Style Points: Part I
The players make the plays and the games are won on the court, but teams make high school basketball riveting to watch and to cheer for. Monday night we watched an assortment of games. During these scans and scours the character, the essence of these following programs surfaced. Tonight we take a look at Style Points.
Read Part II with Lenoir City/Sweetwater and Alcoa/Grainger recaptures.
Cloudland vs. Johnson County: December 7
Cloudland’s Style
Cloudland was dismantled by Johnson County Monday night. Credit the Johnson County Longhorns with pressuring the ball, the pass, the recipient(s) of that pass, and everyone else on the court.
Cloudland swept Johnson County last year. This team is hardly even comparable to that 15-win team. Last year Cloudland advanced to the Region 1 Quarterfinal. This team will be unlikely to win a single postseason game.
There is little size in the frontcourt and the guards are constantly a step behind the action. Speed kills the Cloudland squad.
Johnson County’s Style
Players from multiple positions can attack and defend. The team operates somewhat like the Hydra. You cut off a single head and then the others take over. There is no star really, but many players demonstrate varied skillsets.
This team is deep and hungry. Cloudland was not a good pairing, but still this game revealed that Johnson County can succeed through the hands of many different persons.
Wings shot with consistency. The guards were good, steady. Most impressive, the wings and forwards could handle and score in the open floor without needing to rely upon the guards.
C.P.A. vs. Zion Christian: December 7
C.P.A.’s Style
Defensively sound. This C.P.A. outfit is incredibly devoted to the defensive end. This team feels like a veteran team in many ways and truthfully they are. Zapp and Moore have been starting for years. There are seniors in the program that have plenty of practice minutes now finding bigger roles. Players like that, system players, bring a wealth of knowledge and understanding to the program. In the same way that a long-tenured employee brings value to a company, veteran role players bring value to a high school basketball program.
C.P.A. is deep and yet their starters appear to be a in great shape, without great need for substitutions. Zapp could play all day long. Moore is trimmed and much more able to play heavy minutes than he was even a year ago. Jake Dykstra Jake Dykstra 6'3" | SF C.P.A. | 2022 State TN and Evan Shiflet Evan Shiflet 6'1" | SG C.P.A. | 2022 State TN are very fit and solid.
Zion Christian’s Style
The Eagles do have out-of-bounds plays and strategies implemented. They are not woefully underprepared or poorly coached. Unfortunately for Zion Christian they simply lack the horses to go to war with a team as skilled as C.P.A. The feet are slow for the guards.
Zion Christian’s biggest weakness in the game versus Christ Presbyterian Academy was an inability to score in the lane or close to the basket.
Players to Watch
2021 Scory Correa, Lenoir City
2021 David Ross, Lenoir City
2021 Tank Jackson, Alcoa
2024 Jahvin Carter, Alcoa
2023 Tai Carter, Alcoa
2023 Bryson Stewart, Alcoa
2022 Jaxon Williams, Grainger
2022 Tyler Overbay, Grainger
2021 Austin Long, Sweetwater
2022 Caleb Sluder, Cloudland
2021
Braden Zapp
Braden
Zapp
5'9" | PG
CPA | 2021
State
TN
, C.P.A.
2022
Evan Shiflet
Evan
Shiflet
6'1" | SG
C.P.A. | 2022
State
TN
, C.P.A.
2022
Braeden Moore
Braeden
Moore
6'8" | PF
Christ Presbyterian Academy | 2022
CA-S
, C.P.A.
2021 Drew Cox, C.P.A.