Top Performers (Week 6)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I took a little break over the holidays, but I'm back now to finish out the second half of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's officially “The Road to State” time for every varsity team in the state. Each game from this point on counts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another thing: the second half of the season is going to be fun to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So, let's get things going with the best performances from the final days of 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Damarien</strong> <strong>Yates</strong>, Fayette Ware: Yates had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in a 55-42 win over Valor Christian (GA) in the 6^th Annual Cleveland Holiday Tournament. <strong>Eric</strong> <strong>Jones</strong> had 12 points. <strong>Taiveon</strong> <strong>Mitchell</strong> added 10 points and three steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colby</strong> <strong>Jones</strong>, Friendship Christian: Jones had 22 points in a win over Columbia Academy. <strong>Noah</strong> <strong>Major</strong> added 12.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin</strong> <strong>Morgan</strong>, Columbia Academy: Morgan led his team with 13 points in a 50-39 win over Portland. <strong>Gabe</strong> <strong>Davenport</strong> had 12, and <strong>Andre</strong> <strong>McClellan</strong> added 11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caelum</strong> <strong>Harris</strong>, Stewarts Creek: Harris had 26 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a loss to Nolensville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Paul</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Bradford</strong>, Freedom Prep: Bradford had 26 points and 16 rebounds in a win over Fayette Academy in the Vikings' Christmas Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Corbin</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Bowling</strong>, Fayette Ware: Bowling led the Vikings with 24 points against the Freedom Prep Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Charley</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Carpenter</strong>, Friendship Christian: Carpenter had 21 points in his team's win over Portland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Barrett</strong> <strong>Burchyett</strong>, Christian Brothers: Burchyett had 21 points and two blocks in the Purple Wave's win over Choctawhatchee in the NW Florida Shootout championship game. <strong>Michael</strong> <strong>Pepper</strong> had 15 points and four assists. Pepper was crowned MVP. Burchyett and <strong>Keeper</strong> <strong>Jackson – </strong>who had nine points in the<strong> </strong>win<strong> - </strong>were named to the All-Tournament Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cooper</strong> <strong>Haynes</strong>, Briarcrest: Haynes led the Saints with 23 points and four rebounds in a 63-50 win over Christian Brothers College (St. Louis) to win the Mater Dei Christmas Tournament and have improved to 19-0 on the season.. <strong>Jacob</strong> <strong>Gazzo</strong> had 15 points and seven rebounds. <strong>Jaye</strong> <strong>Nash</strong> had 11 points, four assists, and four rebounds. <strong>Fred</strong> <strong>Smith</strong> also had 11 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alex</strong> <strong>Hyder</strong>, Cleveland: Hyder had 18 points - converted on 5 of 7 shots from 3 - in a 64-57 win over Red Bank. <strong>Gabe</strong> <strong>Leeper</strong> had 17 points, four assists, four rebounds, and three steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nehemiah</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Bloodshaw</strong>, Tyner:&nbsp;Bloodshaw&nbsp;had 19 points in a win over Brainerd to finish third place in the Best of Preps Tournament.&nbsp;<strong>Rodney</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Henderson</strong>&nbsp;added 17 points. Both were named to the All-Tournament Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cooper</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Abner</strong>, Westmoreland: Abner had 14 points, 15 rebounds, and three assists in a win over Hume-Fogg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ben</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Groth</strong>, Tennessee Heat:&nbsp;Groth&nbsp;had 37 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Valor Prep in the&nbsp;Zaxby's&nbsp;Christmas Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tylon</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Chatman</strong>, Haywood: The senior point guard had a good showing at the Poplar Bluff Showdown where he averaged 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, and 2.3 steals per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ayden</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Shaw</strong>, Jackson Christian: Shaw had 19 points in his team's win over Liberty Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clay</strong> <strong>Payne</strong>, University School of Nashville: The 2025 prospect is having a solid season thus far. He's currently averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Emerson</strong> <strong>Tenner</strong>, Christian Brothers: Tenner had 29 points in a win over Southaven in the Peggy Bain Christmas Tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Hayes</strong>, Fayette Ware: Hayes had 10 points and eight rebounds in a win over Red Bank.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lorenzo</strong>&nbsp;<strong>McMillan</strong>, Davidson Academy: McMillan had 23 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals in a win over Valor Prep in&nbsp;Goodpasture&nbsp;Zaxby's&nbsp;Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Devaki</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Garr</strong>,&nbsp;Ensworth: Garr had 27 points to help his team win the Cleveland Holiday Tournament over the Blue Raiders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's the Cleveland Holiday Tournament All-Tournament Team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ensworth – <strong>Devaki</strong> <strong>Garr</strong> (MVP), <strong>Nic</strong> <strong>Hyche </strong>(2024), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1352800' first='Ethan' last='Utley'] </strong>(2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cleveland – <strong>Gabe</strong> <strong>Leeper</strong>, <strong>Alex</strong> <strong>Hyder</strong>, and <strong>Jasen</strong> <strong>Brooks </strong>(all seniors)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fayette Ware – <strong>Damarien</strong> <strong>Yates</strong> (2023) and <strong>Jeremiah</strong> <strong>Hayes</strong> (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Red Bank –&nbsp;<strong>Kalin</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Sewell</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>(2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morristown East –&nbsp;<strong>Kyle</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Cloninger</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>(2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valor Christian Academy –&nbsp;<strong>Kevin</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Anderson</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>(2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silverdale Baptist –&nbsp;<strong>Kennedy</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Okpara</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>(2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Alabama, Jacksonville State, Roane State, Walter State, Cleveland State, Tennessee Wesleyan, Bryan College, Chattanooga State,&nbsp;Moc&nbsp;Valley Prep, and Lee University were all in attendance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->