Heroic Senior Stars: Thursday

Seniors win playoff games. The urgency, the desperation, the hunger is impossible for younger players to match. These seniors played even better than their peers under the bright lights of the Murphy Center. Peruse the complete <a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2021-rankings/">2021 rankings</a>. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775554" first="Davon" last="Barnes"] (Collierville) The first quarter horn firmly sounded the resounding conclusion of [player_tooltip player_id="775554" first="Davon" last="Barnes"]’ dominance. Barnes scored a fantastic seven points in the first eight minutes. He figured out a way to score three layups inside against the frenetic Cleveland Blue Raider defense. Barnes really is a swingman with strong power forward instincts. Three years ago he took on the role of a combo guard, but his innate rebounding hunger and natural lift still remains. In this setting, Barnes thrived in deep as a forwardish talent. Barnes recorded a double-double. "He is real smooth," said Reggie Tucker of Cleveland High. "When he dives into the post he really wants the ball." His plus/minus was markedly better than his teammates. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="1008281" first="Kobe" last="Ward"] (South Side) Kobe finished off a pesky, tenacious Howard Tech team early afternoon Thursday. Ward’s entire game was strong, but the fourth quarter and the closing minute was absurdly special. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF6lo7QN6mo&feature=youtu.be   <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775583" first="Kerrick" last="Thorne"] (Howard) After their win, South Side players and coaches laughed at how ridiculous Howard’s star forward dominance was early. It would not have been a laughing matter if Howard was able to win. Kerrick amassed 10 points and 5 rebounds in the first half alone. His comfort in the lane was apparent. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775663" first="Jonathan" last="Milloway"] (Oak Ridge) Siegel was always going to run up the score. It is in their blood. Milloway forced the Siegel Stars to battle and commit constant energy to defending the post. Milloway really displayed a lovely shooting touch. He won double-figure rebound wars with the feisty Siegel Star players. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />Johnathan Stewart (Oak Ridge) Siegel really struggled to slow the senior scorer Johnathan Stewart Thursday evening. Beyond his 16 points, Stewart also added four steals. The extra possessions were needed for Oak Ridge to build and then hold on to the lead. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775549" first="Matthew" last="Schneider"] (Siegel) Schneider did not finish well around the rim or really from anywhere. He missed more than usual and struggled to find his customary shooting touch. What Schneider did do was rebound...16 times! <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775545" first="Zion" last="Swader"] (Siegel) [player_tooltip player_id="775545" first="Zion" last="Swader"] opened the game with a fantastic push. He scored 18 points in the loss, but struggled to find gold in the second half. Swader’s poor second-half shooting was not unique. Overall, the Siegel Stars managed only 33.0% from the floor after halftime. <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775595" first="Caleb" last="Wilson"] (Cane Ridge) Nicknamed by AAU Coach Tony Thompson "Spaceman", [player_tooltip player_id="775595" first="Caleb" last="Wilson"] came to play. He beat his man off the dribble repeatedly and earned his way to the free throw line. https://youtu.be/HiE-KzqZBmQ <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="537247" first="Grant" last="Hurst"] (Cleveland) When he hit his first three-pointer, late in the third quarter, [player_tooltip player_id="537247" first="Grant" last="Hurst"] established his shooting brilliance once more. He turned, squatted, and roared towards his CHS bench in excitement. Hurst scored 20 of his team’s first 29 points and obviously, by that statistic, enjoyed very, very little help enduring the scoring burden. Hurst is an incredible shooter that truly developed his slashing later in his high school career. A quick Collierville team was surprisingly unable to even check him away from the basket. Hurst played very, very quick and his steps were sharp and crisp. The Dragons just didn’t have any kind of solutions. Hurst surpassed 30 points midway through the fourth quarter and finished with 32 points. "It hurts," said [player_tooltip player_id="537247" first="Grant" last="Hurst"] afterwards. " https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/1372653115443400717?s=20 <img class="alignleft" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/d/1/4/6/11971185311926706097Gioppino_Basketball.svg.thumb.png" alt="Gioppino Basketball clip art" width="17" height="17" />[player_tooltip player_id="775557" first="Jordan" last="Jenkins"] (Collierville) The shooting of Jenkins Thursday really helped Collierville pull away from Cleveland early and maintain a moderately comfortable lead throughout the first three quarters. Jenkins played quick and purposeful. His awareness of the game was great. Jenkins was the best passer on the floor most of the day. He found teammates in dangerous spots, often feeding [player_tooltip player_id="775554" first="Davon" last="Barnes"] for buckets. "Last year we did something nobody thought we could do last year," said Jenkins afterwards. "We beat Central...and since then we have had an underdog mindset." Peruse the complete <a href="https://prephoops.com/tennessee/rankings/2021-rankings/">2021 rankings</a>. Follow <a href="https://twitter.com/courtneyhoops90">@CourtneyHoops90</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewForce8">@AndrewForce8</a>.