Tri-County Seven

[krichunaka]

1) Unicoi County

2) Cloudland

3) Elizabethton

4) Hampton

5) Happy Valley

6) Johnson County

6) Unaka

 

The Lady Blue Devils went two-and-none, against Chuckey Doak and

West Greene. Unaka plays in Erwin, Monday night. Only game scheduled.

 

Cloudland has been a little inconsistent to date, but that usually changes

around the first of each year. Chuckey Doak plays in Roan Mountain,

Monday, providing the other two, top-tier contenders a look at the Lady

Highlanders against a common opponent.

 

The Lady Cyclones had an impressive four-and-0 week. Monday night's

home game against Hampton could be a real battle.

 

Hampton's win at University High was not surprising; the fifty-points-plus

margin-of-win was. Another hot-shooting night could spell victory at

Elizabethton.

 

Happy Valley went two-and-two. The Lady Warriors won two of three games

at the Vigainia High Tournament, after losing by fifteen at South Greene, and

before losing to Sullivan Central, Saturday. They play at Unaka the day after

the Lady Rangers visit Erwin.

 

Unaka defeated Cosby by four, then lost at home to North Greene by sixteen.

Two very tough challenges, on consecutive nights.

 

After winning two straight over Sullivan North and West Greene, the Lady

Longhorns were soundly beaten at Elizabethton. Johnson County gets to host

Hampton twenty fours after the Lady Bulldogs game at Elizabethon.

[coachh17]

We are pretty close this week:

 

1. Unicoi Co. ( Will stay here until they lose )

2. Elizabethton ( Starting to really play well, need to beat the Dogs )

3. Cloudland ( No change )

4. Hampton ( Getting healthy, always dangerous )

5. Happy Valley ( Bowling is the key )

6. Unaka ( Still struggling )

7. Johnson Co. ( Elizabethton put a hurting on them )

[daddysgirl]

1. Unicoi (Fisher is organizing a future powerhouse)

2. EHS (Still trying to find themselves, but has the talent to survive till they find it)

3. Cloudland (Not as good as past Highlander teams, but well prepared for all games)

4. Hampton (When completely healthy could easily move into 3rd)

5. Happy Valley (Heads and shoulders the top of the bottom 3)

6. Unaka (Beat longhorns head to head, but I understand krich's move to the bottom)

7. Johnson County (Getting better)

 

Big game for Dugger's ladies tomorrow night. FEED THE POST!!!!!!!

[screenandroll]

1. Unicoi County (have played like the number one team)

2. Elizabethton (everyone talking about them changing their defense, the zone is their best defense, might just need to be a little more aggressive out of it)

3. Cloudland (haven't played as well lately (South), but if you live and die by the 3 (thanks AZ) then they will be nights you don't look too good)

4. Happy Valley (everyone putting Hampton in front of them now, still think they match up really well with Hampton, don't think Hampton beats either team that beat the Warriors)

5. Hampton (showing signs of getting a lot better, but must be able to do that against better teams)

6. Unaka ( did beat Johnson County to stay out of the bottom)

7. Johnson County (playing better, will probably spilit with the Rangers)

 

Not much change this week in my opinion. Some teams are getting a little closer to each other while other teams are sperating themselves from the rest. A couple of good matchups this week to get a little better view on how these teams are developing.

[zAZa90]

1. Unicoi Co. - that Fisher can really coach.

2. Elizabethton- talent laden, now time to grow up.

3. Cloudland- you live by the three, you die by the three. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

4. Hampton- they can be scary good, and then scary bad within the same 24 hrs.

5. Happy Valley- do they have the tenacity to utilize their talent?

6. Johnson Co. - they did what was expected against Elizabethton

7. Unaka- may even finish last in the conference.

[coachh17]

If the posted scores are correct, it appears Elizabethton beat Hampton badly. I have no details and missed the game, but I am guessing the Dogs could not handle the Lady Cyclone's inside power. It also appears Unicoi Co. had a struggle with Unaka. No score on Cloudland yet. When Elizabethton is on, they are going to be hard to beat. Go Cyclones!!!!!!

[voice]

If the posted scores are correct, it appears Elizabethton beat Hampton badly. I have no details and missed the game, but I am guessing the Dogs could not handle the Lady Cyclone's inside power.

 

 

Powell to Mariah . . .Jefflerson. . . . Anderson - Game set match Cyclones

[krichunaka]

Powell to Mariah . . .Jefflerson. . . . Anderson - Game set match Cyclones

_________________________________________

_________________________________________

Good stuff, as always, Voice.

 

And did Chuckey Doak really go to Cloudland... and Win?

We're told the Lady Highlanders lost by 'bout half-a-dozen.

 

More on Unaka at Unicoi County in a little while.

[daddysgirl]

The Cyclones Fed the Post!!!!!!! The D was smothering!!!!!! Very well prepared!!!!!!

 

As bad as I hate to agree with AZ, live by the three die by the three. Landers could be very inconsistant this year.

 

Happy Valley may have their hands full tonight if what I hear was factual after the Unicoi and Unaka game lastnight.

[coachh17]

Things are becoming much clearer through my orange glasses now. Chuckey-Doak has two very good guards and a solid veteran team, as evidenced by knocking off Cloudland and Elizabethton and playing Unicoi Co. tough. Elizabethton has a ton of upside and I do not think we have seen their best yet. Cloudland is struggling, but should put it together. I'll hold comments on Unicoi Co. and Unaka until we get game details. Hampton did not match up well with Elizabethton, but may give Cloudland fits. Happy Valley is still a wild card. I still think Johnson Co. will stay at #7, but could pull an upset or two in Mountain City.

[dog4life]

Congratulations to the Lady Cyclones. They played well and were clearly the better team last night. Disheartening to see the Lady Dogs play so well and actually lead after one period to getting beat by nearly 30. These continued "mental lapses" haunt the Lady Dogs and unless they can become mentally tougher they aren't going very far in the postseason. I know that Coach Tolley isn't one to make excuses but the loss of 5'9 Mollie McQueen and the injury of 5'8 Chelsey Weddle show up greatly in a game like this where the other team has such size. Weddle clearly isn't herself and probably shouldn't have even tried to play last night. The disappointing part of it is some of the guards continue to make unforced mistakes and hurt the team at the worst time. They could come out tonight at Johnson Co. and look like a juggernaut and they can also come out and lose. I'm eager to see what happens as the season progresses because I have seen the "real" team play and know what they can do, I just don't know if I will ever see it again. Once again, well done Lady Cyclones.

[krichunaka]

Last night is the most glaring example yet of the Unaka Dilemma:

From what we've seen to date, Unaka is at least as talented as any

of the seven teams - - their length at post (Winters-Lowe) on par

with the area's best. Natalie Johnson is at times, incredible at point;

Kaleigh Elsea is having a very good senior season. And, the Lady

Rangers held Unicoi County's potent offense to thirty-three points, to

include ten, fourth-quarter free-throws.

 

Glenn Fisher took a lesser-talented team, kept them composed, and,

coupled with the typically great Lady Blue Devils defense, scored just

enough to complete the methodical comeback.

 

Twenty-one-to-nine at the half! And in Erwin? A great first half of

basketball by Unaka.

 

The Blue Devils won the third, 12-to-four, and then the heart-breaking

fourth, 12-to-two.

 

The Lady Rangers obviously had their chances, but appeared a little

nervous and fatigued. Multiple turnovers really hurt, especially in the

final minutes, as Unaka tried to hold the ball. And, there were a couple

missed, open layups and free-throws that contributed to the loss.

 

Meanwhile, Unicoi County hit ten, fourth-quarter free-throws - - seven in

the final 2:49 - - and a dozen in the second half. Unaka missed a crucial

one-plus-one at 1:08 in the fourth, and two in the third.

 

No lack of effort by Unaka. Just a few-too-many mental mistakes.

 

Unaka led until Mikayla Bennett drove from sideline to lane and hit a swinging

jumper and added the free-throw with 54.9 seconds remaining - - - - -

Unicoi County 29 - Unaka 27.

 

Johnson led Unaka with 10. Kayla Winters scored Unaka's final basket at 6:08.

Winters scored eight points; Elsea scored five; Lowe - four.

 

Chesnie Cox, Kayla Wilson, and Tayler Nidiffer continue to play well with limited

minutes.

 

Ali Gardner had 10 for Unicoi County, including a half-dozen free throws in

the final 1:08. Rilie King led the Unicoi County comeback with seven third quarter

points. King totaled 8. Kayla Edwards scored a momentum-building, third-quarter

three; Whitney Webb scored two; Bennett - four; and freshman, Ivory Shelton had

six points and played a very good defensive game.