We all love the holidays for various reasons. Me I love it because its hoops baby. The post Christmas frenzy featuring dozens of tournament spread all across the state will coincide with this weeks scoring list to make
this a must read feature. Lets get it started. We will split this into two parts.
Best of Preps @ Chattanooga State Community College
Junior Clay (McCallie) dropped 22 markers and came home with MVP honors as McCallie went back to back capturing the 2016 Best of Preps event in Chattanooga 70-57 over Brainerd. The effort offset an outstanding performance from rising junior Jessie Walker (Brainerd) who scored a game high 30 points in the loss. Tripp Butler (McCallie) and Max Shulman (McCallie) added 10 points each for the Blue Tornadoes. Kentrell Evans (Brainerd) pitched in with 11 for the Panthers.
Clay garnered MVP honors and was joined on the All-Tournament squad by Walker, Evans, Shulman and Butler. Additionally named to the glitter squad were McClendon Curtis (Chattanooga Central), Darius Graves (CSAS), Bejuan Hendricks (Baylor), Clint Oliver (Meigs County) and Kevin Cameron (Tyner Academy).
Participating Teams: McCallie, Brainerd, Tyner Academy, Chattanooga Central, Baylor, Soddy Daisy, CSAS and Meigs County.
Battle of Franklin (Nashville, TN)
Harding Academy received 18 markers from Julian Isbell (Harding Academy) and 15 from Calvin Austin (Harding Academy) and cruised to the championship of the inaugural Battle of Franklin with a 67-62 win over Alcoa. Kendall Thomas (Harding Academy) was named MVP of the event.
Alcoa got 19 points from quarterback Jalen Myers (Alcoa) and 16 from rising freshman Dante Harris (Alcoa).
Some big scoring games from the event include:
William Shaw (Pearl Cohn) 28pts vs. Antioch
Kendall Thomas (Harding Academy) 27pts vs. Antioch
Isaiah Sulak (CAK) 26pts vs. Antioch
Jeremiah Alexander (Antioch) 26pts vs. CAK
Jeremiah Alexander (Antioch) 25pts vs. Pearl Cohn
Michael Crawley (Pearl Cohn) 25pts vs. BGA
Participating Teams:
CAK, Marshall County, BGA, Lebanon, Harding Academy, Antioch, Alcoa, Pearl Cohn and Centennial
NXT Level Hoopfest @ CPA (Nashville, TN)
Brentwood Academy led by nationally ranked rising junior and tournament MVP Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy) blasted University Lab from Louisiana to capture the NXTLVL Championship 89-62. Garland finished with 27 markers, Jeremiah Oatsvall (Brentwood Academy) added 16 and Gavin Schoenwald (Brentwood Academy) pitched in with 14.
The host squad CPA unleashed their secret weapon on the unsuspecting basketball world with rising senior Clay Washburn (CPA) putting on what could be called a shooting display. Washburn, who goes 6-7 and may be projected to reach 6-10, dropped 30 points in the opener against Bentonville (AR) followed that performance up with a cool 35 in a narrow defeat to Taylor County (KY).
The Lions closed with a win over a tough Arkansas Baptist squad with Washburn leading the way with 21. For the event he averaged 29.3 earning All-Tournament honors in the process.
The Eagles glided their way to the title opening with a big win over a tough Hopkinsville (KY) squad with Garland leading the way with 23. Garland managed 18 as Brentwood Academy dispatched a really good Milton squad 80-49.
Garland was selected as MVP and joined on the All-Tournament team by Washburn, Oatsvall and Schoenwald representing Tennessee.
Participating Teams: Brentwood Academy and CPA (Tennessee), Baptist Prep (AR), Bentonville (AR), University Lab (LA). Hopkinsville (KY), Taylor County (KY) and Milton (GA)
Bearden Super 16 @ Bearden (Knoxville, TN)
Trent Stephany (Bearden) and Ques Glover (Bearden) scored 28 and 23 points respectively as Bearden captured the Super 16 tournament in their home gym with a 75-69 win over Cane Ridge. A close game broke open late with foul trouble to Cane Ridge star Damian Baugh (Cane Ridge), who finished with 24 points, and some serious inside work from rising sophomore post Shamarcus Brown (Bearden), who finished with 13.
Baugh led the Ravens with 24 followed by David Smith (Cane Ridge) with 18 and Bryce Woods (Cane Ridge) with 11.
Stephany was named MVP of the tournament and joined on the glitter squad by Glover, Brown, Baugh and Smith.
Some scoring and some new highlight the Super 16:
Adam Hurd (Carter) lunges into the 1,000 point club in just his junior season.
Trevor Hensley (Unicoi County) strips the nylon for a 37 point game against Carter.
Jack Richards (Powell) gets 34 in an overtime loss to Cane Ridge
Darius Harper (Austin East) drops 31 against Knoxville West
Jordan Corvette (Halls) with a 27 point effort against Powell
Participating Teams:
Powell, Unicoi County, Cane Ridge, Knoxville West, Carter, Bearden, Knoxville Halls and Austin East.
Chick-Fil-A Holiday Classic @ Elizabethton HS (Elizabethton, TN)
Michael Robinson (Elizabethton) garnered MVP honors dropping a game high 16 points to lead the Fighting Cyclones to a 51-31 win over Morristown West capturing the crown at the Chick-Fil-A Classic in their home gym. Daymion Blevins (Morristown West) was the lone double digit scorer for the Trojans with 10 points.
Robinson had a big game earlier in the tournament with a 29 point effort against Sullivan Central
Grayson Wright (Sullivan Central) dropped 26 against Cloudland
Calvin Keeble (Heritage) had 25 in the opener against Volunteer.
Participating Teams:
Heritage, Elizabethton, Sullivan Central, East Hamilton, Volunteer, Cloudland, Morristown West, Cherokee, Happy Valley, Knoxville Central, North Buncombe (NC) and Chuckey-Doak
Overton Christmas Tourney@ Nashville Overton HS (Nashville TN)
Dorian Berry (Nashville Overton) scored 26 points while Taverius Travis (Nashville Overton) netted 23 leading the Bobcats past Stratford 97-71 bringing home the title in their home gym.
Travis had a big week which included a huge 30 point effort against Wilson Central
Marcus Fitzgerald (Stratford) one of the top players in the Class of 2020 in the state, lit up Jefferson County with 30 markers.
Brennan Crook (FRA) dropped 27 against Siegel and joined the 1,000 point club at FRA. Congrats.
Participating Teams:
FRA, Siegel, Jefferson County, Red Bank, Nashville Overton, Wilson Central, Stratford and South Forsyth (GA)
Arby's Classic @ Tennessee High School (Bristol, TN)
The Blue Tornadoes of McCallie fought valiantly in the title game of the prestigious Arby's Classic. Junior Clay (McCallie) was fabulous netting 27 points but it would prove to not be enough as Louisville Trinity bested McCallie 69-50 to bring home the Arby's Classic Title.
Plenty of big scoring efforts highlighted the Arby's scene:
Gavin Grubb (Sullivan East) made sure everybody in Arby's land knew his name before he was through. The schools all-time leading scorer put up 41 against Dobyns-Bennett, 27 against Buford (GA) and 25 against Tennessee High.
Tyshawn Young (Oak Ridge) netted 29 points picking up the slack of injured star E.J. Bush (Oak Ridge).
Participating Teams:
Buford (GA), Wayne (OH), Trinity (KY), Christ School (NC), Sandy Creek (GA), Wings Academy (NY), Gate City (VA), Blanche Ely (FL), Washington Park (WI), Tabernacle (Bahamas), Dobyns-Bennett, David Crockett, McCallie, Science Hill, Oak Ridge, Sullivan East, Tennessee High and Greeneville
Moritz Chevy Classic @ Moritz HS (Moritz, TX)
Grace Christian ventured out into the vastness of Texas finsihing 2-2 at the moritz Chevy Classic. Connor Arnold (Grace Christian) and Grant Ledford (Grace Christian) were named to the All-Tournament squad. Arnold had a big game with 35 points in a win over Oak Ridge (TX). He scored 89 points in the four games.
Participating Teams:
Grace Christian
Jim Cordell Classic @ Harriman (Harriman, TN)
The classic format providing no champion but several big efforts including J.T. Hicks (Oakdale) with a 28 point outing against Rhea County.
Parker McKinney (Coalfield) is a football star but the kid can score some hoops as well. He dropped 27 points against North Greene.
Participating Teams:
Harriman, Cumberland County, McMinn Central, Sweetwater, Oakdale, Coalfield, Oliver Springs, Midway, Rhea County, Rockwood, Oneida, North Greene, Kingston, Wartburg Central and Clarkrange
Above the Rim Classic @ Hickman County HS (Centerville, TN)
Brandon Craig (USJ) garnered MVP honors scoring a game high 20 points and leading USJ past Loretto for the title at the annual Above the Rim Classic at Hickman County.
Ryan Davis (USJ) and Amir Kaveh (USJ) each scored 12 in the win. Ryan Weathers (Loretto) and Luke Childress (Loretto) led the Mustnags with 15 each while Will McBee (Loretto) added 11 markers.
Some other nice scoring efforts included a 27 point outburst from Darrian Burns (Dickson County) against Franklin Classical. Trent Turner (Hickman County) 26 point effort against Lexington.
Participating Teams:
USJ, Waverly Central, Hickman County, Loretto, Franklin Classical, Lexington, Dickson County and Scotts Hill
Cleveland Holiday Classic @ Cleveland HS (Cleveland, TN)
Jaylon Tharpe (Northeast) scored 16 points and helped Clarksville Northeast overcome a monster effort from rising junior K.K. Curry (Cleveland) to bring home the title at the Cleveland Holiday Classic.
Tharpe was assisted in the scoring column by Jontae Brown (Northeast) with 13 and DeAndre Cross (Northeast) with 11.
Curry was a man child netting 34 markers in the loss.
Eric Rigsby (Daniel Boone) had a big outing against Tyner Academy dropping 27 points.
Participating Teams:
Cleveland, East Ridge, Northeast, Meigs County, Daniel Boone, Ooltewah, Chattanooga Central and Tyner Academy
