Sectional: Clarksville vs. Providence
From the jump, Clarksville got out into a lead. They were heavy on the three-pointers early and were able to really put some distance up. They were up 21-10 after the first quarter and that was basically as close as these two teams were the rest of the game.
Providence did get going in the second half but that was when Clarksville began to hit their free throws. Cullen Ebert and Blake Murphy were about the only offense for Providence in the second half and that really slowed down any chance they might have had to get back in.
Providence did get it back down to 12 points in the final quarter with about five minutes to go but Clarksville fired back and ended up winning, 62-48.
Best Offensive Player: Murphy McEwen (Clarksville)
While he didn’t do nearly as much in the second half, McEwen was really good in the first scoring the majority of his points and going 3/3 from distance. He was part of the offensive barrage in the first half that gave them the lead the never surrendered. He’s not the tallest guard but has a quick release and is really shifty. Will be a key piece moving forward.
Best Defensive Player: Christian Stewart (Clarksville)
Hard to pick anyone other than Stewart here. The 6’4, physical forward was everything Clarksville needed. He was really tough around the rim and was able to pretty much snare anything even remotely in his area. He created a lot of second chance opportunities for them and was physical enough to play against anyone that wanted to go in the lane. He’s a difference maker at this level.
Biggest Surprise: Clarksville’s Ability To Stop Runs
More so than anything else in this game, it really came down to Clarksville’s toughness and rebounding. They really were able to thwart any threat that Providence would provide. They weren’t really flashy, just locked in and aggressive. The early lead sure did help but also, rebounding and not giving up easy shots in the lane. Stewart was a huge part of that but Isaiah Harris was also pretty good with his athleticism and length.
Top Scorers:
Murphy McEwen (Clarksville) – 19 points, 7/9 shooting
Cullen Ebert (Providence) – 19 points, 7/15 shooting
Team |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Final |
Clarksville | 21 | 31 | 47 | 62 |
Providence | 10 | 19 | 31 | 48 |