Region 1 AA

[coaches_corner]

Some very good first round games. My picks:

 

Pigeon Forge over Volunteer. Volunteer will do well to keep this game within 15 points. The Lady Tigers are playing very well and appear to be peaking at the right time. Volunteer will give it their all, but I do not think they have the height or shooting to stay with PF, unless Caldwell lights it up.

 

Sullivan Central over Claiborne County in a very close game. Both teams well coached. This game could go either way, but I say the Cougars pull it out.

 

Unicoi over South Greene in overtime. I expect both teams to play well and if thats so this will be a barnburner. I say Unicoi by 3 in OT.

 

Elizabethton over Chucky Doak. CD matches up with the Lady Cyclones size-wise and has some very good athletes. I dont think they played very well against Claiborne in the third place game in D2 tourney and perhaps will come in with something to prove; that their second place finish in the regular season was not a fluke. That makes this a dangerous game for Betsy. Elizabethton must come to play from the opening tip, and I expect they will. I say the Cyclones by 9.

 

Other opinions??

[LadyTigersMom]

I don't know much about Volunteer, but I agree with you about Pigeon Forge playing well right now. Those games against Claiborne & South Greene were tough, especially with Haley Johnson being out with mono and Brianna not being 100% due to the stomach flu. The Lady Tigers have a lot more potential than what you witnessed in both those games.

 

I also agree about the Elizabethton & Chuckey-Doak game. CD is a very physical team and if the officiating is good (preventing unecessary injuries), they will have a hard time against Elizabethton.

 

I disagree about the other two games. Claiborne and South Greene are both playing much better right now than they have all season. Those games will be close, but I think Claiborne and South Greene will prevail. Sullivan Central and Unicoi better be ready for some awesome defense when they play these teams.

 

I'm guessing the upper East TN teams will have a slight advantage since the coaches probably scouted our teams on Friday night. Of course, playing in a familiar gym has it's advantages as well. I'm glad we have an early game so it won't be midnight when we get home!

[coaches_corner]

LTM:

One thing all the teams in District One AA know about is tough defense. Central and Unicoi both play very good defense; where they can have trouble is when they have trouble scoring. The So Greene-Unicoi game will be a war. Based on recent play, I think the Rebels go in as the favorite. But I think Unicoi, playing at home, after being outshown last week by their boys team, (which won the district) comes in with a big chip on their shoulder. For this reason, I think Unicoi becomes a slight favorite.

 

I expect the officiating to be good. It wasnt too bad for the district up here and should only get better for the regional.

[Mrs.B]

Elizabethton over Chuckey Doak

 

Pigeon Forge over Volunteer

 

Both #1's have worked hard all season and are prepared.

 

South Greene over Unicoi

I don't know all the history of this rivalry but I don't think Unicoi can stop the Waddells and SG has Unicoi's # lately (I think )

 

Sullivan Central over Claiborne

Cougars riding high with #2 finish in District Tournament. They want more.

[coachh17]

Regional bracket does not appear to be such a great draw for Elizabethton. One could argue that 4 of the top 5 teams in the region are in their bracket, but that is sometimes how it shakes out. Obviously, Chuckey-Doak is a tough opener. If the Cyclones win they then would have to beat Unicoi for the 3rd time or try and avenge an embarrasing earlier season loss to South Greene to reach the sub-state. Certainly, the Cyclones need to focus on one game at a time and give maximum effort each night. The good news is they always rise to the occasion and meet a challenge head on. I expect nothing less in this tournament. Go Cyclones!!!!!

[coaches_corner]

Coachh17 and B:

CD will not be overlooked. You know the leadership on this team. They will not let down. CD may win this game but if they do, they will have earned it. I like our draw, it will only help us down the line if we live through it. There are no gimmes from here on. One game season starts tommorrow night.

Edited February 28, 2005 by coaches_corner

[krichunaka]

I can't help but agree with you, corner, that Unicoi will pull the Upset; Funny thing is, logic rules otherwise. The Lady Blue Devils must show up and have their Best Total Team performance, NOW? They could win a Classic; they could be blown out of their own gymnasium. It's that delicate.

My brain says: SG 52 UC 41 My Heart says: UC 37 SG 36

 

Pigeon Forge has a better shot at the Finale than do the Lady Cyclones. Volunteer is a very high-energy team, but the offensive threats just aren't there. Caldwell can go absolutely unconscious, but I don't think it will be close.

PF 53 VH 35

 

Sullivan Central played a great game in the Semis against Unicoi. They passed well and managed to score a lot in the paint, which bodes well for Moody. They will win. SC 40 CC 35

 

If the Lady Cyclones continue to play like they have recently, nobody will derail them this side of Murfreesboro. In fact, if Elizabethton gets through the impending CD, UC/SG, PF Guantlet, We're going to coach17's house for Dinner!

EHS 55 CD 38

 

Likewise, if the Tigers win it all in Unicoi, they will have proven that they too, can play at MTSU.

 

LTM, I think you're going to love this tournament, with EHS vs PF as the likely Finale.

 

EHS 40 PF 39

Edited February 28, 2005 by krichunaka

[LadyTigersMom]

My competitive nature wants to reply...

 

PF 40 EHS 39

 

But I think at this point, I'll just take one day/one game at a time. I know I'll love this tournament if our girls play on Thursday! This is a big year for jgarrison and myself...our baby girl is graduating and her high school basketball career is almost over. We are excited that she will continue on and play in college though. And, I am sooo proud of the Lady Tigers! Brianna (and the other seniors) will leave Pigeon Forge High School with a mark in history...the first girl's basketball team to go undefeated in the season AND win the District Championship. Hopefully, they will have a few more "firsts" in the next two weeks! thumb

[jgarrison]

I just want our girls to concentrate on one game at a time. It has been proven in district 2 AA that the # 2 team could end up #4. Our team is going to have to bring it every game.

[jgarrison]

Hey sportsguy, will you be calling the games over the internet this week?

[LadyTigersMom]

Claiborne beat Sullivan Central tonight. Pigeon Forge beat Volunteer and Unicoi beat South Greene. I believe Elizabethton probably beat Chuckey-Doak, they were ahead the last I heard.

 

I was surprised at the South Greene/Unicoi game. I thought Unicoi played really well. South Greene did not.

[voice]

Elizabethton did beat Chucky-Doak. This sets up all district 2 in one bracket and all district 1 in the other. My bet is Elizabethton - Pigeon Forge final.