X-Factors Class A State Tournament

<p>Class 1A Champions Clay County are not the only great team in the eight-team field. </p> <p>West Carroll, MAHS, Peabody, etc...this is a deep octet.  Consider the X-Factors and the impact they are most likely to have.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><b>Hampton vs. West Carroll</b></h3> <p><strong>Xander Moon</strong> (West Carroll) is a high intensity player for West Carroll that serves a very necessary, often unglamorous role.  The quarterback, who also plays forward, plays with a fire, a fire that ignites a teamwide passion.  While star scorer [player_tooltip player_id="1021721" first="Jalen" last="Anglin"] must utilize a level of grace and shooting touch, Moon is not that guy.  He does not need to temper his excitement to do delicate, fine-motor things.  Moon can and will enter a rebounding melee with ambitions.  Moon can and will dive for loose balls or reach in for a steal against a giant.  The enormity of Murfreesboro and the moment can get to players, young and old.  It can make the bold timid.  When doubts or worries enter, during those trying moments certain to emerge, tournament teams need that guy that will inject bravado, pounce on a seemingly insignificant dribble and change the tenor of the game.  Xander Moon is that guy.</p> <p><strong>Josh Clark</strong> (West Carroll) is also a powerful forward, and more than teammate Xander Moon, Clark is a creative force.  Josh sees the court very well, and if he were not relegated to the post because of size Clark would be a fantastic high-post facilitator. Facing Santa Fe he displayed that keen awareness to initiate a play and then find the open passing lane.  When a double team came his way, Clark showed the shot fake and dumped to a wide-open slasher.  In addition to his burly, bully ways, Clark is also a crafty, clever player. In fact, the game ended on a play wholly created by Clark.  Josh accepted an in-bounds pass from the far baseline, a second after the game was tied up 54-54.  In a gym, hot, filled with screeches and roars, Clark dribbled the length of the court, provided Xander Moon with a bounce-pass.  After Moon blew the opportunity, Clark caught the rebound mid-air and finished at the horn to win and send his Eagles to the State Tournament, 56-54.  The play really showcased all of Clark’s skills in one.  Matching up with a man of his size and skill will be tricky.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>West Carroll Roster (w/ Starters*)<br /> </strong></span>#1 Andrew Huff* (2022)<br /> #2 [player_tooltip player_id="1406271" first="Jaquan" last="Adkins"]* (2023)<br /> #3 [player_tooltip player_id="1021721" first="Jalen" last="Anglin"]* (2022)<br /> #5 Jd Pigue (2023)<br /> #21 Xander Moon* (2022)<br /> #35 Josh Clark* (2022)</p> <h3> </h3> <h3><b>MAHS vs. East Robertson</b></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><b>North Greene vs. Clay County</b></h3> <p>The state’s 2021 Mr. Basketball, [player_tooltip player_id="1024931" first="Grant" last="Strong"] is a one-man wrecking crew, capable of dominating a game offensively.  Who will be Clay County’s X-Factor?</p> <p>Keaton Arms. Arms gives a constant rebounding presence.  Maybe he will not be vital versus North Greene, in a game Clay County should win, but the powerful big man will be leaned upon heavily throughout this title defense.  Arms hauled in 15 rebounds in a Regional Championship win over East Robertson. Built like a tow truck, Keaton can replicate this feat in Murfreesboro.  </p> <h3><b>McKenzie vs. Peabody</b></h3>