lady Rangers are testament to their pride and talent.

 

You're also right that both games were physical. The difference is that the game at Happy Valley almost got totally out of control, and included four blatant elbowing incidents, two by each team, plus other very rough fouls, some called, some missed.

 

And, for those who don't know, when Unaka played at Happy Valley, someone from Unaka poured baby powder on the floor, and a trash can was turned over in the Unaka dressing room. Also, some soda pop had been poured onto the floor prior to the Lady Rangers' arrival. The Unaka principal and the Coach were made aware of the incidents and Coach Chambers went into the locker room and offered to clean up after his irresponsible players. Afterward, those players were penalized, and hopefully learned a valuable lesson about irresponsible behavior. I wasn't aware that anything was smashed, but there's still no excuse for the childish reaction.

 

After last night's junior varsity game a broom handle was broken, a basketball flattened - - probably a little payback, but nothing major.

 

Now, Happy Valley must re-focus, just one day after last night's very tiring game with Unaka. Elizabethton is playing very good ball, and at home, the Lady Cyclones will be quite a challenge.