AA Troublemakers: Day One
The balance of AA was prepared to change. Memphis didn’t bring their best. The state’s number 1 player, Johnathan Lawson Johnathan Lawson 6'8" | SF Houston | 2021 State #112 Nation TN , was not with Wooddale, former champions. East Nashville was bounced. Many fresh, new teams trotted into Murfreesboro this week. Which players created the most trouble?
Doyel Cockrill III (Pearl-Cohn)
An astonishing 14 first-half points secured Doyel’s place in this report. Doyel knew where his bread is buttered. The corner three-pointers were to his liking, even in transition. Cockrill III showed an extreme level of confidence along with a capacity to carry his team temporarily.
Reid Satterfield (Greeneville)
In Satterfield, GHS runs out a physical, classic two-guard. Satterfield can hit or create the open shot. He was great in the opening quarter for a crisp Greeneville offense.
Bolivar Central/Greeneville is underway. For Greeneville, '22 @k0b1g already has 7 points. Three for Satterfield. And again!
17-11 GHS leads a scoring juggernaut @BolivarTigers.
Late 1Q.
— Andrew Force (@AndrewForce8) March 18, 2021
Jakobi Gillespie Jakobi Gillespie 6'0" | PG Greeneville | 2022 State TN (Greeneville)
Gillespie entered double-figures midway through the second quarter. He was sharp early. Aggressive. Hyper-aggressive even. Gillespie was and is unafraid of contact. He finishes over taller players with relative ease. His court awareness remains elite at the high school level.
Incredible half for @k0b1g !!!!
17 points as he beats the horn with a corner pocket 3.
He did everything. Drives into the forest. 3's. Free throws. JaKobi was not alone, but he was singularly great all half.
35-24 @GHSHoops leads Bolivar Central.
— Andrew Force (@AndrewForce8) March 18, 2021
Toris Woods (Bolivar Central)
The opening half for the Tigers of Bolivar Central included plenty of problems: a hot opposing shooter, an injured star (Lax), a foul-saddled star (Lax), missed shots. Despite this the Tigers still mustered 24 points and clawed for loose balls and rebounds throughout. Woods was certainly the best player in that opening half and his impact was undeniable. Woods did cool off in the second half. His tenacious, scrappy play persisted, but the scoring was all JaQuan Lax JaQuan Lax 6'1" | PG Bolivar Central | 2021 State TN .
JaQuan Lax JaQuan Lax 6'1" | PG Bolivar Central | 2021 State TN (Bolivar Central)
Truly magical. JaQuan Lax JaQuan Lax 6'1" | PG Bolivar Central | 2021 State TN scored 11 uninterrupted points to pull his men back from 56-45 to all square at 56 late in the fourth quarter. He did everything humanly possible throughout the run. In fact, he elevated his play beyond even what has come to be expected of the electric scorer.
Lax was not 100% in the first half. He left the game temporarily with an apparently minor right shoulder injury. He also battled some foul trouble. That he missed the final shot is tragic considering his herculean effort to get his troops back into the battle.
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