Host-Shooting Oneida (#9) Buries Carter
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. FINAL: 76-56, Oneida. Carter outplayed Oneida through the first 8-10 minutes,…
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Continue ReadingDay 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.
FINAL: 76-56, Oneida.
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.
Oneida (PrepHoopsTN #9 in 2A) lived out front 34-28 at the halfway point.
Oneida Defense
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.
Brady Haun (Carter) was one of Carter’s best slashers. He took pains to get into the teeth of the defense.
Bricen Hickson (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.
Mason Motoring
Mason Keeton Mason Keeton 6'3" | PG Oneida | 2024 State TN (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.
When Carter closed the game to 43-36, Mason countered with a catch-and-shoot three-pointer from the far corner.
He was on all morning and into the early afternoon. Beyond shooting well, Mason delivered some sharp passes to readied teammates. Teammate Grady Keeton Grady Keeton 6'1" | SG Oneida | 2026 State TN 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.
Carter Starters
#1 Bricen Hickson*
#2 PG Zane Brown*
#4 Brady Haun*
#10 SF Xzaveon Gibby* (2025)
#22 C
Oneida Starters
#11
Mason Keeton
Mason
Keeton
6'3" | PG
Oneida | 2024
State
TN
*
#21
Grady Keeton
Grady
Keeton
6'1" | SG
Oneida | 2026
State
TN
* (2026)