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.
Nera White Holiday Classic @ Macon County (Lafayette, TN)
Tyreke Key (Clay County) dropped 36 points leading Clay County to the championship of the annual Nera White Holiday Classic 77-73 against host Macon County. Jake Ashlock (Clay County) added 12 for the Bulldogs.
Seth Carlisle (Macon County) scored 23 for the runner-ups. Riley Phillps (Macon County) added 16.
Key was a man among boys, The Indiana State signee scored 34 against Gordonsville, 34 against Moore County before his 36 point outburst in the title game.
In game action, Lucas Garrison (Westmoreland) had a 25 point effort against Moore County.
Participating Teams:
Moore County, Clay County, Jackson County, Macon County, Gordonsville, Westmoreland, Portland and Red Boiling Springs.
Larry Ransom Holiday Classic @ Fayette-Ware HS (Somerville, TN)
This event was played in a classic game style with no title game but plenty of action including a 101-89 contest with Olive Branch from Mississippi besting the talk of Tennessee WEB Dubois. Josh Conrad (WEB Dubois) led the way with 19 followed by Chris Mitchell (WEB Dubois) with 17, Branson Bush (WEB Dubois) with 16 and Rameek Wooten (WEB Dubois) with 13.
Some other outstanding performances include:
Famous Jones (Ripley) with a 32 point effort against Bolivar Central
Taeylr Gatlin (Brighton) had 18 points, 10 steals and 9 assists in a win over Boliver Central.
Participating Teams:
WEB Dubois, Fayette-Ware, Olive Branch (MS), Bolivar Central, Horn Lake (MS), Brighton, MAHS, Ripley and KIPP
Bank of Bartlett Stagecoach Classic @ Bartlett (Bartlett, TN)
It took double overtime in a hard fought title game as Tournament MVP Ryan Boyce (Houston) helped lead his squad to the championship of the Bank of Bartlett Stagecoach Classic with a 56-54 win over host Bartlett.
Bruce Guy (Houston) led the Mustangs with 14, Boyce added 12. Jeff Walker (Bartlett) scored 11 for the host squad in the narrow loss. Both Walker and Guy were named to the All-Tournament squad.
Walker started the event with a bang scoring 25 large against Desoto (MS)
Participating Teams:
Bartlett, Millington Central, Center Hill (MS), Southhaven (MS), Houston and Desoto (MS)
Renesant Bank Christmas Classic @ Maryville HS (Maryville, TN)
Easton Upchurch (Maryville) scored 21 points as the host Rebels defeated defending Class AA state champion Fulton 53-46 to capture the Renesant Bank Christmas Classic. Rising freshman Joe Anderson (Maryville) added 13 and Mr. Football T.D. Blackman (Maryville) scored 11.
Fellow freshman Edward Lacey (Fulton) and Donovon Filer (Fulton) lead the scoring with 10 points each.
A big week for the rising senior Upchurch who surpassed the 1,000 point barrier with an opening round 37 spot against Gallatin.
Some other big time scoring performances include
Seth Marshall (Sevier County) with 25 against Knoxville Webb
Chattanooga football signee Cole Copeland (Bradley Central) with a 30 point effort against Knoxville Webb
Chase Ridenour (Knoxville Webb) had a momentous tournament surpassing the 1,000 point barrier for his career during his junior season.
Participating Teams:
Knoxville Webb, Sevier County, Fulton, Hampton, Bradley Central, Anderson County, Gallatin and Maryville
Martin Lions Club Classic @ Westview HS (Martin, TN)
B.J. White (Westview) notched 20 markers as the Chargers defeated a surging Peabody squad 69-65 to bring home the Martin Lions Club Holiday Classic crown.
Matt McMillan (Westview) and Ty Kelley (Westview) scored 15 and 13 respectively in the victory.
Khance Hill (Peabody) and Tim Fields (Peabody) scored 17 each for the Golden Tide.
White had a big scoring effort in the early round with a 27 spot against South Fulton
Cameron Luton (Peabody) had the biggest scoring effort of the event with a 35 point game against Manassas
Participating Teams:
Westview, Camden Central, Peabody, Manassas, Obion County, Sacred Heart and South Fulton
Beech Christmas Tournament @ Beech HS (Hendersonville, TN)
Drew Weikert (MBA) dropped 27 points while capturing MVP honors as MBA rolled past the host school Beech 65-49 to bring home the title at the Beech Holiday Tournament.
The third place game saw Station Camp get the win over Independence despite 27 from Belmont signee Grayson Murphy (Independence).
The top scoring effort in the event was a 33 point eruption from Bradley Cole (White House) against Station Camp
Participating Teams:
Independence, Smyrna, Station Camp, White House, Beech, Harpeth, MBA and East Nashville
Gulfshores Holiday Hoopfest (Florida)
Ensworth was the lone Tennesse squad and they represented quite well going 2-1 with wins over Hallandale (70-68) and Fort Myers (71-59) and a close loss to Spruce Creek (55-51). Class of 2019 stalwart James Wiseman (Ensworth) had a big tournament with a 25 point effort in the opener against Hallandale.
Saf-T-Systems Christmas Tournament @ Knoxville Catholic HS (Knoxville, TN)
In the traditional format four teams played two games each with the marquee game being the opener with unbeaten Karns battling the host squad Knoxville Catholic.
Catholic registered the victory behind 21 from Jack Sompayrac (Knoxville Catholic) and 17 from senior leader Luke Smith (Knoxville Catholic). K.J. Hawkins (Karns) led the Beavers with 16 points.
Participating Teams:
Karns, Knoxville Catholic, Cosby and Cocke County
King of the Smokies @ Pigeon Forge HS (Pigeon Forge, TN)
Three divisions and three champions was the order of the day at the annual King of the Smokies Christmas Classic in Pigeon Forge.
In the Black Division, Ravenwood came home with the crown defeating Farragut. Unfortunately we have no score as our local paper doesn't see fit to cover basketball during basketball season. Elon Smallwood (Ravenwood) got the event rolling with a 32 point effort against a team from South Carolina.
Participating Teams (Black Division):
Ravenwood and Farragut
In the Orange Division no Tennessee teams advances to the finals.
Participating Teams (Orange Division):
Pigeon Forge, Jellico, Seymour and Cannon County
A different story in the White Division as Grainger advances to the title game falling 68-65 to Archbishop Alter (OH). Ty Brooks (Grainger) led the scoring with 14, Dalton Conn (Grainger) added 11 and Justin Warner (Grainger) finished with 11.
In the opener Grainger got the win over Coffee County behind 16 from Warner and 13 from Conn.
Warner came out on fire with a 24 spot in the second game followed by Conn with 18. Both Warner and Marquis Fifield (Grainger) were named to the All-Tournament squad.
Participating Teams (White Division):
Grace Christian
Coffee County
Grainger
Columbia Central
Willie Brown '65 Memorial Tournament @ Father Ryan (Nashville, TN)
Trent Gibson (Blackman) dropped 15 points as Blackman defeated Hillsboro 53-40 to capture the Willie Brown '65 Memorial Tournament at Father Ryan High School.
Donovon Paige (Blackman) added 11 in the victory. Jamonte Hines (Hillsboro) led the Burros with 13 while Collin Herron (Hillsboro) pitched in with 10.
Participating Teams:
Blackman, Father Ryan, Clarksville, Brentwood, Riverdale, Hillsboro, MLK and Mt. Juliet
Here are some scoring efforts from others around the state during the Holiday Action:
Zach Wyatt (Seymour) 32pts vs. Cosby
Rye Nolan (Stewart County) 37pts vs. Clarksville Academy
Rayne Dennis (St. Benedict) 26pts vs. St. Paul (AL)
Ahmad Webster (Melrose) 32pts vs. WEB Dubois
Neil Blanchard (Craigmont) 25pts vs. Lausanne
Jarred Walker (Humboldt) 25pts vs. Middleton
Tyler Harris (Cordova) 29pts vs. Liberty Tech
Hayden Edmondson (Cascade) 34pts vs. Lead Academy
Seth Gardner (Cascade) 29pts vs. Lead Academy
Rodgerick Brown (Cordova) 29pts vs. Kenwood (IL)
Parrish Hewitt (Douglass) 26pts vs. McComb (MS)
Josh Laughlin (Polk County) 27pts vs. Piedmont (AL)
Vandrele Wilson (East Hamilton) 25pts vs. Happy Valley
