Eaglettes debut at Play Day contests

Shelbyville Central coach Lynn Burkey, along with assistant coaches Jana Reynolds, left, and Labora McCroskey, takes a look at the updated schedule of the annual Eaglette Play Day to be played Saturday at six different gyms across the county. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

As the start of high school basketball season nears, teams across Tennessee are working hard preparing for the season opener.

Shelbyville Central will host its annual Eaglette Play Day Saturday with 35 teams playing in six gyms across the county. Cascade and Community are also participating.

The Eaglette Play Day has been one of the most successful in the state, and this time around is no exception with a number of quality teams from across the state.

"Play Days are a great opportunity to see exactly where your team is against a variety of different teams from across the state," Eaglette coach Lynn Burkey said. "I think a lot of people try to read too much into a Play Day.

"I like to win at everything I do and every time I go onto the court but I like to use Play Days as an opportunity to work on certain things, chemistry on the court among different players and as a time of trial and error. Winning now is not as important as winning later, and that's how I look at it."

For years Shelbyville's Play Day started on Friday night and continued through Saturday but, with TSSAA's new rule allowing only two Play Days or a Play Day and two individual scrimmages, Burkey and his staff decided to cut it to only one day.

"We got some great teams from both East and West Tennessee along with some quality teams from Middle Tennessee," Burkey said. "There will be some great games and we look forward to hosting this event once again."

PLAY DAY SCHEDULE

Central High Gym

8:00, Franklin Co. vs. Ridgeway; 9:00, Lebanon vs. Marshall Co.; 10:00, Shelbyville vs. Hickman Co.; 11:00, Cookeville vs. Memphis Central; noon, Shelbyville vs. Ravenwood; 1:00, Cookeville vs. Farragut; 2:00, Shelbyville vs. Morristown West; 3:00, Moore Co. vs. Livingston Academy; 4:00, Farragut vs. Marshall Co.

Harris Middle

8:00, Wartburg vs. Lincoln Co.; 9:00, Franklin Co. vs. Ravenwood; 10:00, Jackson Co. vs. Lincoln Co.; 11:00, Upperman vs. Clarksville; noon, Jackson Co. vs. Chattanooga A & S; 1:00, Ridgeway vs. Upperman; 2:00, Cheatham Co. vs. Marshall Co.; 3:00, Upperman vs. Memphis Central; 4:00, Coffee Co. vs. Red Boiling Springs

Shelbyville Recreation Center

9:00, Hunters Lane vs. Memphis Central; 10:00, Ridgeway vs. Livingston Academy; 11:00, Page vs. Station Camp; noon, Independence vs. DeKalb Co.; 1:00, Hunters Lane vs. Warren Co.; 2:00, Lincoln Co. vs. Hunters Lane; 3:00, Jackson Co. vs. Warren Co.

Thomas Intermediate

8:00, Cumberland Co. vs. Moore Co.; 9:00, Station Camp vs. Morristown West; 10:00, Knoxville Catholic vs. Cumberland Co.; 11:00, Cannon Co. vs. Cheatham Co.; noon, La Vergne vs. Livingston; 1:00, Page vs. Cumberland Co.; 2:00, Wartburg vs. Red Boiling Springs; 3:00, Clarksville vs. Chattanooga A & S

Cascade High

8:00, Cascade vs. Hickman Co.; 9:00, Cheatham Co. vs. DeKalb Co.; 10:00, Wartburg vs. Chattanooga A & S; 11:00, Farragut vs. Lebanon; noon, Coffee Co. vs. Hickman Co.; 1:00, Memphis Central vs. Station Camp; 2:00, Cascade vs. Independence; 3:00, Cookeville vs. La Vergne; 4:00, Cascade vs. Hunters Lane

Community High

8:00, Community vs. Knoxville Catholic; 9:00, Page vs. Warren Co.; 10:00, Community vs. Independence; 11:00, Moore Co. vs. Morristown West; noon, Red Boiling Springs vs. Knoxville Catholic; 1:00, Cannon Co. vs. Clarksville; 2:00, Coffee Co. vs. DeKalb Co.