Brutal Path, Longshot Team and Unearthed Diamonds
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The day is here. Regional Semifinal Games. The participants are mostly expected. A few are stunning. Springfield High? It took their eighth win of the entire season to arrive “alive” on this thrilling Tuesday. Read about their players. Longshots Springfield…
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Continue ReadingThe day is here. Regional Semifinal Games. The participants are mostly expected. A few are stunning. Springfield High? It took their eighth win of the entire season to arrive “alive” on this thrilling Tuesday. Read about their players.
Longshots
Springfield (8-22) upset West Creek Saturday. Jalen Chapman Jalen Chapman 6'0" | PG Springfield | 2027 State TN earned placement on the All-District Team, despite playing as a freshman. Chapman’s up-and-under layup demonstrated remarkable agility in the lane. Senior Seon Dowlen was a strong rebounder on both ends. The team was able to count on him to break the press or hit a timely three-pointer too. Dowlen played a like a senior with the perfect mix of urgency and patience. Eshon Thompkins, a smaller guard, helped the seniors score in the halfcourt.
“He is doing really, really well,” said Coach Griggs Tuesday afternoon on Eshon Thompkins. “He is our second-leading scorer. He is a great kid. He plays great in the district tournament. He is averaging about 17 ppg and 3-4 spg.”
Springfield Roster
#1 Tony Petties
#2 Alarric Hudson
#4 Seon Dowlen
#5 Eshon Thompkins (2025)
#14
Jalen Chapman
Jalen
Chapman
6'0" | PG
Springfield | 2027
State
TN
(2027)
Midway through the third quarter, Alarric Hudson was visibly frustrated, in his feelings, after he was called with a charge and also suffered a steal. Though he stole the basketball back a second later, the senior did miss two challenged layups at the rim. Springfield Head Coach Anthony Griggs noticed a demeanor shift and called a timeout. Instead of addressing Hudson in front of the whole team, he walked him to the end of the bench and privately discussed what needed to change.
“None of my boys have been in the situation where they are now,” said Head Coach Anthony Griggs. “I just let him know that ‘I believe in you. Our whole team believes in you.’ Just letting him know, mistakes happen. Remain calm. Being a senior, being a leader, you are always the one who people look to. I told him, ‘I have your back and we are going to get through this together.'”
Springfield needed to manage a lot more in-game situations in the coming minutes, but Coach Griggs and Hudson were able to steady Hudson’s emotions together.
“It gave him a chance to take a deep breath. One thing I always tell him, and I tell all of the boys [if they go to the free throw line late, for example]…’ I tell I love them.’
The moment revealed a coaching maturity, a desperation to get through to a key player and a non-confrontational conversation served as his means of message delivery.
Springfield will play Dickson County tonight at Northwest They are not facing the toughest in the region, as those Cougars surprised Kirkwood Saturday. Rossview is the clear favorite to capture the Regional Championship now. Still, the regular season is ancient history now.
Unearthed Diamond
Ethan Caswell Ethan Caswell 6'3" | PG Bolton | 2026 State TN (Bolton) played very well until the season ended. The sophomore will be wonderful during the AAU season to come.
Brutal Path
Franklin High is probably not an underdog. Maybe they are. It is tricky. Last season Independence played in the state tournament, and yet Franklin was leading the entire District as late as mid-January. Who is the favorite to win Tuesday at Centennial High School?
“I think we are a confident team right now,” said Head Coach Jason Tigert Saturday night after knocking off Lincoln County. “Tomorrow we will do a lot of film. Ice baths. Stretching. Get after the ‘preparation.'”
Coach Tigert respects
Tylan Lewis
Tylan
Lewis
6'2" | PG
Independence | 2025
State
TN
‘ game a lot. He knows the team can shoot. He also mentioned Korben Walling as a “physical” player.
Is anybody more physical than Christian Brown Christian Brown 6'7" | SF Franklin | 2025 State TN though? The dude probably carries his family car around town when they go to a nice meal.
Should Franklin upend Independence, they would meet the winner of Brentwood/Columbia Central, which on paper is an easier opponent. Still, Brentwood’s star forward Daniel Cochran Daniel Cochran 6'7" | SF Brentwood | 2024 State TN put up a 30-piece Saturday.