Way-too-early predictions for the DII-A and AA Boys State Tournament Champions
Briarcrest had too much offensive firepower for Brentwood Academy to overcome in Saturday’s Division II-AA Boys State Tournament Championship game. Sophomore point guard Kennedy Chandler filled up the stat sheet once again. He finished with 20 points, five rebounds, two…
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Continue ReadingBriarcrest had too much offensive firepower for Brentwood Academy to overcome in Saturday’s Division II-AA Boys State Tournament Championship game.
Sophomore point guard Kennedy Chandler filled up the stat sheet once again. He finished with 20 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal and was named MVP of the tournament. Chandler went 8 for 9 from the foul line. Junior forward Marcellus Brigham was a matchup problem for the Eagles early on. He added 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal.
In the post, junior big man Omari Thomas had his way, especially in the second half, adding 14 points, six rebounds, one assist, one block, and one steal. Thomas went a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line.
After Briarcrest captured its first state title since 2008, Brigham mentioned getting this state title builds confidence going into next season. Chandler, Thomas, and defensive specialist Michael Malone nodded their heads in agreement as well.
The Saints, who finished the 2018 season 29-2, will bring back all of their key pieces from this season’s championship team. It’s safe to say right now that Briarcrest is the early favorite to win the DII-AA Boys State Tournament Championship again next season. As of right now, the Saints are just deeper and more talented than everyone else.
Knoxville Webb
Knoxville Webb had a strong first half against Tipton-Rosemark Academy in Saturday’s DII-A Boys State Tournament Championship game. The Spartans shot 66.7 percent (16 for 24) from the field, including 58.3 percent (7 for 12) from 3 to grab an early double-digit lead and didn’t look back to capture the school’s first-ever state championship.
Knoxville Webb had three players to score in double figures. Guard Luke Burnett led the team with 25 points. Forward Uriah Powers had 19, and guard Tariq Daughton provided 14. Each player shot at least 60 percent from the field.
Daughton, Burnett, Powers, and Emory Lanier, who are all juniors, will be back next season. The Spartans are only losing one senior. This season’s team finished 30-6, with a state championship to top it off. As well as Knoxville Webb executes on both ends of the floor, it’s hard not seeing this team back in Nashville playing for the gold ball again.