State-Bound Quotables!

<p>Read the words of the players and coaches that made tonight special.</p> <h3><b>Farragut @ Dobyns-Bennett</b></h3> <p>"It was awesome," said senior [player_tooltip player_id="1201721" first="Jack" last="Browder"] after their win.  "Our fans embraced us. It was cool because we haven’t been in awhile."</p> <p>DB was strong all season and after knocking off Morristown East looked to be a favorite to make it to state in 4A.   "We are senior-laden team, a senior group with five seniors.  Doing it with people I have been with for years."</p> <p>What was the locker room like?</p> <p>"We were able to pour water on the coach."</p> <p>"Our students were definitely happy."</p> <h3><b>Volunteer @ Clinton</b></h3> <p>Clinton will return to state for the first time since 2004.</p> <p>"I went in 97 when I was an assistant with my dad," said Clinton Head Coach Chris Lockard. "This is the 50th year that there has been a Lockard has been a head coach there. It was pretty special for me."</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1176630" first="Jackson" last="Garner"] ripped off 45 points in the game!</p> <p>"It was, you know, us winning that game meant a lot for our team, our fans, but really I wanted to win it for our town," said [player_tooltip player_id="1176630" first="Jackson" last="Garner"].  "Clinton hasn’t been to a state tournament since 2004.  Afterwards it was cool to celebrate with the guys, but I told them that we have a lot more work to do."</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The [player_tooltip player_id="1176630" first="Jackson" last="Garner"] Game</span></p> <p>"He was 20-20 from the line," said Head Coach Lockard.  "We were up 13, and it got a little close because, in the last two minutes of the game, they went 6-6 from three.  We were trading two for three and they cut into the lead.  Jackson was at the line with 4.6 seconds to go. I said, ’Let them go down and score and we can get ready for the next one.’"</p> <p>"I think he controlled our play in the third quarter, not just scoring, but distributing....Jackson is such a good free throw shooter," said Coach Lockard.  "They kept finding Jackson [in fourth quarter] and putting him to the line and he was able to seal the deal."</p> <p><strong>The Grateful Eight</strong></p> <p>Not the Hateful Eight, these Grateful Eight are exactly where they always intended to be.  Jackson and the seniors have been planning for this state run since they were eighth-graders.</p> <p>"Us eight seniors, since playing together since sixth grade, everybody was on the same page, ’Win state, win state, win state.’  We didn’t want to get to state, we wanted to win.’</p> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN: When did that mindset, that goal, take form?</strong></p> <p>"Since we got this core of seniors," said [player_tooltip player_id="1176630" first="Jackson" last="Garner"]. "When we made it to the Championship game in the eighth grade tournament, we said, ’Our senior year we have to win state.’"</p> <p>That Championship Game featured Greeneville versus Clinton and, yes, the Greeneville seniors that you know are the same players that defeated [player_tooltip player_id="1176630" first="Jackson" last="Garner"] and his teammates way back then.</p> <p>"Reid, Kobi. That core that they have...Everybody wants to go to the state championship. Hopefully since they (Greeneville) are on the other side, maybe we can get a rematch with them in the finals."</p> <p>Maybe The Great Eight?</p> <h3><b>Jackson County @ East Nashville</b></h3> <p>"Jaylen just took over the game, man," said East Nashville Head Coach Avery Patton.  "Them five three-pointers [[player_tooltip player_id="992497" first="Jaylen" last="Jones"]] made from 30’ out, it took the wind out of those kids.  After that he just went on a spurt by himself.  Jarrod [Taylor] picked up his second foul and I had to sit him.   Jaylen was like, ’I have to go.’"</p> <p><strong>@PrepHoopsTN:</strong> Entering the game, surely after scouting them, you figured it would be a challenge, a bigger challenge than it resulted, right?</p> <p>"I looked at their games for three days in a row," said Coach Patton.  "I am watching them, watching them, watching them.  I told my players who did what.  Their key guy was 6-foot-5, and I told them how he scores and what to look out for.  I have really good athletic 6-foot-5 guys that can check him.  My main concern was putting the pressure on the guards, try to get them sped up.  I didn’t think it would be this type of win."  </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The [player_tooltip player_id="992497" first="Jaylen" last="Jones"]</span></p> <p>"Man, I just want to win a state championship," said [player_tooltip player_id="992497" first="Jaylen" last="Jones"].  "I wasn’t too worried about points."</p> <p>And yet Jaylen did score, virtually at-will.</p> <p>"Our main scorer, Jarrod, he went out with two fouls, I felt like I had to took over."</p> <p>It was not a verbal statement or ask from Coach Patton.</p> <p>"I just said in my head, ’It is time to flick the switch.’</p> <p>East Nashville’s gym is among the best in Tennessee, in terms of energy, history, volume.  The team typically feeds off that and plays better when it is louder and it is obviously louder when they play better.</p> <p>"I just want the support," said Jones of his hometown gym.  "The support makes me want to go 10 times harder.  We feed off of it."</p> <p>How good can this team be?</p> <p>"I feel like we can win the state championship. As long as we stay together.  Play as a team. Everybody just has to play the role. "</p> <p>The postgame locker room was subdued, for a team advancing to the State Tournament.</p> <p>"This game, our heads were just focused.  It was a lot of smiles on our faces, but I have been here before."</p>