Tri-County Seven

[etownsparky]

It actually happens quite often when one team presses and plays man defense the entire game while the other sits back in a zone and forces outside shots to be taken and is strong on the glass...and that is a fact.

I agree this is a factor not to be ignored. As a matter of fact, Betsy was more accustomed to playing man defense with an occasional zone and pressing when Dugger coached. That resulted in normally more fouls being called on EHS than their opponents. Wilson's philosophy is different where he relies more on a zone. He still presses both full and half court at times. As I mentioned in a previous post, EHS had a lot of fouls too, but just not as many as Unicoi. I still believe uncontrolled aggression and poor technique resulted in a lot of Unicoi's fouls as much or more than the fact they played man to man defense. To your point, Unicoi looked somewhat confused by the Betsy zone and settled for outside shots. Credit Betsy's inside duo for creating problems for Unicoi on the drive. I think they had over 10 blocks between them. I must admit going into the game I didn't like Betsy's chances. However, they outplayed Unicoi on this night and deserved the win. Regardless, I don't think Betsy can catch Unicoi for the District title, but can grab second place with a win over Sullivan East on Friday. Then there's the districts and hopefully the regionals...

[etownsparky]

Just for the record I didn't say the refs beat us my daughter plays for unicoi and I am the first to say Betsy beat us in every part of the game and earned the victory but a foul is a foul on both sides that being said that prob wouldn't have changed the outcome cause we didn't want it as bad as you all did or thought it was gonna be easy and if Edwards it our engine than you all better hope depew stays out of foul trouble cause like us you will be hurting bad Congtats to Betsy they took us behind woodshed

I think your point about Depew is certainly valid. Just as I believe Edwards is Unicoi's engine, Depew is obviously Betsy's. If either gets into foul trouble or has a bad night, it automatically is tougher for their team. Both teams have other quality players, but those two are difference makers.

[Thebballguru]

I agree this is a factor not to be ignored. As a matter of fact, Betsy was more accustomed to playing man defense with an occasional zone and pressing when Dugger coached. That resulted in normally more fouls being called on EHS than their opponents. Wilson's philosophy is different where he relies more on a zone. He still presses both full and half court at times. As I mentioned in a previous post, EHS had a lot of fouls too, but just not as many as Unicoi. I still believe uncontrolled aggression and poor technique resulted in a lot of Unicoi's fouls as much or more than the fact they played man to man defense. To your point, Unicoi looked somewhat confused by the Betsy zone and settled for outside shots. Credit Betsy's inside duo for creating problems for Unicoi on the drive. I think they had over 10 blocks between them. I must admit going into the game I didn't like Betsy's chances. However, they outplayed Unicoi on this night and deserved the win. Regardless, I don't think Betsy can catch Unicoi for the District title, but can grab second place with a win over Sullivan East on Friday. Then there's the districts and hopefully the regionals...

 

From an outsiders point of view, Betsy not only played better, more disciplined basketball-but they wanted it more. They left it all on the court. Unicoi didn't seem to care. They didn't act like they wanted to be there, which caught me off guard because in years past it has always been a heated rivalry in which both teams are pumped up and ready to play...

 

Betsys game plan was simple, get it to Depew and let her break the press, drive to the basket, and score....that was it-ALL NIGHT LONG, and Unicoi didn't have an answer for whatever reason...

[dog4life]

The Lady Dogs have played well this week beating Unaka 82-57 and Johnson Co. 67-53 @ JC. Johnson Co. is a very improved team and Unaka has been playing well. Unaka was never in the game vs Hampton. I only see them getting better and will be a tough out for someone come Regional or Sub-State time.

[etownsparky]

The Lady Dogs have played well this week beating Unaka 82-57 and Johnson Co. 67-53 @ JC. Johnson Co. is a very improved team and Unaka has been playing well. Unaka was never in the game vs Hampton. I only see them getting better and will be a tough out for someone come Regional or Sub-State time.

I'd say the Lady Dawgs' best basketball is in front of them. I agree they will be a tough out come tournament time. Both Hampton and Cloudland should make some noise in the post-season.

[THE KING]

Dog4life, I cant speak for others, but I respect the lady dogs. You all have an awesome coach. Cloudland cant afford a bad game against this talented bunch. I would rather be challenged than have a cake walk to the state tournament. Good competition makes you better.

[THE KING]

Lady landers need to take care of business this week. Go ladies! Whooo!

[limestonecove]

Hey Sparky:

Were you one of the 3 TAD parents thrown out of the game with Unicoi thursday night? Just wondering as I know you have a daughter that plays. Didnt see the game but it sounds like it got out of control on and off the court. I hope the TAD girl that got injured is okay.

[etownsparky]

Hey Sparky:

Were you one of the 3 TAD parents thrown out of the game with Unicoi thursday night? Just wondering as I know you have a daughter that plays. Didnt see the game but it sounds like it got out of control on and off the court. I hope the TAD girl that got injured is okay.

Sorry to disappoint you, but no I wasn't thrown out of the game. Actually, the paper was wrong as there were only 2 parents tossed. The TAD player is okay. I believe the Unicoi player involved in the collision hurt her knee as well. I hope she is okay too as she is a sweet girl and a friend of my daughter's. The injured girl's dad just got caught in the heat of the moment and verbally confronted the referee as he was going on the floor to check on his daughter. He probably deserved to be tossed, but the ref escalated the situation by how he mishandled the situation. Instead of getting security or an administrator to escort the parent out and turning and walking away, the ref acted aggressively and actually bumped the guy as they continued to argue. This action triggered a retalitory response from the parent and they went after each other. Fortunately there were folks there to step in and restore order. I must say, regardless of what a fan says or has said, I have never seen a referee instigate a physical confrontation like that before. I'm not blaming the incident on the ref - only the level to which it escalated. The newspaper article tends to paint a picture of rogue TAD parents/fans wreaking havoc, but that really wasn't the case. The incident was regrettable and marred, what was by any standards, a great performance by the TAD Lady Cyclones. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

[THE KING]

In my opinion, if the ref did that he should be fired by the TSSAA. I'm surprised more refs don't take a beat down in Carter Co. with the way they call games. Sure, anyone can get a call wrong or make a mistake, but the level of officiating in Carter County is downright embarrassing. The only good called game I've seen all year was our game with Hampton. The players were allowed to play defense and they let two good teams settle it on the court. Back on the subject, it was just an unfortunate situation that happens sometimes at ball games. Was the game in Erwin?

[limestonecove]

Sparky I didnt think it would be you; sorry if you took it that way. It was a middle school game so the quality of officiating would be lower anyway. TAD has a very good team this year and will most likely get back to the Forge for the Sectional tournament and make some noise there.

Ref definitely took a bad situation and made it worse.

[Thebballguru]

Sparky I didnt think it would be you; sorry if you took it that way. It was a middle school game so the quality of officiating would be lower anyway. TAD has a very good team this year and will most likely get back to the Forge for the Sectional tournament and make some noise there.

Ref definitely took a bad situation and made it worse.

 

While in some cases the refs at middle school games are newer or lower caliber officials, a lot of times they are varsity/college guys who don't have a higher level game that night.

 

It is not uncommon to see the same 2 refs from a middle school game one night in a prime time conference game in a 3 man crew the next night.

 

It is what it is...