3 takeaways from Memphis East’s win over Memphis Overton
Memphis East put a chokehold on the TSSAA 4A District 16 Tuesday night with a 67-58 win over Memphis Overton in a back-and-forth affair. The Mustangs are now 5-0 in district play, with a district title in reach if they…
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Continue ReadingMemphis East put a chokehold on the TSSAA 4A District 16 Tuesday night with a 67-58 win over Memphis Overton in a back-and-forth affair.
The Mustangs are now 5-0 in district play, with a district title in reach if they can defeat Whitehaven and White Station this week.
Here are 3 takeaways from Memphis East’s win over the Wolverines.
Anyone can carry the offensive load for the Mustangs
It’s hard to say who will have a big night for Memphis East each time the team steps onto the floor. When a starting five of Markese Washington, Jamarion Harvey, E.J. Smith, Billy Richmond, and Alijah Curry touches the court, the Mustangs are tough to guard as each player can push the basketball in transition and put the basketball on the floor.
Against Overton, Washington, the only senior in the starting five, led Memphis East with 24 points, scoring 10 of those points in the third quarter to help Memphis East build a 46-34 lead. In the same quarter, Smith shook off a slow start and scored 10 of his 14 points, which included a monster one-handed dunk in transition.
Before the Mustangs’ exploding third quarter, they had to rally from an eight-point first quarter deficit. Harvey led the charge, scoring nine of his 15 points in the second quarter to give Memphis East a 23-22 halftime lead.
Head coach Javonte Holmes has the luxury of not having to depend solely on one player each game. It can be anyone’s night or it can be everyone’s night. That’s how talented the Mustangs are, and it’s clear that they’re the top dog in the district.
This isn’t the same Memphis East team from the beginning of the season
Early in the 2021 season, the Mustangs lost close games to First Assembly Christian School and Christian Brothers College.
Tuesday night, Memphis East had to hold off the Wolverines, who got within five (49-44) early in the fourth quarter off of back to back 3s from seniors Jaden Taylor and Jherrone Jones. The Mustangs didn’t rattle and quickly built a 59-50 lead off back to back scores by Richmond in transition.
Earlier in the season, Memphis East probably would have squandered away its lead, only because of experience. Remember, this is this group’s first year playing together. Despite being sophomores, this is Curry and Richmond first year of varsity basketball. So, both players have had to get used to the speed of the game as the season moved along.
Both players seem to be comfortable at this point of the season. Washington is doing his part as a senior, stepping up in big moments, and the duo of Harvey and Smith have met expectations by being the heart and soul of the program this year.
Overton needs a strong finish in district play
The Wolverines have lost both meetings to the Mustangs. They also lost a close one to the Whitehaven Tigers. Now, Overton has to figure out a way to beat Whitehaven on the road, plus sweep Memphis Central, Kingsbury, and the White Station Spartans to end the regular season on a high note, with hopes of a deep postseason run. A win over the Tigers would show that Overton can beat a top-tier team in the district and in 4A.
It’s not like the Wolverines are lacking the talent. Taylor and junior point guard Jordan Frison are dynamic enough to score half of the team’s points. Jones, who led the team with 21 points Tuesday night, is a high-flying guard that can make shots from the perimeter. Junior forward Jailen Hardaway is a solid stretch big that can be effective in pick-and-roll situations, and let’s not forget senior forward Isaiah Regular, who can block or alter shots at the rim, plus make shots from the perimeter.
I wouldn’t count out Overton, because it’s a scrappy group that’s competitive and talented enough to overcome these close losses.