5 teams to watch during league play
League play has already started for some teams in the state of Tennessee, but this week, every team in the state will be in league play action. Basically, the road to Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee starts this week, with every…
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Continue ReadingLeague play has already started for some teams in the state of Tennessee, but this week, every team in the state will be in league play action.
Basically, the road to Nashville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee starts this week, with every game being a meaningful one from this point on.
I handpicked five teams from different leagues that people should keep a lookout for heading into March.
Let’s take a look at those five.
Class A
MAHS
The Lions went into the Christmas break 8-4 on the season. MAHS ended the first half of the season with a win over a good Fayette Ware team in the Ultimate Preps Hoop Xtravaganza. The most impressing thing was that the Lions had a winning record without their best player, junior forward David Dixon. Dixon, who’s 6-foot-8, is now eligible and played his first game of the season last weekend in the Memphis Hoopfest.
Dixon finished with 31 points and 19 rebounds in a 66-62 loss to St. Louis Christian. Head coach Vernard Watkins has to feel great about his team being 8-5 heading into league play. Adding Dixon with senior guard R.J. Berkley, junior guard Dylan Woods and the other complimentary pieces, and MAHS will be a team to watch for in Class A.
Class AA
Fayette Ware
The Wildcats are hungry for success this season. First-year head coach Demarius Chearis has a team that’s very gritty and talented. Fayette Ware currently sits at 6-3 on the season, with key wins over Overton and last season’s TSSAA Class A state title runner-up Humboldt. The Wildcats are led by senior guard Phillip Horton. Fayette Ware has a talented junior wing in Tyler Fitzpatrick. At the point guard spot, the Wildcats have been led by Taki Walker. Harmonta Griggs provides much-needed depth behind Walker. Coach Chearis has a 6-9 sophomore big man in JaSteven Walker. The kid is still finding his way, but he has potential.
Fayette Ware isn’t a team that’s ready to win a state championship, but it’s definitely a team that could make a surprise appearance in the state tournament.
Class AAA
White Station
It was tough choosing just one team in Class AAA, because there are so many good teams this season. I chose the Spartans because of their head coach Jesus Patino and their starting point guard Amauri Abner. Without those two guys, White Station isn’t sitting at 11-3 on the season. The Spartans have nice wins over Christian Brothers, Center Hill, FACS, Arlington and Cordova. White Station’s latest win is against the Mustangs, who are the defending MHSAA 5A state champions. Junior wing Davon Barnes had 18 points in the win, while Abner added 16. White Station has the same team from last season minus Brandon Brown, so chemistry was never anything coach Patino had to worry about. The Spartans don’t have a problem scoring the basketball. Kolby Hilson can shoot it with the best of them. This group is well-coached, and everyone is unselfish.
Division II Class A
FACS
I know Lausanne is the top dog in this league, but head coach Dee Wilkes has an aura of guards that can score a lot of points. The Crusaders are 10-2 heading into league play. The team is led by sophomore wing Daniel Egbuniwe, who’s an easy 20-point scorer every night when shots are falling. Then, there’s the rest of the clan: sophomores Corey Savage, T.J. Thomas and Kobe Wilkes, junior guard Josh Ward and senior guard Jayden Williams.
All of these players can score at least 15 points, and when this team is hitting on all cylinders, there’s not much the opposing team can do to stop the bleeding. FACS is definitely a team that can get to Nashville, Tennessee.
Division II Class AA
Montgomery Bell Academy
The first time I saw this team was against Christian Brothers, which defeated the Big Red 61-46. The team was missing a lot of guys who were playing football. Well, on Saturday at Fayette Ware, Montgomery Bell Academy was at full strength. The Big Red defeated the Wildcats 70-56 behind a balanced offensive attack. Sophomore guard Jackson Francis and junior guard/forward Will Montana each finished with 18 points. Freshman guard Marcel Reed and junior guard Miles Versa added 10 points apiece.
Montgomery Bell Academy heads into the second half of the season with a 10-4 record and could make a state tournament appearance if it continues to build morale.