Action begins this afternoon at Lipscomb University with the start of the DII State Tourney.
In today's opener Knoxville Webb sporting a 22-7 record tangles with St. George's coming into the opener 23-6.
Webb will go to their one-two punch of Mr. Basketball finalist Dwight Tarwater (Knoxville Webb) and slashing combo guard Donovan Whiteside (Knoxville Webb).
On the other bench the Gyphons success rests on the shoulders of talented senior guard Asa Toney (St. George's).
Following this contest the second semi-final in the DII/Class A features a 20-6 team USN tangling with fellow mid-state compatriot the Webb School sporting a record of 20-8.
USN has two easy wins over the Webb School during the regular season but this is the playoffs so anything goes. USN will be led by Mr. Basketball finalist Meiko Lyles (USN). Lyles is averaging around 24.5 points per game and will be the focus of the Webb defensive scheme.
Luke Baum (Webb School), Miles Davis (Webb School) and Hunter Foutch (Webb School) lead the Webb School.
Transitioning over to the DII/Class AA division with their openers on Friday afternoon a first round match-up of two of the mid-states top teams highlights the action.
Ensworth, the tourney favorite, sits on a gaudy 23-3 record while MBA stands at 22-5 but is smarting from two three point losses to Ensworth during the regular season.
Ensworth is ultra balanced and plays up to 15 players in their high scoring, high energy attack. Daniel McFadden (Ensworth), Conor McDermott (Ensworth), Alex Thomas (Ensworth), Daley Hill (Ensworth) and super frosh Cornelius Elder (Ensworth) are just a smattering of the depth for the Tigers.
MBA features Mr. Basketball finalist Holden Mobley (MBA), who scored 28 points in their last meeting along with a bevy of talented sophomores including David Howard (MBA) and Austin Blackwell (MBA).
The Friday afternoon finale features from West Tennessee, CBHS sporting a 25-4 mark tangling with McCallie, who comes in at 19-5.
Frankie Bougher (CBHS), one of the Mr. Basketball finalists, has had a monster senior season and is the top option for the Purple Wave.
McCallie plays a balanced style with several players scoring right at double digits. Jordan Price (McCallie) will be looked upon as the top option with the stakes getting higher. The sophomore is one of the finalists for Mr. Basketball. Chad Lee (McCallie), Cordell James (McCallie) and freshman Terrence O'Donahue (McCallie) will prove to be formidable foes in this competitive battle.
