Host-Shooting Oneida (#9) Buries Carter

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Day 2 of the Hammers Christmas Classic tipped off early, 11:15 EST, with a game between Oneida (PrepHoopsTN #9) and the Carter Hornets. Anderson County High hosted the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FINAL:</strong> 76-56, Oneida.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter outplayed Oneida through the first 8-10 minutes, but as the Hornets began to settle for jumpers instead of driving at the Oneida 2-3 zone, the orange-clad Indians took command. Down the entire game, Oneida leapfrogged CHS as the teams entered their 20's. Oneida actually led 31-26 in the final minute of the opening half when Bricen Hickson (Carter) bizarrely banked in a 12' jumper from the free throw line. Oneida spaced the floor expertly and knocked down an open three-pointer as a rebuttal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oneida (PrepHoopsTN #9 in 2A) lived out front 34-28 at the halfway point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Oneida Defense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oneida looked to be in a 2-3 zone, but their "middle man" lifted into the free throw line area quite a bit, which made it appear as a 2-1-2, of sorts. The game was essentially separated between Hornet outside shots, or "settles" and Hornet drives. The drives took more effort but tended to result in more success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brady Haun</strong> (Carter) was one of Carter's best slashers. He took pains to get into the teeth of the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bricen Hickson</strong> (Carter) hit a three-pointer to open the second half. Thankfully, the Hornets decided to attack the paint afterwards instead of chasing more outside success. It was these long-range shots, both misses and makes that earned CHS a halftime deficit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mason Motoring</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1339348' first='Mason' last='Keeton']</strong> (Oneida) expertly carved up the retreating Carter defense. The senior guard scored in a variety of ways: pull-up jumpers, fastbreak layups, runners. The Hornets lacked his quickness. Keeton's speed with the ball forced defenders to help. There was a lot of indecision and that confusion enabled Keeton to get into dangerous places with regularity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Carter closed the game to 43-36, Mason countered with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from the far corner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was on all morning and into the early afternoon. Beyond shooting well, Mason delivered some sharp passes to readied teammates. Teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2289223' first='Grady' last='Keeton']</strong> was a recipient of several of those passes. As a sophomore averaging over 15 ppg, Grady looks to be a dominant figure in the district for years to come. Speed with and without the ball help him creates problems and score in bunches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Carter Starters</span><br>#1 Bricen Hickson* <br>#2 PG Zane Brown* <br>#4 Brady Haun* <br>#10 SF Xzaveon Gibby* (2025)<br> #22 C </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">Oneida Starters</span><br>#11 [player_tooltip player_id='1339348' first='Mason' last='Keeton']*<br>#21 [player_tooltip player_id='2289223' first='Grady' last='Keeton']* (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->