The season has reached the halfway point.
Teams will be beginning and playing mostly district competition for the rest of their season and trying to finish as high as possible to get a better tournament seeding.
This season’s tournament will be at Oakland. Here is a brief look at the six boy’s teams and where I think they will finish. A girl’s preview will be next Sunday.
But first, I have a special announcement about the Riverdale girls. The second annual girl’s basketball reunion will be held Friday night. Former players, managers and coaches will eat in the Riverdale cafeteria at 4:15 p.m., with a picture at 5:15 p.m.
The game versus Oakland will tip off at 6:30 p.m. Meanwhile, the Lady Patriots are planning a similar event for Jan. 27, but more on that later.
As far as the boy’s are concerned, never has the field been so wide open.
Any of the six teams have a shot at winning the regular season, but only one will do so.
I think that winner will be Blackman.
I do not think any of the six teams will be unbeaten in district play; nor do I think anyone will be winless.
This is a very balanced league, and the competition is so even that one case of the flu, one twisted ankle or one discipline problem, bruised ego or jealous moment could alter a game and the standings.
The Blaze already have a 10-game winning streak with two significant wins over Lawrence County and Brentwood.
Head coach Barry Wortman insists his teams be in shape, and this bunch can run all day.
The generally good Blaze crowd helps too.
Many folks think that junior guard Darius Thompson is the best player in the county.
If he is, he is surrounded by good teammates including Quinell Cousin and Alec McMillar.
As many as 10 players get significant minutes for the Blaze.
If Blackman doesn’t win it, Siegel will.
The Stars have struggled early but are above .500 and are playing better than their record indicates.
I think they can contend for a district championship and rebuild at the same time.
They opened without their head coach Ben Dotson (TSSAA problems), and suffered a close loss to Bradley Central but have since had nice wins over a good Mt. Juliet team, and they mauled Franklin before beating Bradley Central by seven points in a recent rematch.
This squad only has two seniors – guard and team leader Treyton Harris and Michael Joyner.
Either Riverdale or La Vergne will finish third, but I’m going with head coach Kevin Woodson despite the injuries that have depleted the Riverdale roster.
The Warriors hustle and are playing well, especially Donya Burnett, who had a 34-point night recently. They picked up eight wins before Christmas and finished second in the State Farm Tournament.
Riverdale finally lost in the last few minutes in the finals to a tough Clarksville N.E. squad.
Riverdale has also beaten Lawrence County and Columbia.
The La Vergne Wolverines and head coach Chris Chambers have another solid, quick, if smallish, and well-drilled team.
Marquis Johns, Alfred Mason or Mike Steele usually lead the scoring, but this is a “cast of many.”
They carried Clarksville into two overtimes before losing, and then they lost badly to Alabama’s Hazel Green the next day before rebounding with two more wins and then two losses, as they blew a seven-point lead over Centennial in the fourth quarter.
Consistency has been a problem.
Head coach Lonnie Drayton has his best team in a while at Smyrna. The Bulldogs are hovering around .500 but have been very inconsistent.
For instance, Smyrna has both beaten and lost to a good Tullahoma team but recently blew away Lincoln County by 19. But, P.J.Whitaker can take over a game and Wayne Jones and T-Ray Malone are also playing well.
There is only one reason to put Oakland in last and that is youth. This is the youngest, most inexperienced team in Oakland history with 75 percent of the roster as underclassman. Two of their best, Tyler Black and Ricky Dunaway are freshmen. Emmanuel Smith always gives the Pats some leadership and effort.
Oakland has overachieved because they are talented and head coach Mike Wright has worked them hard. I can make a case that Oakland could finish as high as third. That’s how balanced and close this league is and Oakland is improving fast.
NOTE: WGNS Radio (1450AM, 101.9FM and 100.5FM) will carry more than 50 games during the next 10 weeks. Follow your team with broadcasters Bryan Barrett and Jon Dinkins, as we head toward the tournaments next month. |
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