State Tournament: Thursday Game Recaps

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday eight Class AA teams entered. Four survived. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2A Quarterfinal: Brainerd </strong>(63)<strong>, Fairview </strong>(60)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacob Neal scrapped and clawed for rebounds (10), but Brainerd's Panthers made just enough fourth quarter free throws (7-13) to hold their well-earned lead and advance to the semifinal round. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>1Q</strong></td><td><strong>2Q</strong></td><td><strong>3Q</strong></td><td><strong>4Q</strong></td><td><strong>Final</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Brainerd</td><td>13</td><td>17</td><td>18</td><td>15</td><td>63</td></tr><tr><td>Fairview</td><td>16</td><td>6</td><td>11</td><td>27</td><td>60</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Scoring<br></span><strong>Brainerd:</strong> Dennis Lewis Jr. 16, [player_tooltip player_id='1028858' first='Joshua' last='Hood'] 13, [player_tooltip player_id='1401439' first='Donivon' last='Thomas'] 11, [player_tooltip player_id='1028857' first='Quintus' last='Broadnax'] 10, Orlando Carter 7, Je'marie Baylor 2, Kendrick Jones 2, [player_tooltip player_id='1548923' first='LaMichael' last='Porter'] 2. <br><strong>Fairview:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1385892' first='Nathan' last='Dillingham'] 27, [player_tooltip player_id='1517688' first='Jonathan' last='Sawyer'] 10, Bryce Embry, Jacob Neal 6, [player_tooltip player_id='2451543' first='Jax' last='McCoy'] 6, Grayson Estes 4.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP: 2023 Dennis Lewis Jr. (Brainerd) -- 16 points (5-9 FG, 4-6 3P, 2-3 FT), 3 rebounds, 2 steals </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lefty lead guard Dennis Lewis Jr. lead his team in scoring, a team filled with balanced scoring. Lewis Jr. made four three-pointers, 80% of his team's outside makes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/03/strong-aa-quarterfinal-performances/">Strong AA Quarterfinal Performances - Prep Hoops</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2A Quarterfinal: Power Center Academy </strong>(68)<strong>, Giles County </strong>(70)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Power Center Academy had the better athletes, the better size. They just took some really ill-advised shots in the second quarter and failed to capitalize on their advantages adequately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>1Q</strong></td><td><strong>2Q</strong></td><td><strong>3Q</strong></td><td><strong>4Q</strong></td><td><strong>Final</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Power Center Academy</strong></td><td>17</td><td>12</td><td>15</td><td>24</td><td>68</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Giles County</strong></td><td>14</td><td>16</td><td>17</td><td>23</td><td>70</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>2A Quarterfinal: Douglass</strong> (81)<strong>, York Institute</strong> (53)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">York Institute</span><br>#0 [player_tooltip player_id='1336421' first='Bryson' last='Bilbrey']* (2024)<br>#1 [player_tooltip player_id='2253906' first='Will' last='Beaty'] (2026)<br>#2 Jackson Conatser* (2024)<br>#5 Myles Leffew* (2024)<br>#14 Blaine York (2023)<br>#32 [player_tooltip player_id='1529944' first='Heath' last='Wattenbarger']* (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Douglass</span><br>#0 Demario Johnson* (2025)<br>#1 [player_tooltip player_id='1852698' first='Taquez' last='Butler']* (2025) 6'2"<br>#2 [player_tooltip player_id='1495685' first='Tyler' last='Johnson']* (2023) 6'5"<br>#3 [player_tooltip player_id='2113587' first='Marjavis' last='Chandler']* (2025)<br>#4 [player_tooltip player_id='1404415' first='Joshua' last='Thompson']* (2024)<br>#5 Herman Powell (2024)<br>#10 [player_tooltip player_id='1852774' first='Jarmon' last='Brittman'] (2025) 6'2" SF/PF<br>#21 Krissean Bond (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nobody scored for the first 111 seconds of game time. The first basket fittingly came from a Douglass fast break. It was a perfect harbinger of what was to become a consistent theme throughout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Herman Powell</strong> hit a three-pointer to tug Douglass ahead 18-9 in the second quarter. Within 15 seconds he hit another, and Douglass was off to the races, leading 21-9 before the midpoint of quarter numero dos.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1495685' first='Tyler' last='Johnson']</strong> played patient, effective post defense the entire game. In addition, he rebounded quite well. The senior gave a burst, an explosion of energy late in the second quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Douglass scored 31 points in the first half on 48% shooting. York Institute crawled their way to 18 first half points (35% FG). Douglass forced nine turnovers in the opening half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336421' first='Bryson' last='Bilbrey']</strong> (York Institute)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>1Q</strong></td><td><strong>2Q</strong></td><td><strong>3Q</strong></td><td><strong>4Q</strong></td><td><strong>Final</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Douglass</strong></td><td>12</td><td>19</td><td>25</td><td>25</td><td>81</td></tr><tr><td><strong>York Institute</strong></td><td>6</td><td>12 </td><td>21</td><td>14</td><td>53</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Scoring<br></span><strong>Douglass:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1852698' first='Taquez' last='Butler'] 23, [player_tooltip player_id='1852774' first='Jarmon' last='Brittman'] 14, [player_tooltip player_id='1495685' first='Tyler' last='Johnson'] 13, Herman Powell 10, [player_tooltip player_id='1404415' first='Joshua' last='Thompson'] 6, [player_tooltip player_id='2113587' first='Marjavis' last='Chandler'] 5, Terrance Holly 4, Krissean Bond 4, Dorian Green 2.<br><strong>York Institute: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1529944' first='Heath' last='Wattenbarger'] 13, [player_tooltip player_id='1336421' first='Bryson' last='Bilbrey'] 12, Myles Leffew 9, Blaine York 7, Jackson Conatser 6, [player_tooltip player_id='2253906' first='Will' last='Beaty'] 2, Andrew Hall 2, Broc Parker 1, Carter Gibson 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP: 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1852698' first='Taquez' last='Butler'] (Douglass) -- 23 points (8-12 FG, 2-4 3P, 5-6 FT's), 2 rebounds, 5 assists</strong>, <strong>4 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mature scoring style. Butler hit the two three-pointers and yet his most impressive offensive contributions occurred around the free throw line, off-the-dribble. Butler's showing ranked up there with the best of the entire event. Fantastic versatility and poise. Oh, and he caused four steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>2A Quarterfinal: </strong>Alcoa (65)<strong>, </strong>Pearl-Cohn (62)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two elite "city" teams. Pearl-Cohn represents the core of metro Nashville. Alcoa is a school with some grit, some grime, some earthiness. They play with mental and physical toughness. Incredible matchup. Incredible game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Team</strong></td><td><strong>1Q</strong></td><td><strong>2Q</strong></td><td><strong>3Q</strong></td><td><strong>4Q</strong></td><td><strong>Final</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Pearl-Cohn</strong></td><td>13</td><td>7</td><td>19</td><td>23</td><td>62</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Alcoa</strong></td><td>16</td><td>11</td><td>14</td><td>24</td><td>65</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP: 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1121414' first='Jahvin' last='Carter'] (Alcoa) -- 28 points (9-17 FG, 3-7 3P, 7-9 FT's), 6 rebounds, 4 assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Electric. Jahvin's season continues to include otherworldly performances. Pearl-Cohn is, now was, a wildly athletic and quick basketball team, the kind that can capably compete with Alcoa's elite guard Jahvin and his supporting cast. Jahvin did everything needed to win though. He scored 28 points in 31 minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->