BCAT: Independence still has the dog mentality
It’s been three months and two days since Independence last played a meaningful game. It was for the TSSAA Division 1 Class 4A state championship inside Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. That day, Memphis Overton…
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Continue ReadingIt’s been three months and two days since Independence last played a meaningful game.
It was for the TSSAA Division 1 Class 4A state championship inside Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University. That day, Memphis Overton left the court with gold ball, while the Eagles kept their heads up high following a low end to the 2022 season.
Fast forward to the middle of June, Independence is back in the groove of things, with a mission to compete for another state title and be on the brighter side on the final day of the season.
The Eagles will have great fortune with their entire backcourt of
Jett Montgomery
Jett
Montgomery
6'1" | PG
Independence | 2024
State
TN
and
Tylan Lewis
Tylan
Lewis
6'2" | PG
Independence | 2025
State
TN
returning. Montgomery is a feisty, hard-nosed pitbull at the point guard spot. The 6-foot-1 floor general puts forth 100 percent effort on every possession, similar to what NBA guard Russell Westbrook has done for the entirety of his career.
Lewis, a rising junior, is a strong-willed guard with the ability to make plays and make shots. Independence has a great chance, as long as both Montgomery and Lewis are hungry. Both prospects have to know that the Eagles are now the hunted, especially since they came out of nowhere last season and made an unbelievable run to the 4A state title game. Teams are going to come out and try to get a statement win. Independence can’t afford to get comfortable and take teams lightly.
“We just have to come work hard everyday in practice,” Lewis said following the Eagles’ scrimmage against Briarcrest at the BCAT Hoopfest event in Memphis, Tennessee. “We have to get way better than we did last year. So, we have to work harder than all of the teams we are going to have to play.”
Independence lost forward Matthew Witt and guard Josh Owens from last season’s team that finished 28-5. But, the Eagles have solid pieces to go along with Montgomery and Lewis for another deep postseason run.
Rising seniors Brayden Buck and Houston Hicks will need to contribute on both ends of the floor. Buck is a dependable offensive option. He’s capable of getting into a nice rhythm and making shots at a high clip. Hicks, at 6-9, is great in pick-and-roll situations. He’s another dependable shot maker.
In the scrimmage against the Saints at the Perfect 7 Sports Academy, Buck and Hicks were shooting lights out. Independence was moving the basketball very well and got great looks throughout the contest. The Eagles are built to throw haymakers, built to play fast and run sets. They’re built to throw the knockout punch. Independence has dogs and each one of them will bite.
“If you look at our team, we are not as big as these other teams. We don’t look like we are some dogs, but we are,” Montgomery said. “We are really tough. We got a lot of dudes that want to fight.”