Coachspeak

Monday night. Hours away. What are the coaches talking about leading up to these tense battles? Here’s a look in 4A:

William Blount @ Dobyns-Bennett

Sevier County @ Karns

Karns Starters
#1 JJ Faulkner JJ Faulkner 5'11" | PG Karns | 2023 State TN
#3 Bubba Faulkner
#11 Jaylen Roberts Jaylen Roberts 6'3" | SG Karns | 2023 State TN
Walker Lockhart
Aiden Goins* (2023)

LaVergne @ McMinn County

“We are young,” said LaVergne Head Coach Tony Rutland way back in the preseason. “We are not looking too bad.  My expectations are not super, super high, because I don’t want it to be.  I would rather play it out.”

On Daunte White Daunte White 6'6" | PF LaVergne | 2024 State TN
He is a guy that can play the stretch-4, maybe 3 in college.  I think he has the ability to go D-1.”

Landon Bryant
I have a sophomore who is a shooter.  He is about 6’1″ or 6’2″.  “He is actually coming into his own,” said Coach Rutland. “He was on the team last year. He was able to experience playing against Damon Fann and all of those guys. Those two guys are going to be leaders. I kept enough from last year that my younger guys were able to compete against my older guys last year.”

He played with Team Mookie this past year.  He was able to surprise the coaches.  He is getting looks.  Tennessee State came to our practice to look. So, I think being on the AAU he had a couple of coaches  He can handle the rock. He can pass the ball.  He can shoot mid-range.  He is developing an all-around game. 

On Xialin Lenoir Xialin Lenoir 5'11" | PG Lavergne | 2024 State TN
Xialin Lenoir Xialin Lenoir 5'11" | PG Lavergne | 2024 State TN is very quick.  I think he will be able to control the tempo of the game.  Can put pressure on guards.

On Brennon Hagewood Brennon Hagewood 6'2" | PG LaVergne | 2023 State TN
He has been working really hard on coming off pick’n’rolls and getting to the elbow and shoot.  His shot is very quick.  He has giving me some game-winners.  He has brought us back in the game with big 3’s.  Having him around, doing the dirty things, he wanted to guard Brandon Miller…and you can’t hold Brandon to low points, but I thought he did a really good job trying to get under his skin a little bit, in certain situations, when we were playing at Cane Ridge.

My saying is always, ‘It is a marathon, not a sprint.’  What we are doing now we might not do towards the end of the year.  I always look at how you finish.  If we can get rolling at the right point in the season, then it can carry over into the post-season if we are able to make it.  – LaVergne HC Tony Rutland 11/22/22

Cleveland @ Blackman

Cleveland Head Coach Reggie Tucker
How do you feel about your team?
I always feel good about my team. We are healthy.

What do you see from Blackman on film?
They are scrappy. They play hard. I think he does a great job with those guys. He is a veteran coach. One of the proven coaches in the state.

This is…4 or 5 of our guys are making their third trip to a Sectional Game. So, this is not new for them.

On Gabe Leeper Gabe Leeper 6'1" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State TN
He has been very inconsistent. Up and down. When he plays well we are very, very good. He hasn’t played well the past couple games. We need him to play really well tomorrow to win.

More on Blackman
They are scrappy. They play hard. They attack you in transition. Their defense is their offense. They have a big kid in the middle. Active. Takes up a lot of paint.

On Jasen Brooks Jasen Brooks 6'1" | PG Cleveland | 2023 State TN in elimination games
He had 26 the other night. Taking great shots. Playing with great pace. Could have had 35. Playing off two’s. He has been consistently playing well. He would definitely be MVP of District Tournament, by far. He is locked in. Focused. He has been locked in all year.

Who do you see as a potential spark off of the bench?
Camden Gober Camden Gober 5'9" | PG Cleveland | 2023 TN hit some big three’s for us. He had six against Coffee County. Hopefully gives us a spark off the bench tomorrow. Judah {Sault] didn’t play well last game, so I am looking for him to have a big game tomorrow. Bounce back.

On the road you have to defend, rebound, take care of the basketball. Those are the non-negotiables on the road. If we don’t do those things, then we won’t win.

Hillsboro @ Hendersonville

Senior T.J. Kolbe earned Regional Tournament MVP.

Hendersonville Roster
#3 TJ Kolbe*
#4 Carter Brisson
#5 Ty Lannom Ty Lannom 6'0" | PG Hendersonville | 2023 State TN *
#20 Hudson Gill Hudson Gill 6'6" | SF Hendersonville | 2024 State TN * (2024)
#44 CJ Holt (2025)

Green Hill @ Independence

Green Hill Head Coach Troy Allen

“We got our work cut out for us. We know how good they are. We are going to be ready.”

How did you feel at that riveting ending of Beech/Green Hill game?
“We were trying to figure out a way to get a good shot. We ran a play for Burch to shoot a three. He banked it in. We wanted to play them fullcourt. Kenny made a steal and won the game.”

Incredible finish.
“We have had a few games like that the last couple of weeks. We have been down, hung in there. Kids have done an amazing job fighting to the end.”

Kenny Ellis Kenny Ellis 5'11" | PG Green Hill | 2024 State TN ‘ on-ball defense
He is a special defender. He just works and continues to get better and better. I wouldn’t trade him for anybody. He is one of the smarter players I have coached. I think it is rare to hvae somendy like Kenny, more rare to have somebody like him than not.

Jason Burch Jason Burch 6'5" | C Green Hill | 2023 State TN
Just consistency over a three year period. You know you are going to get 13-17 and 7-10 rebounds every game. Just the same person every day. Doesn’t get too emotional.

How do you see your team matching up with them?
I don’t know anybody matches great with them because they have so many guys that can score. At the end of the day you have to get back in transition.

Memphis East @ Rossview

For the second year in a row a very good Memphis East team is forced to travel all of the way to Clarksville for a road game. Last season they lost to J.J. Wheat and his senior class. This Rossview team needs a monster game to match.

Dickson County @ Memphis Overton