Regionals 5AA-6AA Preview
Martin Luther King, Pearl Cohn, Maplewood, East Nashville. The names of historic Nashville Metro Schools all convene in Region 5AA providing a pair of clashes to local fans. As long as they travel to Greenbrier, Tennessee. Maplewood meets Pearl Cohn…
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Continue ReadingMartin Luther King, Pearl Cohn, Maplewood, East Nashville. The names of historic Nashville Metro Schools all convene in Region 5AA providing a pair of clashes to local fans. As long as they travel to Greenbrier, Tennessee. Maplewood meets Pearl Cohn prior to an MLK-East Nashville rematch. In the 6AA bracket surprise regional quarterfinal winner Murfreesboro Central Magnet meets Marshall County after MC Magnet removed Fairview from the draw. Nolensville and Camden compete for a place in the Regional Finals.
Previewing the semifinals
5AA
Maplewood vs. Pearl Cohn: William Shaw against BoBo Hodges. Pearl Cohn’s top guard against Maplewood’s best guard. PrepHoopsTN #64 against PrepHoopsTN #46. Can the first step brilliance of Shaw overwhelm the sturdy, dual-sport athlete BoBo Hodges? Probably, but Hodges’ command of the offense is just as dominating. Together they represent two of the best guards in the 615 and if it were only between these two players the game might go all night. Alas, Pearl Cohn boasts a deeper, more dynamic attack than Maplewood. Shaw is joined by stringy, yet bouncy forward Tyrone Marshall. Marshall is likely to amass a double-double against Maplewood’s frontline. The Firebirds defeated Maplewood by an average of 27.5 in their two meetings this season. Maplewood simply doesn’t have the horses to compete in this race.
Our pick: Pearl Cohn 55, Maplewood 47
MLK vs. East Nashville: No game in the state brings with it more intrigue. Last year, MLK ended East Nashville’s 28-game winning streak with a shocking 66-58 victory and knocked off East in the District Semifinal, 56-51. MLK won their last five games. So, why isn’t MLK favored? East Nashville has better players. Caleb Grimes and Taras Carter provide the best backcourt in Nashville Metro and they aren’t even the best college prospects on their team. Willie Wilson (Class of 2022) is a revelation for Head Coach Jim Fey. Wilson brings offensive firepower uncommon in Nashville since Gene Holmes/Jayden Lockett left last season. Don’t forget Isaiah Jones, as the 6-foot-4 wing. MLK can’t answer that athleticism even though they follow in line . What they do have is coaching prowess in Head Coach Caden Anderson and grit. Oh, and recent history. MLK only seems to beat East Nashville in the playoffs. Not this time. The Eagles soar.
Our pick: East Nashville 69, MLK 57
6AA
Murfreesboro Central Magnet vs. Marshall County: Fairview wanted to be in this game. Fairview wanted to be winners of this game. Murfreesboro Magnet, with the 28 point night from Steph Laird, decided otherwise. In one of the three enormous Class AA upsets Monday night MC Magnet removed the favorite or second favorite team of the 6AA bracket. Facing Marshall County always means defending or standing near K.J. Johnson as he scores obnoxiously easily. MC Magnet is not the quickest team left and K.J. is the quickest player they will face all season. Johnson is a finalist for Mr. Basketball after winning last year. This game should be one his best to land on his resume. Remember this is a superstar routinely putting up 35+ points a game. This time out K.J. will doing something everybody expects and nobody can stop.
Our pick: Marshall County 72, Murfreesboro Central Magnet 55
THE TIGERS COME OUT ON TOP AT FAIRVIEW 58-44‼️‼️@w_smith___ had 15p / 13a@st3ph3nlaird had 28p / 5r
TIGERS ADVANCE TO REGION SEMIFINAL ON WEDNESDAY AT 7:30‼️‼️Game will be at East Hickman‼️‼️
— CMSPN (@C_M_S_P_N) February 26, 2019
Nolensville vs. Camden: Camden has a fighting chance against the Nolensville Knights. Though underdogs, Camden Central features a taller, more athletic team than in most years. Davis Hopkins is an uncommonly tall and spry wing for a town of roughly 3,600 people. Standing 6-foot-5 Davis can run the floor and score from the wings. He needs to be his best just for Camden to compete. The Knights are unlikely to be looking ahead to a rematch with Marshall County, but Williamson County fans are eager to get that development. Recently featured NHS point guard Nathan Foutch is an important player to watch in this game. Camden will play sound defense and try to deny post feeds. Foutch will be tasked with getting the ball into the paint often and scoring when left alone. His impact will help determine the outcome.
Our pick: Nolensville 64, Camden 50
Players to watch
2019 K.J. Johnson, Marshall County Lipscomb signee
2019 Nate Bloedorn, Nolensville
2020 Nathan Foutch, Nolensville
2019 Taras Carter, East Nashville
2019 Caleb Grimes, East Nashville
2022 Willie Wilson, East Nashville
2021 Isaiah Jones, East Nashville
2019 BoBo Hodges, Maplewood
2019 Michael McClary, MLK
2020 Tyrone Marshall, Pearl Cohn
2019 William Shaw, Pearl Cohn
2019 Davis Hopkins, Camden
2020 Sam Ejiofor, MLK
2020 Tre Vaughn, MLK
2019 Chase Douglas, Camden
2019 Steph Laird, Murfreesboro Central Magnet
2019 Will Carter, Murfreesboro Central Magnet
REGIONAL FINALS PREDICTIONS
Pearl Cohn vs. East Nashville
Pearl Cohn vs. East Nashville: A match of Firebirds and Eagles feels unpredictable. Fast, frenetic. East Nashville is absolutely the better regular season team the last two years. Neither team plays well in February lately. As the premiere district teams this season it is fitting that these two teams meet. Get into your seat early to watch the up-and-down guards. Defensive commitment will decide this game despite the inclusion of many wonderful one-on-one scorers. Help defense is key.
Our pick: Pearl Cohn 64, East Nashville 60
Marshall County vs. Nolensville: AAU teammates K.J. Johnson and Nate Bloedorn meet again. If this commences MCHS and NHS will be meeting for the SEVENTH time in two seasons. K.J. is the better college prospect and higher scorer. Is he capable of capturing Marshall County Tigers’
No.
Bloedorn expertly avoids foul trouble thus keeping him on the floor. Most teams don’t have the big lugs to defend Bloedorn effectively and Marshall County runs out a smaller frontcourt than most teams. In fact, the Tigers have zero lugs. Bloedorn and his fellow frontcourt teammates will dominate both the rebound wars and the scoreboard.
Our pick: Nolensville 72, Marshall County 59