8AA Post-Season Preview: Is Upperman Capable of Winning Again?

<p>Is Upperman's deep roster built for a State Tournament run?  Absolutely!  The Bees might be the most complete 8AA team in the last 5 years. Look at their road ahead.  One of the best players, if not the 8AA MVP is already eliminated.  </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Postseason District Tournament Seeds</h2> <p>#1 Upperman<br /> #2  York Institute<br /> #3  Cannon County<br /> #4  Watertown <br /> #5 Livingston Academy   ELIMINATED 2/18<br /> #6 Dekalb County<br /> #7 Macon County  ELIMINATED 2/18<br /> #8 Smith County</p> <h2 class="presto-h2"><strong>D 8AA</strong></h2> <p class="p-text"> </p> <h5 class="p-text"><strong>at Watertown</strong></h5> <p class="p-text"><strong>Tuesday: <span style="color: #3366ff;">Smith County</span></strong> won at Livingston Academy; <strong><span style="color: #3366ff;">DeKalb County</span></strong> won vs. Macon County.</p> <p class="p-text"><strong>Thursday:</strong> DeKalb County (7-21) vs. Cannon County (17-11), 6 p.m.; Smith County (5-28) vs. Watertown (19-8), 7:30 p.m.</p> <p class="p-text"><strong>at Tennessee Tech</strong></p> <p class="p-text"><strong>Feb. 22:</strong> (Smith County-Watertown winner) vs. Upperman, 7:30 p.m.; (DeKalb County vs. Cannon County winner) vs. York Institute, 9 p.m.</p> <p class="p-text"><strong>Feb. 25: </strong>Consolation, 6 p.m.; Championship, 7:30 p.m.</p> <h2>Regional Qualifiers</h2> <p>Upperman<br /> York Institute<br /> ?<br /> ?</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Players to Watch</span></strong></p> <p>2021 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-sells/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-sells/">Matthew Sells</a></a>, Livingston Academy (PrepHoopsTN #21)</p> <p>2021 Colin Gore, Upperman</p> <p>2020 Filip Babic, Upperman</p> <p>2021 <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-rush/">Alex Rush</a>, Upperman (pictured)</p> <p>2020 Rayquan Verge, Watertown</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>Ascension?</strong></span></p> <p>My pick to climb the ladder this season was Franklin County.  In fact, the only team to climb was Tullahoma.  They improved YOY from 6th to 2nd (tied).  The improvement was so significant because THS gets to <em>start</em> their postseason in the District Semifinals!  They already qualified for the Regional 4AAA draw.</p> <h2>2019-2020 D8AAA Regular Season Standings</h2> <table style="height: 187px; width: 33.5789%; border-collapse: collapse; border-style: ridge; border-color: #fa7305;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 21px;">Upperman</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 21px;">14-0</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 21px;">25-2</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 21px;">2019 District Tourney Champ    </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 21px;">York Institute</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 21px;">12-2</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 21px;">20-7</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 21px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 37px;">Cannon County</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 37px;">8-6</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 37px;">17-11</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 37px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 24px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 24px;">Watertown</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 24px;">8-6</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 24px;">19-8</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 24px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 21px;">Livingston Academy</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 21px;">6-8</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 21px;">13-17</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 21px;">2018 State Tournament Participant</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 21px;">Dekalb County</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 21px;">3-11</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 21px;">6-21</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 21px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 21px;">Macon County</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 21px;">3-11</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 21px;">8-20</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 21px;"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 8.51676%; height: 21px;">Smith County</td> <td style="width: 3.92347%; height: 21px;">2-12</td> <td style="width: 3.52585%; height: 21px;">4-24</td> <td style="width: 17.4285%; height: 21px;"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>2019 All-District 8-AA Award Winners (After last season)</h2> <p>Player of the Year: <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-sells/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-sells/">Matthew Sells</a></a>, Livingston Academy<br /> Coach of the Year: Jimmy Miller, Livingston Academy<br /> Defensive Player of the Year: <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-rush/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-rush/">Alex Rush</a></a>, Upperman<br /> Freshman of the Year: Nicolas Smith, York Institute<br /> Most Improved Player: RayQuan Verge, Watertown</p> <h2>1st Team</h2> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-sells/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/matthew-sells/">Matthew Sells</a></a>, Livingston Academy<br /> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/collin-gore/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/collin-gore/">Collin Gore</a></a>, Upperman<br /> Cody Ray, Livingston Academy<br /> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-rush/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-rush/">Alex Rush</a></a>, Upperman<br /> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/noah-smith/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/noah-smith/">Noah Smith</a></a>, York Institute<br /> Roger Meadows, York Institute</p> <h2>2nd Team</h2> <p>Cameron Welch, Macon Co.<br /> Heath Price, Watertown<br /> RayQuan Verge, Watertown<br /> Case Moody, York Institute<br /> Isaiah Allen, Upperman</p> <h2>3rd Team</h2> <p>Nathan Atkins, DeKalb Co.<br /> Jaydon Kanipe, Upperman<br /> Landrick Leffew, York Institute<br /> Trent Cook, Macon Co.<br /> Tanner Marshall, Smith Co.</p> <h2>Honorable Mention</h2> <p>Luke Alexander, Cannon Co.<br /> Jacob Raines, Cannon Co.<br /> Wade Love, Cannon Co.<br /> Blake Bush, Cannon Co.<br /> Dallas Cook, DeKalb Co.<br /> Tanner Poss, DeKalb Co.<br /> Will McDonald, Livingston Academy<br /> Mitchell Ayers, Livingston Academy<br /> Cayden Jones, Livingston Academy<br /> Clay West, Macon Co<br /> Kelton Ballou, Macon Co.<br /> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jace-mcwilliams/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jace-mcwilliams/">Jace McWilliams</a></a>, Upperman</p> <h2>All Defensive Team</h2> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-rush/"><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-rush/">Alex Rush</a></a>, Upperman<br /> Cody Ray, Livingston Academy<br /> Dallas Cook, DeKalb Co.<br /> Heath Price, Watertown<br /> Cayden Jones, Livingston Academy<br /> Jaydon Kanipe, Upperman<br /> Case Moody, York Institute</p> <h2>All Freshman Team</h2> <p>Nicolas Smith, York Institute<br /> Austin DuCrest, Smith Co.<br /> Gus Davenport, Cannon Co.<br /> Braydee Brooks, Macon Co.<br /> Dennis West, Smith Co.<br /> Jyron McClellan, Upperman</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>For the best statewide coverage follow @PrepHoopsTN.</em></p>