Four 4A Championship Matchups Today

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Morristown East in FL, 12/27/23</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While most 4A District Tournaments are concluding next week, this mid-February Saturday features four District Championship Games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>#1</strong> <strong>Hillsboro vs. #2 Cane Ridge</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2267097,"width":"365px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/20230623_193138.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/11/20230623_193138.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2267097" style="width:365px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hosted by John Overton HS, Hillsboro vs. Cane Ridge is a battle of two recent State Tournament Qualifiers. Almost this exact <a href="https://prephoops.com/2023/11/4a-state-champ-contender-series-hillsboro/">Hillsboro team</a> played in The Glass House last March. Only one starter left (Thaddeus Johnson) meaning playoff experience favors the Burros. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2042563' first='Arnez' last='Anderson'] </strong>(14.2 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1259396' first='Cortez' last='Graham-Howard']</strong> (13.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.4 spg), and<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2042562' first='Xavier' last='Washington']</strong> (13.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg) are scoring leaders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664831' first='Tyren' last='Fisher']</strong> is the fourth returning starter and an integral part of their success (9.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1259396' first='Cortez' last='Graham-Howard'] is one of the best shooters in the state, but to date he's only recorded eight multi-3 games. As an example of what he can do, CGH buried 9-16 through his first two games way back before Thanksgiving. A recent strong game occurred near January's end against Hunters Lane (4-5 3's). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take a walk down to the other bench where Cane Ridge is targeting a return to state, their first since NBA Rising Star Brandon Miller graduated in 2022. The program has a new coach, since Marlin Simms decided to take an administration job at Cane Ridge High. These Ravens are balanced offensively with five players averaging between 8-13 points per. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1299049' first='Da'Ron' last='Hall'] </strong>(12.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg) is the headliner, but <strong>Avion McCleton</strong> (12.8 ppg, 4.3 apg, 2.8 spg) is actually the leading scorer. McCleton and <strong>Tyshaun Poore</strong> (8.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg) are former @PrepHoopsTN Combine All-Stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2. #1 Siegel vs. #2 Blackman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1830760,"width":"257px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/20221121_174226.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/20221121_174226.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1830760" style="width:257px;height:auto" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='2237638' first='Dyson' last='Elam'] of Blackman HS</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blackman Blaze grew up in the last 16 months and they have to be feeling pretty strongly about their chances today. Good rebounding will help them keep pace with Siegel and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664285' first='Carter' last='Webb']</strong>. Stifling defense is the backbone of Blackman basketball under Head Coach Barry Wortman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1664285' first='Carter' last='Webb'] (Siegel) scores in the 21-24 range all while rebounding 7 times a game from the guard spot. He is closing in on 1,200 career points late in his junior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3. #1 Morristown East vs. #3 Morristown West</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Hurricane_Hoops/status/1758840861352230969?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Hurricane_Hoops/status/1758840861352230969?s=20 </div><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Mo East vs. Mo West</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1140784' first='Kyle' last='Cloninger']</strong> (Morristown East) is the headliner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4. #3 Howard vs. #1 Bradley Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1662808,"width":"405px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Jackson-Ary1-scaled-crop-2536x1665-1668558719.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/09/Jackson-Ary1-scaled-crop-2536x1665-1668558719.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1662808" style="width:405px;height:auto" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1338482' first='Jackson' last='Ary'] (orange) of Bradley Central </figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bradley Central keeps playing at a high level. Howard is a big underdog in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->