Mitchell defeats BTW 87-83. City Champs--AA

[TraderB]

Mitchell handed BTW its 1st loss of the season, in an exciting game that could have gone either way.

 

The story of the game, IMO, was Mitchell's dominance on the glass, especially on the offensive end. BTW's consistent failure to box out, plagued them all night long! It was a horrendous display of basic basketball. Other than that, it was a very exciting game. Lots of big shots, lots of fast-paced action featuring a multitude of 3-pointers.

 

Mitchell seems to have hit its stride, at just the right time.

 

Personally, I think that this was a GOOD LOSS by BTW. It's very difficult to run the table, via an undefeated season. Now that burden (pressure) is gone. BTW can now relax and enter the post-season without added pressure....

 

Lastly, BTW had better start "boxing out" better or they are gonna get sent home packing--a whole lot sooner than they expect!

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Central's defeat of Ridgeway was a bit of a shocker, considering Ridgeway's superior athleticism, size and edge in the post, overall talent and depth.

 

The difference in this game was Central's ability to slow the game down, practically to a crawl (not Ridgeway's preference). They executed their methodic, weave offense in Princeton-like fashion. They were very efficient, made their FT's and played very smart basketball. Additionally, they hustled like crazy, getting back on defense, limiting Ridgeway's fast-break opportunities.

 

Excellent game plan by Central. Great win and confidence booster, heading into post-season play as Memphis City AAA Champs.

 

Ridgeway needs to get back to the drawing board and work on its half-court offense. They seemed awfully, awfully reluctant to shoot from the perimeter against Central's sagging zone defense. They attacked decently enough but.....at some point, to loosen up the zone, you're gonna have to shoot the outside jumper.

 

This was not a bad loss by Ridgeway, IMO. Central's slow, methodical pace should serve as good experience and a wake up call to Ridgeway. They should be better prepared for these stlye games, as the post-season kicks off.

 

Central and Ridgeway both appear to be solid teams, along with Kirby and Raleigh-Egypt....I'm not predicting anytihing (and no disrespect to other teams in the State), but I would not be surprised at an all-Memphis AAA final.

[CardinalSports13]

As for as all the teams in Memphis right now NONE is playing better than MANASSAS. I believe this team is the best in Memphis and possibly all the TSSAA in any division.

[chipper_jones_4mvp]

As for as all the teams in Memphis right now NONE is playing better than MANASSAS. I believe this team is the best in Memphis and possibly all the TSSAA in any division.

 

Yeah,its easy to look good against City University,MASE,Middle College,and Fayette Academy.

[REBELRON]

What has happened to White Station? I know they have 2 big time players in Ferrekan Hall and Joe Jackson but they aren't winning big. I am guessing that Terry Tippet made that big of a difference?

[TraderB]

What has happened to White Station? I know they have 2 big time players in Ferrekan Hall and Joe Jackson but they aren't winning big. I am guessing that Terry Tippet made that big of a difference?

 

I could be wrong, but I don't believe that Ferrekan Hall is playing for White Station, this season....I certaintly don't remember his name being mentioned, during ANY of the games (appx 4) that I've attended.

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As for White Station's "problems" (relatively speaking) this year.... It's simple--they don't have enough talent!

 

Besides sophomore SG Joe Jackson, WS just does not have another consistent scorer (if F. Hall is indeed playing for WS this season, then he's not producing much). Therefore, opponents are usually able to "key" on JJ and shut down WS.

 

Coach Tippet's departure made a HUGE difference, IMO, in the quality of players that opt to attend White Station.... In short, from my observation, these sort of high-profile transfers stopped occurring the moment Coach Tippet left.

 

Remember, Memphis City Schools has an "open enrollment" policy that effectively allows students to attend any school of their choice, provided there is room (Curiously, there always seems to be room for top athletes.....that's a whole other story, though). Many top-notch ballers in Memphis went out of their way to attend White Station and an opportunity to play for Coach Tippet--a proven, top-notch Coach with a resume full of State Championships.

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I seriously doubt that White Station basketball program will ever (I won't say NEVER) dominate basketball again, they way they did under Coach Tippet! No disrespect to WS' current coach.

[westtnbballer]

I could be wrong, but I don't believe that Ferrekan Hall is playing for White Station, this season....I certaintly don't remember his name being mentioned, during ANY of the games (appx 4) that I've attended.

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As for White Station's "problems" (relatively speaking) this year.... It's simple--they don't have enough talent!

 

Besides sophomore SG Joe Jackson, WS just does not have another consistent scorer (if F. Hall is indeed playing for WS this season, then he's not producing much). Therefore, opponents are usually able to "key" on JJ and shut down WS.

 

Coach Tippet's departure made a HUGE difference, IMO, in the quality of players that opt to attend White Station.... In short, from my observation, these sort of high-profile transfers stopped occurring the moment Coach Tippet left.

 

Remember, Memphis City Schools has an "open enrollment" policy that effectively allows students to attend any school of their choice, provided there is room (Curiously, there always seems to be room for top athletes.....that's a whole other story, though). Many top-notch ballers in Memphis went out of their way to attend White Station and an opportunity to play for Coach Tippet--a proven, top-notch Coach with a resume full of State Championships.

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I seriously doubt that White Station basketball program will ever (I won't say NEVER) dominate basketball again, they way they did under Coach Tippet! No disrespect to WS' current coach.

 

Memphis City Schools does not have an "open enrollment policy", now I admit, kids pretty much go where they want, cause when there is a "will" there is a "way". Some schools are optional schools, and might can get kids in, but the privates get more of the great players than the publics, imagine how good Memphis would be if Leslie McDonald and others played at public schools.

 

The teams to beat are Ridgeway, Memphis Central, Kirby, and Raleigh-Eqypt. The sleeper is Craigmont, they have the talent, just have not put together a solid run. It could be an all Memphis final, they need to move the tourney to FedEx Forum, cause if it was a all Memphis AAA final and one AA team, it would be a nice crowd. You could see 4 teams from Memphis playing in A, AA, and AAA finals, maybe 5. Unfortunately, Memphis is that much better than the rest of the state in boys hoops. Just look at the titles over the last 20 to 30 years.

[Legend]

Memphis City Schools does not have an "open enrollment policy", now I admit, kids pretty much go where they want, cause when there is a "will" there is a "way". Some schools are optional schools, and might can get kids in, but the privates get more of the great players than the publics, imagine how good Memphis would be if Leslie McDonald and others played at public schools.

 

The teams to beat are Ridgeway, Memphis Central, Kirby, and Raleigh-Eqypt. The sleeper is Craigmont, they have the talent, just have not put together a solid run. It could be an all Memphis final, they need to move the tourney to FedEx Forum, cause if it was a all Memphis AAA final and one AA team, it would be a nice crowd. You could see 4 teams from Memphis playing in A, AA, and AAA finals, maybe 5. Unfortunately, Memphis is that much better than the rest of the state in boys hoops. Just look at the titles over the last 20 to 30 years.

 

the unthinkable just happened. mitchell just lost 2 sheffield. that means on the same side of the regionals you will have 1.btw 2. mitchell 3. treadwell 4. hillcrest. all the top teams on the same side of thr regionals. dyer co can go ahead and punch there ticket for the boro. they will host a substate game -vs-a 2A team from memphis that will be the 4th or 5th best 2A team from memphis. they want have 2 beat btw or mitchell if they win there region.

[beavo5]

the unthinkable just happened. mitchell just lost 2 sheffield. that means on the same side of the regionals you will have 1.btw 2. mitchell 3. treadwell 4. hillcrest. all the top teams on the same side of thr regionals. dyer co can go ahead and punch there ticket for the boro. they will host a substate game -vs-a 2A team from memphis that will be the 4th or 5th best 2A team from memphis. they want have 2 beat btw or mitchell if they win there region.

 

Mitchell lost? Wow that is unbelievable!!

[TraderB]

As for as all the teams in Memphis right now NONE is playing better than MANASSAS. I believe this team is the best in Memphis and possibly all the TSSAA in any division.

 

Wow! That's quite a bold statement, ain't it?

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Manasas is playing great basketball, no doubt. Because of its recent string of grossly inferior opponents, however, it's a stretch to say that they are playing better than any other team in Memphis. It's an even bigger stretch to say that they're the best in Memphis and all of TSSAA.

 

Manasas has a solid basketball team, loaded with great shooters. I've seen them play, twice. They are a bona fide Championship contender. They are without a doubt, ONE of the top teams in Memphis. In fact, I'm convinced that they can beat ANY team in Memphis. I'd also wager that they would hold their own against ANY team in the State.

 

This is about as much as any unbiased observer can reasonably say about Manassas', IMO.

 

Granted, Manasas is on a nice double-digit winning streak. A quick peak at those wins, however, reveals that they've beaten up on a bunch of "patsies (i.e. sorry teams)...." I can confidently say that if any of the other top teams in Memphis (Kirby, Central, Ridgeway, Raleigh-Egypt, Briarcrest, Mitchell, BTW, CBHS, St. George's) played those same weak teams, they ALL would likely have the same win streak going!

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Good luck to Manasas and all the Memphis area teams, this postseason.

[Legend]

Wow! That's quite a bold statement, ain't it?

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Manasas is playing great basketball, no doubt. Because of its recent string of grossly inferior opponents, however, it's a stretch to say that they are playing better than any other team in Memphis. It's an even bigger stretch to say that they're the best in Memphis and all of TSSAA.

 

Manasas has a solid basketball team, loaded with great shooters. I've seen them play, twice. They are a bona fide Championship contender. They are without a doubt, ONE of the top teams in Memphis. In fact, I'm convinced that they can beat ANY team in Memphis. I'd also wager that they would hold their own against ANY team in the State.

 

This is about as much as any unbiased observer can reasonably say about Manassas', IMO.

 

Granted, Manasas is on a nice double-digit winning streak. A quick peak at those wins, however, reveals that they've beaten up on a bunch of "patsies (i.e. sorry teams)...." I can confidently say that if any of the other top teams in Memphis (Kirby, Central, Ridgeway, Raleigh-Egypt, Briarcrest, Mitchell, BTW, CBHS, St. George's) played those same weak teams, they ALL would likely have the same win streak going!

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Good luck to Manasas and all the Memphis area teams, this postseason.

 

well everybody had btw #1 when they only beat carver, hope, and treadwell with winning records. manassas beat treadwell, trezevant, liberty tech, millington, carver, wooddale, and middleton all in blow out wins. millimgton just lost 2 raleigh egypt by 4. manassas beat millington by 46 lol!!

[TraderB]

Memphis City Schools does not have an "open enrollment policy", now I admit, kids pretty much go where they want, cause when there is a "will" there is a "way". Some schools are optional schools, and might can get kids in, but the privates get more of the great players than the publics, imagine how good Memphis would be if Leslie McDonald and others played at public schools.

 

The teams to beat are Ridgeway, Memphis Central, Kirby, and Raleigh-Eqypt. The sleeper is Craigmont, they have the talent, just have not put together a solid run. It could be an all Memphis final, they need to move the tourney to FedEx Forum, cause if it was a all Memphis AAA final and one AA team, it would be a nice crowd. You could see 4 teams from Memphis playing in A, AA, and AAA finals, maybe 5. Unfortunately, Memphis is that much better than the rest of the state in boys hoops. Just look at the titles over the last 20 to 30 years.

 

 

WestnBaller,

 

My apoligies--I guess I was incorrect in referring to Memphis' "optional school" policy as "open enrollment."

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You're dead-on accurate in your assestment about the top teams in Memphis AAA....It's shaping up to be an exciting year for Memphis basketball, all around!

 

As for the tournament moving...Personally, I don't wan't to see the tournament moved to FED-X forum. It's much too big and spacious, IMO, for High School. It would lack the "electricity," atmosphere and cozy "feel" of the smaller (but, big enough) MTSU Complex, in Murfreesboro. Additionally, Murfreesboro is a more convenient site for all participating teams. It's in the center of the State.

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Go luck to all Memphis area and West Tennessee B-Ballers!

[TraderB]

well everybody had btw #1 when they only beat carver, hope, and treadwell with winning records. manassas beat treadwell, trezevant, liberty tech, millington, carver, wooddale, and middleton all in blow out wins. millimgton just lost 2 raleigh egypt by 4. manassas beat millington by 46 lol!!

 

The difference between Manassas' blowout victory over Millington, and Raleigh-Egypt's narrow victory over Millington is probably the result of STYLE of play. It is definitely NOT indicative of any sort of clear "superiority" that Manassas might have over Raleigh-Egypt.

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Look--I'm of the opinion that Manasas has a better team than RE. No, not 30+ points better--maybe 6-8 pts. One thing is certain--these two teams are a definite contrast in styles.

 

Manassas has more AND better shooters than does RE. Aditionally, Manasas plays a very fast pace, up-tempo syle of ball. They jack up 3-pointers like they're layups. They make a lot of those shots. Manasas will shoot you right out of the gym, if you try to run with them (which is what I suspect happened to Millington) or succumb to their relentless pressure defense (e.g. turnovers). They score a lot of points.

 

Raleigh Egypt, on the other hand, plays at more deliberate, methodical pace. They don't pressure the ball from end-to-end relentlessly, or jack up as many quick shots or 3-pointers, as does Manasas. Aditionally, RE does not shoot the ball anywhere near as well as Manassas. They don't score as many points. All these factors combine to shorten the game, allowing less-talented/inferior teams to hang closer (this is what I suspect happened in the Millington game).