Holiday Tournament News and Notes from All Around the State

Holiday hoops filled the basketball landscape these last few weeks with tournaments all over the state. I have attempted to run down the details and give a small shout-out to everyone who was fortunate enough to bring home some gold for Christmas.

Happy New Year to all and here we go. The events are in no particular order.

 

 

 

 

Sonic Shootout (White County)

MBA used very balanced scoring led by Greg Queisenberry (MBA) with 14 as the Big Red outlasted the home team White County 65-59 to bring home the title at the 7th annual Sonic Shootout in Sparta.

Kordell Henderson (White County) led all scorers with 23 points. Cade Crosland (White County) pitched in 13 in the title game loss.

 

Above the Rim Christmas Invitational (Hickman County)

J'Honathan Smith (Waverly Central) was the go to guy as the Tigers marched past Harding Academy to take the crown at the Above the Rim Christmas Invitational at Hickman County 77-63.

Smith finished with 28 after dropping 26 in an earlier contest against White House-Heritage.

 

Willie Brown Holiday Classic (Father Ryan)

Blackman got 23 points from Isaiah Hart (Blackman) defeating their natural rival Brentwood 59-48 to capture, for the second consecutive season, the title at the Willie Brown Holiday Classic at Father Ryan. Christian DeWitt (Blackman) added 15 to Blaze victory.

Jalen Lawson (Brentwood) and Grant Teichmann (Brentwood) scored 19 and 13 respectively for the Bruins. Teichmann had a huge game in the semi-finals with 29 markers against Cane Ridge to lead Brentwood into the title game.

 

Nashville Overton Christmas Tournament (Nashville Overton)

Tripp Davis (Lighthouse Christian) dropped 15 points as Lighthouse Christian outlasted the host team Nashville Overton 61-57 to bring home the 'ship at the Overton Christmas Classic. Chase Nappier (Lighthouse Christian) added 13 in the victory.

Dorian Berry (Overton) led all scorers with 18.

 

King of the Smokies Christmas Classic (Pigeon Forge)

McCallie behind some of the most balanced scoring you can find scored big and often defeating a determined Morristown East squad 99-85 to bring home the title in the inaugural King of the Smokies Christmas Classic in lovely Pigeon Forge.

Freshman sensation Jr. Clay (McCallie) topped the Blue Tornado in scoring with 14 while Adrien Thomas (McCallie) was chosen as the tournament MVP. Clay was also selected to the glitter squad. Aaron Smith (Morristown East) led all scorers in the title game with 21. He also garnered all-tournament accolades along with teammate rising junior Chris Snapp (Morristown East).

McCallie had a tough road to the title clash besting Augusta Christian, Heritage and Woodmont (SC), who came away with the third place trophy winning over Columbia Academy. Hunter Cary (Columbia Academy) led with 19 points and was also selected to the all-tournament squad.

 

Next Level Hoops Fest (CPA)

Tremendous event featuring top level teams from five states. In the title game powerful Louisville Ballard behind 41 points from national prospect Jalen Perry defeated the host team CPA 99-75.

CPA was brilliant in the opening contest defeating a very good Mentor (OH) squad behind the stat stuffing of rising junior phenom Braxton Blackwell (CPA), who incidentally was forced into point guard duty with the injury to highly touted Class of 2019 wunderkind Tyger Campbell (CPA).

Blackwell did not disappoint with 20 points, 10 boards, 7 assists and several blocks. Micah Davis (CPA) was hot from the outside getting 18 markers. Evan Ragsdale (CPA) added 12 and Sam Johnson (CPA) finished with 10 including a couple of nice drives against the 6'10 presence of nationally ranked Micah Potter for Mentor.

Blackwell upped the ante as CPA bested Mountain Brook from Alabama leading the charge with 28 markers.

Memphis Mitchell was the only other Tennessee squad in the event as they got some sterling effort from senior guard Jeremiah Martin (Mitchell).

Other teams participating in the event including University Lab (LA), Episcopal Collegiate (AR) and Norcross (GA).

 

Seymour Christmas Classic (Seymour)

In a round robin format, the Eagles of Seymour found the going tough but managed to squeeze out 3 wins over Dawson Christian, Sweetwater and Memphis Carver. Jake Blalock (Seymour) had a pair of 25 point efforts against Sweetwater and Carver in the wins.

 

Renasant Bank Christmas Tournament (Maryville)

Watch out East Tennessee it appears the Falcons of Fulton are back and ready to make some noise in the New Year. Fulton, with balanced scoring, got past the host squad Maryville 56-53 to bring home the title at the Renasant Bank Christmas Tournament at Maryville High School. Easton Upchurch (Maryville) led all scorers in the title game with 17.

Daniel Clark (Bradley Central) scored 21 points as Bradley Central topped Austin East to bring home the 3rd place trophy. Brad McCurdy (Bradley Central) added 16 in the win. Class of 2018 riser Kejuan Hale-Ligon (Austin East) had a big time tournament including a huge 28 point game in the quarter-finals against Stone Memorial.

 

BSN Super 16 (Bearden)

The Bulldogs are off to a special start in a special season. Behind 23 points from junior post Jason Smith (Bearden), the Bulldogs move to 17-0 with a 60-42 win over Hunter's Lane at the annual BSN Super 16 event at the Dog House. Quez Fair (Bearden) was selected as the MVP of the event for his leadership and defensive effort in leading Bearden to the title game victory.

In the third place game, CAK behind 28 markers from Lucas Campbell (CAK) bested South Doyle. Hunter Reynolds (CAK) added 21 in the victory.

 

Watertown Christmas Classic (Watertown)

Upperman got 22 points from MVP Ben Guffey (Upperman) and pulled away from Davidson Academy 65-48 to bring home the crown at the Watertown Christmas Classic. Upperman defeated DCA and Monterey on their way to the title game victory.

Austyn McWilliams (Upperman) and Hunter Shrum (Upperman) each added 12 to the winning cause. Anthony Williams (Davidson Academy) led the Bears with 14.

Guffey, McWilliams, Shrum, Williams, Dakota Quinn (Davidson Academy) and Austin Shrum (Upperman) were selected to the all-tournament team.

 

Arby's Classic (Tennessee High)

Jefferson County made a huge statement taking 3rd place at the prestigious Arby's Classic with a 56-45 victory over perennial national powerhouse Dorsey (CA) behind 14 points and 12 boards from Kyle Briggs (Jefferson County).

The Patriots started the Arby's with a bang beating state ranked Mariner (FL) in the opener and then defeating previously unbeaten David Crockett behind 28 from Briggs before falling to a powerful North Mecklenburg (NC) squad. John Bryant (Jefferson County) had 12 and 10 in the title game and was a workhorse throughout the event.

Patrick Good (David Crockett) had a wonderful tournament at the Arby's scoring a game winner in the opener and dropping 34 in the tough loss to Jefferson County before adding 25 against ultra tough Milton (GA).

Knoxville Webb defeated Dobyns-Bennett to capture 7th place behind 20 from Justin Jenkins (Knoxville Webb) and 18 from Cornell signee Troy Whiteside (Knoxville Webb).

Makale Foreman (Dobyns-Bennett) led the Tribe with 16. Foreman had a nice tournament including a huge 28 point outburst against Mariner (FL).

 

Beech Holiday Basketball Tournament (Beech)

Station Camp got 20 markers from junior Yalen Reed (Station Camp) and slid past Tyner Academy 63-54 to capture the crown at the annual Beech Holiday Basketball Classic in Hendersonville.

Kyle Anderton (Station Camp) added 16 in the title game victory.

 

Nera White Holiday Classic (Macon County)

Isaac Edmondson (Creek Wood) busted 30 as the Red Hawks remain unbeaten capturing the Nera White Holiday Classic championship with a 75-57 win over the host squad Macon County.

Joining Edmondson in the scoring column were Chico Plunkett (Creek Wood) with 17 and Ross Cummings (Creek Wood) with 14.

 

Travis Outlaw Slam Dunk at the Hump (Starkville)

Southwind played havoc with the competition winning a pair of games at the Travis Outlaw Slam Dunk at the Hump Event in Starkville. Donte Fitzpatrick (Southwind) dropped 23 and Lucky Cheatham (Southwind) added 16 as Southwind bested Starkville High 75-72. Cheatham again dropped 16 and Fitzpatrick added 13 as Southwind defeated Center Hill 77-59.

 

Mike Miller Classic (Mitchell, SD)

Marcus Lytle (ECS) dropped 29 points as ECS took the third place game over Mitchell (SD) 74-61 at the Mike Miller Classic in his old stomping grounds out West.

 

Fort Walton Beach Blowout (Fort Walton Beach, FL)

Two Tennessee teams took it to the finals as Bartlett behind 16 from Eric McGill (Bartlett) defeated Germantown 64-56 to capture the Fort Walton Beach Blowout title in sunny Florida. Germantown was led by Darrell Brown (Germantown) with a championship game high of 20.

 

Martin Lions Club Holiday Classic (Westview)

Justin Johnson (Westview) and Garrett Sams (Westview) scored 14 and 13 points respectively bolting the Chargers to the championship of the annual Martin Lions Club Holiday Classic with a 59-46 win over Obion County.

 

Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps (Chattanooga State)

Hamilton Heights crushed the competition bring home the title at the annual Times Free Press Best of Preps event at Chattanooga State with a 70-37 drubbing of Baylor. Ezekial Balogun (Hamilton Heights) led a balanced attack with 14 markers.

Terron Hayes (Chattanooga Central) scored 22 as the Pounders took the 3rd place contest 71-55 over Brainerd.