Week 7: Top Performers
The second half of the 2020 season started this week and each game from here on out will be just as important as the games that were played in the first half of the season.
Bartlett head coach Dion Real knows the importance of playing well during the second half of the season, as the state tournament in Murfreesboro, Tennessee is two months away. Real has been here before, but he hasn’t had to work in a handful of transfers during an ongoing season filled with uncertainty each day.
Luckily for the program, the transfers can help the team a lot.
The Panthers have a trio of guards (Terrance Jacobs Jr., Tadarius Jacobs and Amarr Knox) that are capable of scoring half of the team’s points.
All three have quickly adjusted to Bartlett’s system on the fly despite joining the program after the 2020 season started.
Bartlett also has a freshman in forward Rashad Williams that’s giving the team quality minutes and production on the court. Add in the veterans Will Farris and Kamrin Jones, the Panthers can be a threat to Arlington, a program on a quest for a second-straight district crown.
On Saturday in Bartlett’s blowout home win over Bolivar Central, the Panthers had balance offensively, which makes things easy for everyone on the floor. Williams, Knox and Tadarius Jacobs Tadarius Jacobs 6'1" | CG Bartlett | 2021 State TN each had 14 points in the 82-52 win. Terrance Jacobs Jr. added 11. Jones and senior forward Luke Bridges each had eight.
The Panthers (9-5) had nine players to score at least four points.
“That’s tough to scout when you start trying to stop four guys that can score at any point,” Real said. “Along with the four guys in double figures, I think we had 20 assists tonight. Not only are we able to score the ball, but we are able to share it also. So, it’s been pretty good for us.”
Bartlett jumped out to a 29-12 lead and held the Tigers to just six points in the second quarter to go into halftime up 53-18. The Panthers held Bolivar Central’s best player JaQuan Lax to six points and converted on seven 3s.
The best from this week
As I do weekly, here are the top performers from this week.
Alex Anderson, Tipton–Rosemark Academy: Anderson led the Rebels with 31 points and 16 rebounds in their 53-43 win over Covington. Senior point guard Cam Donegan added 15.
Joshua Ward, FACS: Ward led the Crusaders with 23 points, seven rebounds and three steals in their 66-51 win over Harding Academy. Corey Savage had 14 points and three steals. Kobe Wilkes had 11 points, four rebounds and three steals. TJ Thomas added 10 points, six rebounds and four steals.
Austin Abernathy, Fayette Academy: The senior guard led the Vikings with 20 points in their 68-22 win over West Memphis Christian. Caleb Smith finished with 15. Luke Moore added 14.
Chandler Jackson, Christian Brothers: Jackson led the Purple Wave with 16 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two blocks in a win over Pure Academy. Zion Owens had 15. Reese McMullen had 11 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Harrison Kelly added 10. Eli Federman provided eight points and eight assists. Hunter Pratt provided eight points and three blocks. Christian Brothers recorded 25 assists.
Patrick Smith Jr., Goodpasture: Smith had 22 points, six rebounds and two steals in a 76-54 win over Clay County. Isaiah West added 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Davon Barnes, Collierville: Barnes had 24 points in the Dragons’ 57-53 win over North Panola.
Madison Taylor led the team with 18 in a 78-42 win over Oxford in the Collierville Classic.
Phil Dotson III, Arlington: The junior guard led the Tigers with 20 points in their 88-65 win over Madison Academy. Madison Peaster had 19. Isaiah Jones added 12.
Cooper Haynes, Briarcrest: Haynes had 34 points in the Saints’ 85-70 win over Trenton Peabody in the Marin’s Lions Club Christmas Tournament championship game. Jaye Nash had 17 points and 12 assists. Both players, along with senior Tyler Harrington, were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Matthew Schneider, Siegel: Schneider had 25 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two blocks in a 95-88 win over CPA in the third place game of the Next Level Hoopfest. Martise Jackson had 22 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Jaylan Wetzel had 18 points, four rebounds and two steals. Zion Swader added 17 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Jackson and Schneider were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Zandon Haralson, Center Hill: Haralson led the Mustangs with 27 points in their 78-67 win over Livingston Academy in the seventh place game of the Next Level Hoopfest. Calvin Dockery and Kaeden Laws each had 15. Haralson earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Matthew Sells, Livingston Academy: Sells had 33 points and converted on seven 3s against Center Hill.
Tyler Tanner, Brentwood Academy: Tanner had 16 points, seven rebounds and two assists in a 68-57 win over Ensworth in the championship game of the Next Level Hoopfest. Trent McNair had 16 points and five rebounds. DJ Senter had 11 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and two blocks. Athan Pohlman added 10 points and two rebounds. McNair (MVP), Tanner and Drey Moss were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Braeden Moore, CPA: Moore had 26 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Livingston Academy on the first day of the Next Level Hoopfest. Moore and Braden Zapp made the All-Tournament Team.
Skyy Clark (Ensworth), Tony Gaines (Ensworth), Trey Acklin (St. Pius) and Connor English (Ravenwood) filled out the rest of the All-Tournament Team.
R’Chaun King, MUS: King led the Owls with 14 points and five rebounds in their win over Olive Branch in the Collierville Classic. Ayman McGowan also had 14 points to go along with four rebounds. Curtis Givens Jr. had 10 points and four assists. Gavin Murray added six points and seven rebounds.