Southeast District D4 Rankings 1-4-11

[HoundsAre4Real]

Is it really that big of a deal where teams are ranked on this poll? I mean come on ppl who cares this site means nothing!

[GreenDevils#1]

Can't really say Eastern has beat anyone cause usually the leagues up that way are weaker than the Soc.

[Hardwood]

If Manchester was undefeated and had beat Eastern head to head I would have to leave Manchester number 1 until they got beat no matter how impressive the win was. Believe me I'm not an Eastern fan, they are a rival, but until they get beat they deserve number 1. The win over Peebles is an impressive win and I do realize how good Chesapeake, Ironton and Piketon are. I look at this like last year D3 in reality Chesapeake was number 1 but going into tournament in a poll I would have had to put Peebles and Portsmouth both ahead of them. I could see that you think Manchester is better which by the end they may well be, but for now Eastern has done nothing to lose their spot.

[Hardwood]

Can't really say Eastern has beat anyone cause usually the leagues up that way are weaker than the Soc.

Eastern beat the team that blew you out.

[KingJames]

Eastern plays Lucasville Valley @ Chesapeake, not Chesapeake

[jimmy chipwood]

If Manchester was undefeated and had beat Eastern head to head I would have to leave Manchester number 1 until they got beat no matter how impressive the win was. Believe me I'm not an Eastern fan, they are a rival, but until they get beat they deserve number 1. The win over Peebles is an impressive win and I do realize how good Chesapeake, Ironton and Piketon are. I look at this like last year D3 in reality Chesapeake was number 1 but going into tournament in a poll I would have had to put Peebles and Portsmouth both ahead of them. I could see that you think Manchester is better which by the end they may well be, but for now Eastern has done nothing to lose their spot.

This is a very logical/rational response and sort of sums up my second hypothetical question above. To some it really wouldnt matter who Manchester would beat the rest of the season as long as Eastern Meigs stays undefeated they would put them #1 because of a 2 point win early in the season. Sorry, but these rankings are not going to be based on a win/loss record. Maybe, the move to #1 was a tad premature but if Manchester keeps winning against good teams they were going to move up at some time this season no matter if Eastern Meigs would have went 19-1 because they have no chance of beating Chesapeake. Sorry, had to throw that out there. This will also be my last response on this subject as I enjoy the debate/discussion but am not going to spend any more time on the subject. I dont see people from Eastern Pike crying around about being tied with Waterford. (Although, they are probably just biting their tongues). With good wins and continued dominance of lesser teams they will keep rising too. Lastly, my rankings are not a Poll. A poll is when a group comes together and votes.

[KingJames]

As i just said Eastern doesnt play Chesapeake

[93Bulldog]

Polls, Rankings are clearly for fun - I for one enjoy debating the topic - I don't think anyone is taking it very seriously Houndsare4real.

About Eastern/Manchester: I would defintly keep the 'undefeated' team out front no matter which team it is ... I wouldn't care if Manchester went on to beat Ohio State and Duke - Eastern was able to defeat Manchester head-to-head and their still undefeated.

Let me also add ... I was at the Convo for both games between Eastern and Manchester (the tourney game last season and this years match-up) ... Do I think Manchester is a tiny bit better? Maybe - probably because of overall talent ... But you can't count out a Howie Caldwell led team ... The guy has been winning games with less talent since before I was born.

Manchester won last year 47-44 on a last second shot ... Eastern won this year 54-52 ... Its probably safe to say they are two pretty even teams so in order to rank them: you have to look at the clear cut facts - Eastern won the match-up and has yet to lose a single game.

One last side note: Eastern has a few other quality wins not being discussed. The Eagles knocked off a (4-1) Waterford team that is pretty darn good - and they handled them 53-37. Eastern also crushed a descent Meigs team 66-36. The same Meigs team that beat D-II Vinton County (6-2) by 14 pts.

[I smell bad]

Polls, Rankings are clearly for fun - I for one enjoy debating the topic - I don't think anyone is taking it very seriously Houndsare4real.

About Eastern/Manchester: I would defintly keep the 'undefeated' team out front no matter which team it is ... I wouldn't care if Manchester went on to beat Ohio State and Duke - Eastern was able to defeat Manchester head-to-head and their still undefeated.

Let me also add ... I was at the Convo for both games between Eastern and Manchester (the tourney game last season and this years match-up) ... Do I think Manchester is a tiny bit better? Maybe - probably because of overall talent ... But you can't count out a Howie Caldwell led team ... The guy has been winning games with less talent since before I was born.

Manchester won last year 47-44 on a last second shot ... Eastern won this year 54-52 ... Its probably safe to say they are two pretty even teams so in order to rank them: you have to look at the clear cut facts - Eastern won the match-up and has yet to lose a single game.

One last side note: Eastern has a few other quality wins not being discussed. The Eagles knocked off a (4-1) Waterford team that is pretty darn good - and they handled them 53-37. Eastern also crushed a descent Meigs team 66-36. The same Meigs team that beat D-II Vinton County (6-2) by 14 pts.

Look I think Howdy is a great coach. But these kinds of comments just make no sense to me. When did he win with less talent? And if he does this regularly, how bad does that speak for the teams he has had that were 2-19, and 3-18? Man those players must have been terrible! I know he has won a lot of games, and he wins a lot when he has good players. But to say he wins with less talent?

[Super Fresh]

The competition was tough, and YES there was little talent.

[Ironman92]

Boy this is big talk!

Again, I'm on the side of Eastern being number 1.....but the other arguement I would jump on is the nuetral floor. Yes, technically it is indeed neutral.....as was the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans a couple of days ago. To me the Convo has to be considered Howie's 2nd home....yes, the kids played and earned the win....but if you tell me to guess who will win the game between Eastern and Manchester and tell me it's going to be played at the Convo.....I'm going with Eastern. Game at Eastern....I'm going with Eastern...Game at Manchester....I'm taking Manchester. Game at Peebles....Manchester again.

Yes, it's neutral.....but a lopsided nuetral IMO. These are obviously 2 very good teams. I believe if they played 10 times on a nuetral court.....maybe 50 miles from each that they may very well split 5 and 5. These teams are obviously very close.

Good Luck to both teams and I hope for a rematch game.

[93Bulldog]

I smellbad - Eastern has NO PLAYER OVER 6'0 TALL ... They had one kid last year (Mike Johnson) that was maybe 6-foot-1 tall - and yet they keep churning out wins. I'm not saying Eastern has 'NO TALENT' - because they do ... They just don't have star players that are considered for most post season awards (i.e. TVC-Hocking player of the year, All-District, etc..etc...) ... Eastern wins by playing as a 'team' better than almost any other squad I have seen in Southeastern Ohio (and I have seen a ton over the last 10 years) ... They don't turn the ball over much, they play tough defense, they pass well, block out, rebound, etc..etc...

That all goes back to GOOD COACHING ...

[jimmy chipwood]

Some nice games scheduled this weekend.

1. #5 Eastern Pike at #10 Clay

2. Eastern Brown at #1 Manchester

3. #4 Wateford at Wahama

4. #8 Symmes Valley at #9 Green

5. South Gallia at #2 Eastern Meigs

[rockyraccoon]

Eastern plays at Clay tomorrow night. Eastern does play tonight, but I don't know who it is against. I am pretty sure it is a non SOC match.

[Dean]

From the teams that I have seen, South Webster is the best D 4 team around.

[jimmy chipwood]

A heads up for all of you win/loss (record) freaks. If Fairfield (2-6) beats Ripley (another team from outside the SE District that most have no clue about on here) they will make a huge jump up the rankings. Ripley would be very comparable to teams like South Webster, Valley, Unioto, Vinton County, etc, but probably a notch below the Chesapeake, Piketon, and Ironton's. A game down to the wire by Fairfield at Ripley might even get them to break the top 10 depending on what others do this weekend! Let the crying begin! (LOL)

[I smell bad]

I smellbad - Eastern has NO PLAYER OVER 6'0 TALL ... They had one kid last year (Mike Johnson) that was maybe 6-foot-1 tall - and yet they keep churning out wins. I'm not saying Eastern has 'NO TALENT' - because they do ... They just don't have star players that are considered for most post season awards (i.e. TVC-Hocking player of the year, All-District, etc..etc...) ... Eastern wins by playing as a 'team' better than almost any other squad I have seen in Southeastern Ohio (and I have seen a ton over the last 10 years) ... They don't turn the ball over much, they play tough defense, they pass well, block out, rebound, etc..etc...

That all goes back to GOOD COACHING ...

I didn't realize having players over 6' tall was a prerequisite for a good team. In that case Fed Hock should be the best team in the area. For 3 years previous to last season all I read and heard about Eastern was, "just wait till next year with these players..." Well last year finally became "next year" for them. But the simple fact that we kept hearing that told me they had a lot of talent. Yet only one real good season out of them. I think Eastern does a good job of playing as a team, and yes that does come from coaching. But the coach has to have talent, and to say he wins with less talent than the teams he plays is just silly in my opinion. More accurate would be that he coaches to the talent he has on hand. When talent is low, he doesn't win many games, when it is high he wins a lot. Just like any good coach does.

[TribeManiac10]

From the teams that I have seen, South Webster is the best D 4 team around.

But South Webster beat Northwest by 9 who lost to Peebles by 28 who lost to Manchester by 2. Nobody will really know whose on top until tourny time.

[Dean]

I haven't seen Peebles yet so I cannot fairly judge them. I am looking forward to seeing the Justice(sp?) kid play.

[The Ghost of Swanker]

just because so and so beat so and so by this much then so and so lost to so and so by this much doesn't mean any thing right now.