[thetribe]

Well as far as being deep on the bench let's see here...They have Balridge, Belcher, and Adkins that come in second string and play. They have some other sleepers on the bench though if the need arises.

East Ridge has a great team this year and these girls have been working together for quite some time. I like it when Smith, Hogston, Conley, and Yates are all on the floor together because they all go way back. They played basketball at EC growing up and they know each others style. Yates is perfect at a 1 because she knows where everyone on the floor is or is going. She reads the people well because of her experience with those girls.

I'm not sure about the 8th grade tournament or not. I stopped playing Jr. High basketball at the end of my 7th grade season so I can't recall who took it our 8th grade year.

I know many, many players on that team and let me just say that I love to see them play. I have grown up with those girls, espically the four that I named prior, and they have what it takes to step up this year and bring home the first district title for the girls.

The team had a 16-12 record last year. It's not that great but 16 wins in a season is not bad at all. That team also did not get the recognition for it. There was not alot of support and they really didn't impress me as a whole BUT this year I intend on following the team and supporting them 100% because I believe that they can make it happen.

Central does have a young team and it takes alot for girls to come from the Junior High level and step up and play Varsity. They have to get used to a different crowd and reactions from them, having to compete with bigger, more experienced girls. Some go from being at the TOP of the league in jr. high to the very bottom when adjusting to Varsity and that alone is a big transition.