Regional Tournament Preview (R1-4A)
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The “Far East” will be fun, as the four best teams run out future college basketball players. There is a distinct difference between the top two teams and the pack, though Sevier County is perhaps capable of a regional upset.…
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Continue ReadingThe “Far East” will be fun, as the four best teams run out future college basketball players. There is a distinct difference between the top two teams and the pack, though Sevier County is perhaps capable of a regional upset. Who do you like advancing to the sectionals from Region 1-4A? DM @PrepHoopsTN with your picks, or @ us on Twitter.
Region 1
The favorite: Morristown East
Few can hang with the mighty Hurricanes.
The biggest threat: Dobyns-Bennett
Jack Browder
Jack
Browder
6'4" | CG
Dobyns Bennett | 2022
State
TN
collected 19, 19, and 16 in three consecutive games. The rebounding tallies of Jack as his final high school February opened are absurd. DB is a strong, deep, veteran team. If not for MoEast’s exceptional senior class, then the Indians would be favored. Brady Stump and
Jonavan Gillespie
Jonavan
Gillespie
5'9" | PG
Dobyns-Bennett | 2023
State
TN
are the starting juniors. Gillespie is a key defensively against star point guards. He does not have the size to handle
Micah Simpson
Micah
Simpson
6'0" | PG
Morristown East | 2022
State
TN
, but he can match his quickness and mental toughness.
The dark horse: Sevier County
Team Capsules
Morristown East
Jefferson County
It was a nightmarish year in the loss column for an 18 win team just one year prior. JCHS could argue they are just as good as Morristown West, since they lost by a single point to the Trojans in one of their two games.
Sevier County
Caleb Tarwater and Danny Stanton are scoring threats for the Smoky Bears. The team will not win against Mo East without multiple extraordinary individual performances. Maybe Cooper Takacs? David Greene?
Morristown West
Rylin demonstrated a soft shooting touch all season. Look for him to hit 1-2 surprise three-pointers before the defense reacts appropriately. As a taller player, Rylin gets underestimated as a shooter often.
The team lacks stability at the guard spots, which is to be expected when you anoint a freshman as your starting Orange Orb Guardian. Bereket Evans is far from a finished product. He does have speed, but Evans does not play efficiently just yet. He makes mistakes of aggression, which perhaps are good mistakes for his long-term development though obviously frustrating during those moments for the team. Using his unmatched aggression and burst, Evans scored 14 fourth quarter points against Jefferson County.
Dobyns-Bennett
Deep, cocky, tall, balanced, tough. DB is ready to roll these cats. Morristown East and possibly Sevier County are the only teams likely to challenge them, and it would be a big disappointment for the DB program to not make it out to Sectionals.
Jack Browder Jack Browder 6'4" | CG Dobyns Bennett | 2022 State TN faced up with Braden Ilic Braden Ilic 6'10" | PF Morristown East | 2022 State TN in DB’s overtime loss mid-December. He actually locked up Cade Pendleton Cade Pendleton 6'10" | PF East Hamilton | 2022 State TN , a future D1 basketball player.
West Ridge
This is the first playoff experience for the sparkling new school. West Ridge won their first every basketball game. It is time for another first, their first regional playoff win.
Dawson Arnold Dawson Arnold 6'9" | C West Ridge | 2023 State TN was instrumental in the Wolves qualifying for the regional tournament. The bearded junior big man scored 26 points and absolutely dominated the David Crockett defense.
Cooper Johnson Cooper Johnson 5'10" | PG Valor Academy | 2023 State TN is a clever senior point guard with an abundance of that unselfishness gene. He is a wrecking ball of a guard. So strong physically with that wrestler-physique. Cooper never gives up his dribble when pressured or trapped unless he spots an open man.
Science Hill
Keynan Cutlip Keynan Cutlip 6'3" | PG Science Hill | 2022 State TN (#56 in the state) is wonderful as a floor general and delivering consistent productivity, but the gap between the region’s best and Science Hill is significant.
Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone Trailblazers finished the regular season 3-10 against the other seven teams in the field. Top scorers for Daniel Boone High will almost always be Peyton Long, Brayden Blankenship, and Luke Jenkins Luke Jenkins 6'3" | PG Daniel Boone | 2024 State TN . Creed Musick and Blankenship are tough in tight, both rebounding, and challenging shots around the rim.
Players to watch
Braden Ilic
Braden
Ilic
6'10" | PF
Morristown East | 2022
State
TN
(2022), Morristown East
Micah Simpson
Micah
Simpson
6'0" | PG
Morristown East | 2022
State
TN
(2022), Morristown East
Rylin King
Rylin
King
6'2" | SG
Morristown West | 2023
State
TN
(2023), Morristown West
Caleb Tarwater (2023), Sevier County
Danny Stanton (2022), Sevier County
Dawson Arnold
Dawson
Arnold
6'9" | C
West Ridge | 2023
State
TN
(2023), West Ridge
Cooper Johnson
Cooper
Johnson
5'10" | PG
Valor Academy | 2023
State
TN
(2022), West Ridge
Wade Witcher, West Ridge
Kade Parker
Kade
Parker
6'1" | PG
Jefferson County | 2022
State
TN
, Jefferson County
Carter Metz
Carter
Metz
6'1" | PG
Dobyns-Bennett | 2022
State
TN
(2022), Dobyns-Bennett
Malachi Hale (2022), Dobyns-Bennett
Jack Browder
Jack
Browder
6'4" | CG
Dobyns Bennett | 2022
State
TN
(2022), Dobyns-Bennett
Brayden Blankenship (2024), Daniel Boone
Peyton Long, Daniel Boone
Luke Jenkins
Luke
Jenkins
6'3" | PG
Daniel Boone | 2024
State
TN
(2024), Daniel Boone
Keynan Cutlip
Keynan
Cutlip
6'3" | PG
Science Hill | 2022
State
TN
(2022), Science Hill
Brady Lawson (2024), Science Hill
Morristown West starters
#10
Rylin King
Rylin
King
6'2" | SG
Morristown West | 2023
State
TN
(2023)
#1 Bereket Evans (2025)
#20 Macleod Love (2022)
#23 Aquilio Romero (2022)
#5 Ty Steisslinger (2023)
REGIONAL FINAL PREDICTION
Morristown East vs. Dobyns-Bennett
Morristown East is a Top 5 team in the state, and the best team east of Hendersonville, Tennessee. The DB Indians would not agree. Malachi Hale and Jack Browder Jack Browder 6'4" | CG Dobyns Bennett | 2022 State TN are a fantastic frontcourt pairing wholly capable of challenging Top 5 player Braden Ilic Braden Ilic 6'10" | PF Morristown East | 2022 State TN . The real question is, how in the world can DB offset the explosive scoring and quickness of Micah Simpson Micah Simpson 6'0" | PG Morristown East | 2022 State TN ?
My guess is they can’t.