Livingston Academy, Stone and D7-3A Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Stone Memorial team.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome to the @PrepHoopsTN Mid-Season District 7 Notebook!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District 7, following the realignment, returned six teams. They lost only Macon County. This helps established rivalries continue. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last year four D7 teams won 20+ games: Stone Memorial, White County, Livingston Academy, Upperman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Livingston Academy <a href="https://twitter.com/hogeyehoops">@hogeyehoops</a><br>Stone Memorial<br>Dekalb County<br>Cumberland County<br>Upperman<br>White County <a href="https://twitter.com/whiteco_hoops">@whiteco_hoops</a><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Livingston Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last week Livingston Academy handled Huntland, 78-53 on the backs of <strong>Tucker Miller</strong> (23 points), <strong>Cole Harris</strong> (19), <strong>Brodey Coffee</strong> (10), <strong>Daniel Bilbrey </strong>(10), and <strong>Wyatt Hargis</strong> (8).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Livingston Academy season thus far can be separated into four blocks and a sprinkling of "stray" games: Hall of Fame games, Thanksgiving Week, KSA Tournament (Orlando, FL), AFLAC Christmas Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Livingston Academy Schedule</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>&nbsp;</th><th>&nbsp;</th><th>Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Nov. 16</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=760254"></a> at Soddy Daisy<br>Hall of Fame</td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 60-59</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Nov. 18</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=752797"></a> <strong>Smith County N<br>Hall of Fame at Clarkrange, Clarkrange, TN</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 73-37</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Nov. 18</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=760255"></a> <strong>Sunbright N<br>Hall of Fame at Clarkrange, Clarkrange, TN</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 84-39</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Nov. 21</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=753185"></a> at Macon County</td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 77-39</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Nov. 24</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=758459"></a> <strong>#1 Providence Christian N<br>Siegel Thanksgiving Classic at Siegel, Murfreesboro, TN</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td>L 46-78</td></tr><tr><td>Nov. 25</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=758491"></a> at #9 Siegel<br>Stars Thanksgiving Classic</td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td>L 55-67</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 1</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=761463"></a> at Clarkrange</td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 89-62</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 2</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=761464"></a> <strong>Tennessee Heat N<br>at Lincoln Memorial, Harrogate, TN</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td>L 61-65</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 8</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=759163"></a> at Martin Luther King</td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://nfhs-network.pxf.io/c/3290457/699473/10661?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Enfhsnetwork%2Ecom%2Fevents%2Fmartin%2Dluther%2Dking%2Dmagnet%2Dhigh%2Dschool%2Dnashville%2Dtn%2Fgam1f80613f12&amp;partnerpropertyid=3219810"></a></td><td>L 54-55</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 11</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=761465"></a> <strong>Warren County</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 68-59</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 16</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=753199"></a> <strong>Macon County</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 67-44</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 20</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=763152"></a> <strong>Tuscaloosa Central (AL) N<br>KSA tournament at Orlando, Florida</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td>L 45-55</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 21</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=763607"></a> <strong>North (MA) N<br>KSA Tournament at Orlando, FL</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td>L 39-70</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 22</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=763686"></a> <strong>Dayton (KY) N<br>KSA Tournament 7th Place Forfeit at Orlando, FL</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 2-0</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=763932"></a> <strong>Monterey N<br>AFLAC Christmas Classic at Watertown, Watertown, TN</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 70-38</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 28</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=764010"></a> <strong>Wilson Central N<br>AFLAC Christmas Classic at Watertown, Watertown, TN</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td>L 46-47</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 29</td><td><a href="https://www.coacht.com/tennessee/inside/game.cfm?eventid=753593"></a> <strong>Huntland N<br>AFLAC Christmas Classic at Watertown, Watertown, TN</strong></td><td><a href="https://www.facebook.com/uppercumberlandreporter/"></a></td><td><strong>W 77-</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">White County<br></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White County needed to replace four starters, two of which are now playing college basketball. It is a proud, historic program with wonderful fan and school support. Still, experience is not quickly replaced. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then-sophomore<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2448254' first='Tripp' last='Pinion']</strong> played very well in the <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/03/that-unforgettable-monday-night/">Warrior win</a> over Austin-East last March. In fact, he hit the game-winner. The star football player is not playing for the basketball team right now though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will the Warriors make their program's 15th State Tournament appearance in 2024? No, but they are young and building anew.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach Eric Mitchell is essentially rotating nine players, none of whom are averaging double figures. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2448350' first='Cole' last='Sims']</strong> (2027) is scoring in the 6-7 ppg range while pulling down 5+ rpg. <strong>Lukas Smith </strong>(2026) plays heavy minutes, averaging in the 8-11 ppg range while battling for the team lead in assists. He does need to cut way down on his turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Juniors <strong>Gage Stephenson </strong>and <strong>Nathaniel Griffin</strong> are big rebounders. Griffin is the more consistent scorer of the two. Two other juniors, <strong>Lucas Dickerson </strong>and <strong>Keaun Lewis</strong>, give a little rebounding and a little scoring in 10-16 minutes a night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just a sophomore, <strong>Mason Steele</strong> is one of the team's primary scorers. <strong>Kash Sampson</strong> plays a little as a freshman and<strong> Jackson Young</strong> is the only senior getting meaningful PT. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stone Memorial</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1211987' first='Cade' last='Capps']</strong> is scoring 31.2 points per game. The dude already made 132 shots, forget his 74 made free throws!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brady Lane</strong> is the team's second-leading scorer, but he is so much more than that. Lane, a powerful forward, enables Capps to play at his natural guard position instead of habitually hovering around the rim for rebounds. Also, Lane defends the paint solidly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wyatt Grothe</strong> is averaging just under 7 ppg and <strong>Preston Mayberry</strong> is a 5.9 ppg guy with a little over 1.5 3's made per.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1211987' first='Cade' last='Capps']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About midway through 2023 we elevated [player_tooltip player_id='1211987' first='Cade' last='Capps'] to the #1 spot in 2025, where he remains to this day. Capps is an elite shooter, an elite free throw shooter, and an improved slasher. At the high school level Cade is an elite rebounder, but he probably winds up being an above average rebounder for a D1 program, considering he will team with guys 5 inches taller than him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are other talented players in the district, but nobody else belongs in the conversation for MVP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->