Midseason Notebook: Beech Buccaneers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops staff is taking a closer look inside Tennessee high school basketball programs, deep into the 2024-2025 season. Our next team feature is Beech High out of Hendersonville, TN.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Kip Brown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Buccaneers graduated two college hoopers and still managed to remain in play for the District 12 Championship. How?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><span style="text-decoration: underline"><strong>Beech History</strong></span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Championship Record:</strong>&nbsp;2-5<br><strong>State Tournament Appearances (5):</strong>&nbsp;2022, 2010, 2009, 1990, 1983<br><strong>Team Runner-up (1):</strong>&nbsp;1983<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Team Roster (2024-2025)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>0</td><td>Jr French</td><td>So.</td><td>PG</td><td>5'7"</td><td>151 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Blaine Bogue</td><td>Jr.</td><td>SF</td><td>6'1"</td><td>190 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Tyler Campbell</td><td>Sr.</td><td>G</td><td>6'0</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>Jasiah Cambridge</td><td>So.</td><td>G</td><td>6'1"</td><td>160 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2410472' first='Jaylen' last='Townsend']</td><td>Sr.</td><td>SG, PG</td><td>5'11"</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Kajuan Harris</td><td>Sr.</td><td></td><td>6'3"</td><td>177 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2807696' first='Talon' last='Davenport']</td><td>So.</td><td>SG</td><td>6'0</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Sam Plourde</td><td>So.</td><td>SF</td><td>6'5"</td><td>175 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2610425' first='TJ' last='Ruffin']</td><td>Sr.</td><td>PG</td><td>6'3"</td><td>155 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>Josiah Moore</td><td>Sr.</td><td>G</td><td>6'1"</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>21</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2270751' first='Champ' last='Nix']</td><td>Jr.</td><td>SF, SG</td><td>6'3"</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>22</td><td>Addison Brown</td><td>Jr.</td><td>C</td><td>6'4"</td><td>175 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>24</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2869668' first='Cole' last='Winters']</td><td>Jr.</td><td>SG, SF</td><td>6'2"</td><td>185 lbs</td></tr><tr><td>33</td><td>Jack Fuchs</td><td>Jr.</td><td>C</td><td>6'9"</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>34</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='2439013' first='Cutter' last='Sisk']</td><td>Jr.</td><td>PF</td><td>6'6"</td><td>235 lbs</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br>Beech reached 15 wins before February dawned. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Common starting 5: [player_tooltip player_id='2410472' first='Jaylen' last='Townsend'], [player_tooltip player_id='2807696' first='Talon' last='Davenport'], [player_tooltip player_id='2270751' first='Champ' last='Nix'], [player_tooltip player_id='2439013' first='Cutter' last='Sisk'], [player_tooltip player_id='2610425' first='TJ' last='Ruffin'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2439013' first='Cutter' last='Sisk'] is the breakout star, after a wonderful summer AAU season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We knew he was going to be good, but not this good," said Beech Head Coach Kip Brown mid-January. "His footwork is phenomenal. He can get anywhere on the court. He is not fast, but he is quick."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sisk plays forward, but a decent amount of offense runs through him. [player_tooltip player_id='2439013' first='Cutter' last='Sisk'] averages about 22 points and 10 rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He can [switch onto a wing] in an emergency switch." said Coach Brown. "Not all of the time. I don't want him to foul though. When he gets to college, they will get him on the strength and conditioning program and get to moving his feet better. He already has. Last summer I took him out many times because of his defense. He really took that to heart. He is leading our team in taking charges. He gets a lot of deflections. He has really improved on the defensive end."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As important to the team's success is senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2610425' first='TJ' last='Ruffin'], a returning starter from 2023-2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"[Last year] he started," said Coach Brown. "He would run the point and off-guard. Outside of Cutter and our three seniors he filled that role. Good team basketball. He only got like 6 ppg on very few shots. He took the lead this summer. Really quick off-the-dribble. Not many guys can keep him in front. Real bouncy. He has several dunks this year [in-game]."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ruffin is a potential college hooper thanks to his slashing with nice guard height though he needs more heft.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"He guards the other team's best player," said Coach Bown. "He is our best guard by far, and our second-best player. He is averaging 14 ppg. 3.5 rpg, 1+ spg, 1+ bpg. Pretty consistent."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table {"hasFixedLayout":false} --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">School Name</th><th>*W-L</th><th>*Pct.</th><th>W-L</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Beech</th><td>2-1</td><td>0.67</td><td>--</td></tr><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Hendersonville</th><td>2-1</td><td>0.67</td><td>--</td></tr><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Green Hill</th><td>2-2</td><td>0.50</td><td>0.5</td></tr><tr><th class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Gallatin</th><td>1-2</td><td>0.33</td><td>1.0</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Mt. Juliet</strong></td><td>1-2</td><td>0.33</td><td>1.0</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Key supplementary pieces are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2270751' first='Champ' last='Nix']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2807696' first='Talon' last='Davenport']</strong>, and <strong>Kajuan Harris</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"[Kajuan should] probably should be starting for us," said Coach Brown. "He got hurt at the end of the football season. We have him coming off of the bench. He is a senior. 6'4" WR. DB/Safety."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaylen is "Good basketball player. Smart. Does what we need him to do. He splits point guard with TJ."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>On [player_tooltip player_id='2807696' first='Talon' last='Davenport']: </strong>He will be the football team's better wide receivers next year. Lefty. Can slash. 6'1". Dunked a few breakaway dunks this year. Very high I.Q.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champ played a lot last year as a sophomore. At about 6-foot-4, Nix is an elite high school rebounder, using toughness he gained playing football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beech is again aiming for a deep postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->