Day one of the Tennessee state basketball tournament was a day of blowouts. All the Class AAA games ended without fanfare while a buzzer beater highlighted one of the two Class A games that followed, the other by the way was another blowout.
Brentwood 72
White County 57
Grant Teichmann (Brentwood) and Tanner Tapp (Brentwood) dropped 23 and 22 points respectively as the Bruins advanced to the semi-finals of the Class AAA division with a 72-57 win over White County.
The Bruins led at the half 32-24 before a second half barrage from Teichmann and some sterling lead guard play from senior Jalen Lawson (Brentwood), who finished with 15 markers.
Kordell Henderson (White County) came on real strong in the second half finishing with a game high 25 points. Cole Vaughn (White County) added 15 in the loss.
Brentwood will take on Memphis East in semi-final action on Friday.
Memphis East 68
Oak Ridge 57
"And a child shall lead them", was one explanation as the Mustangs and their youthful roster got 24 points from freshman Alex Lomax (Memphis East) and another 18 markers from fellow Class of 2018 stalwart T.J. Moss (Memphis East) leading them to a triumph over last season's Class AAA runner-up Oak Ridge to the tune of 68-57.
Oak Ridge trailed early and often till a flurry of offensive put backs from junior gridiron star Durel Middleton (Oak Ridge) catapulted the Wildcats back into the contest late. Middleton would finish with 14 points and haul in 10 boards as well.
Tee Higgins (Oak Ridge) finished with 14 while fellow classmate Tajoin Jones (Oak Ridge) added a dozen.
Memphis East moves on to the semi-final round where they will meet disciplined and determined Brentwood for the chance to advance to the title game on Saturday.
Blackman 66
Maryville 44
Cedriontis Wilson (Blackman) was hitting early and the Blaze of Blackman, the defending Class AAA state champions, got out to a big lead and cruised to semi-finals with a 66-44 win over Maryville.
Wilson, who finished with a game high 19, was hot from deep in the first half while the combination of Christian Dewitt (Blackman) and Isaiah Hart (Blackman) kept the Rebels at bay with 17 and 16 points respectively.
Easton Upchurch (Maryville) paced the Rebels with 12. T.D. Blackmon (Maryville) finished with 10.
Blackman advances to the semi-finals where they will tangle with Hamilton. The Blaze eliminated the Wildcats last season en route to their state title, will revenge be on the minds of Lawson's and Hamilton. We shall see on Friday morning.
Hamilton 74
Hillsboro 39
Just another day at the office for the brothers Lawson. Dedric Lawson (Hamilton) dropped 21 and K.J. Lawson (Hamilton) added 20 as the Wildcats of Hamilton made short work of the Burros with a 74-39 victory.
Jordan Cummings (Hamilton) added 11 points for the Wildcats in the win.
Thomas Smith (Hillsboro) and Kobe Reeves (Hillsboro) scored 9 each for the Burros.
The game was never in doubt as Hamilton now moves to a revenge match-up with Blackman, the team that knocked them out last season.
Grace Christian 54
Clay County 52
Connor Arnold (Grace Christian) was a man among boys on Wednesday night, the sophomore wing canned a short jumper at the buzzer lifting the Rams of Grace Christian past Clay County 54-52 in Class A action in the 'boro.
Arnold, who led all scorers with 28 points, was consistent from beginning to end, scoring from the elbow and getting put-backs and rebounds to pad his scoring total.
Wyatt Mabry (Clay County) led the Bulldogs with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Tyreke Key (Clay County) added 11 and senior John Tanner Dotson (Clay County) finished with 10.
Grace Christian advances to the semi-final round on Friday where they will meet defending Class A state champion Mitchell from Memphis.
Mitchell 69
Columbia Academy 40
Jermiah Martin (Mitchell) dropped 21 markers as the defending Class A state champion Tigers coasted to an opening round win over Columbia Academy 69-40.
Martin led a trio of double digit scorers including Kylan Phillips (Mitchell) who finished with 15 and Lorenzo Hunt (Mitchell) who added a dozen.
Jackson Cary (Columbia Academy) closed out his high school career with a dozen for the Bulldogs.
Mitchell advances to the semi-final round to battle the Rams of Grace Christian on Friday.
