Most Intriguing 4A Semifinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='1236443' first='Joshua' last='Heard'] (Cookeville)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At this point every game is intriguing with plenty on the line. Consider the following games within the context of winners advance to Regional Championship Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Springfield vs. Dickson County (Region 7)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springfield upset West Creek, a quality West Creek team, 57-56! Dickson County upended Kirkwood, 70-57. Incredible. For transparency I was certain Rossview would defeat either West Creek or Kirkwood in the Regional Championship Game. So, I made a lot of assumptions that proved to be incorrect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>William Blount vs. Maryville (Region 2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Must these combatants play seemingly every two weeks?! Maryville (23-7) won the regular season; William Blount (24-9) won the district tournament. Both are as good as half of the State Tournament teams from last year. Alas, one will be turning in their jerseys to coach Wednesday morning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cookeville vs. Siegel (Region 4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsTN/status/1762167739467096067?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/PrepHoopsTN/status/1762167739467096067?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-- Predicted Siegel Starters--<br>#0 [player_tooltip player_id='1664285' first='Carter' last='Webb'] (2025)<br>#4 Mac Moss<br>#10 [player_tooltip player_id='2360711' first='Roth' last='Clark'] (Motlow State committed)<br>#11 Dorien Rigsby<br>#33 Thomas Santel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-- Predicted Cookeville Starters--<br>#0 [player_tooltip player_id='1477574' first='Jalen' last='Heard']<br>#1 [player_tooltip player_id='1317052' first='Colin' last='Ayers']<br>#5 [player_tooltip player_id='1236443' first='Joshua' last='Heard']<br>#10 [player_tooltip player_id='1335783' first='Jack' last='Oakley']<br>#11 [player_tooltip player_id='1335782' first='Bennett' last='Reeves']<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cookeville (27-3) defeated Rockvale, 72-52 Saturday. The Cavaliers will run seven dudes out, largely rotating <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2362465' first='Jaren' last='Davis'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2639917' first='Joseph' last='Owens']</strong> in with the above projected starters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Siegel HS Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1919180' first='Dorien' last='Lyles']</strong> is an exciting, young, prospect. When did Siegel Head Coach Matt Rigsby know Dorien was good enough to play varsity?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We knew when he was in 8th grade, some tools that he had," said Siegel Head Coach Matt Rigsby via phone Monday morning. "Physically. He has got the tools. Ball-skill he had a ways to go, but he is a gym rat. He has worked hard. He deserves every minute."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive frailty can limit young player's access to the court. Lyles was ready to go from his arrival at Siegel High.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He is one of the most handsiest kids I have ever coached," said Coach Rigsby when asked about Lyles' defense. "He gets his hands in the passing lanes. Deflections. 6'1" He elevates well. He gets his hands on the ball at the rim. He defends very well." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long-ranked with @PrepHoopsTN, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664285' first='Carter' last='Webb']</strong> is even better than last year. Webb started as a freshman, started as a sophomore. The dude is an unequivocal leaderfor Siegel (25-4) as a junior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He has taken the weight room to heart," said Coach Rigsby. "We have got that instilled in him. He has just matured on the floor. He is a vocal leader now. He has learned to do it in the right way and it has helped us in our success."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starters <strong>Mac Moss</strong> and <strong>Thomas Santel</strong> both dressed for Siegel's 2021 State Tournament Team. In the loss to Oak Ridge in the state quarters, Moss was inserted in the final minute, and took a three-pointer after the game was essentially over. Can he and Siegel get back to state next month?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Franklin vs. Independence (Region 5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Extreme talent. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318564' first='Christian' last='Brown'] </strong>was my Midseason 4A Mr. Basketball pick. Franklin was undefeated in the district and he was unstoppable. Little has changed for him statistically. Independence advanced to the State Tournament last year. Of course, their ambitions are to return this upcoming spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We split with them in the regular season," said Franklin Head Coach Jason Tigert Saturday evening via phone call.  "We have had some outstanding matchups with them. They have a great player in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318557' first='Tylan' last='Lewis']</strong>.  He is a problem the way he attacks the basket. Great defender. Rebounds the ball well." </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->