Top Performers (Week 7)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Memphis Hoopfest ended with a thriller between Whitehaven and Bartlett. <br><br>The Tigers got the best of the Panthers, defeating them, 58-54, in overtime.<br><br>With the second half of the season underway, it's fair to say one thing: The road to Murfreesboro, Tennessee starts now.<br><br>Here's the best from this week:<br><br><strong>A meaningful one</strong><br><br>Whitehaven wanted to set the tone as one of the premier teams in Class 4A and make a case as being a legit title contender. <br><br>The Tigers did just that against Bartlett.<br><br>Whitehaven leaned on its defense and physicality to overpower the Panthers. Senior forward <strong>Bob Dickson</strong>, junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1760994' first='Dorion' last='Bowen'], and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1852774' first='Jarmon' last='Brittman'] crowded the paint and crashed the boards on every possession. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2111745' first='Cameron' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1852698' first='Taquez' last='Butler'] made timely shots throughout the contest. Butler scored 8 of his team-high 21 points in overtime, while going 7 for 8 from the free throw line. The former Douglass High product, which added 6 rebounds, was crowned MVP.<br><br>Brown was smiling at the rim for most of the night, drilling in shots from 17-feet out. The 6-foot-5 wing finished the night with 17 points.<br><br>The Tigers scored in transition and made timely scores in their half-court offense. Whitehaven got great looks for most of the night and took advantage of those opportunities.<br><br>This game was more than about those great shot attempts. It was simply about setting the tone for down the road, if these two programs were to meet again in the Region 8 Class 4A Tournament.<br><br>“It was very meaningful,” Brittman said about Saturday night's win. “We look forward to seeing them again. We can't ever underestimate nobody. And I know they're going to come out and play hard next time because they're going to have a chip on their shoulder.<br><br>“We will just have to play harder and get the win.”<br><br><strong>Not going away</strong><br><br>Whitehaven held a 43-34 lead early in the fourth quarter and looked to be in complete control. Bartlett rallied and got within one. The Panthers could have went up one had junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2083148' first='Axton' last='Perry'] and junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2307628' first='Sydney' last='Thompson'] had made both of their free throws. <br><br>Bartlett was able to get it into overtime off a steal and layup by senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1330881' first='KJ' last='Neville'], who finished the night with 13 points.<br><br>The Panthers were missing junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2116626' first='Ethan' last='Gatewood'], who was out due to personal reasons. His 6-6 frame and length could have helped Bartlett on the boards. Yet, Bartlett had opportunities to win it. <br><br>In a month and some change, the Panthers and the Tigers could possibly meet again, depending on the seeding in the regional tournament. Both teams want to win the regional tournament and host a sub-state game and have a favorable path to the final day of the season.<br><br>Part one was a jab trading affair. Part two will be the last man standing match. <br><br><strong>The rest of the best</strong><br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2281026' first='Jack' last='Cordell'], Stone Memorial: Cordell reached 1,000 points this week.<br><br><strong>Briggs Lowe</strong>, Stone Memorial: Lowe had 20 points in a loss to Montgomery Academy (AL) in the Marlin Christmas Classic Championship game. [player_tooltip player_id='1211987' first='Cade' last='Capps'] added 17. [player_tooltip player_id='2281026' first='Jack' last='Cordell'] pitched in 12. <br><br><strong>D.J. Wilbur</strong>, Red Bank: Wilbur had 20 points in a win over McCallie in the Best of Preps Tournament. [player_tooltip player_id='1551289' first='Jaylen' last='Rice'] added 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2609260' first='Pablo' last='Hernandez'], Page: Hernandez had 18 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the Tennessee Heat. <strong>Matt Randall</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='2417455' first='James' last='Hatchette'] both finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id='2280687' first='Owen' last='Looney'] added 16 points. <strong>Baker Bruegel</strong> provided 11 assists and 5 rebounds.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1497432' first='Eli' last='Williams'], Heritage: Williams had 18 points in a win over William Blount. <strong>Ethan Bryant</strong> finished with 17.<br><br><strong>James Bega</strong>, Eagleville: Bega had 19 points in a win over Pickett County. [player_tooltip player_id='1947289' first='Camden' last='Cole'] finished with 17. Grey Barker and [player_tooltip player_id='1914179' first='Owen' last='McClaran'] both provided 14 points.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1318564' first='Christian' last='Brown'], Franklin: Brown had 43 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a win over Marshall County. [player_tooltip player_id='1273548' first='Sam' last='Mewborn'] added 10 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds. <br><br><strong>Cayden Turner</strong>, Harpeth: Turner had 20 points in a win over McEwen.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1498844' first='Kamden' last='Days'], Pope Prep: Days had 25 points in a win over Ensworth. [player_tooltip player_id='1578715' first='Osby' last='Cavin'] finished with 18. [player_tooltip player_id='1560719' first='Trey' last='Pearson'] added 12.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1588175' first='Jonathan' last='Sanderson'], Ensworth: Sanderson had 25 points against Pope John Paul II.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2503087' first='Devin' last='Fish'], Warren County: Fish had 34 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists in a win over Stewart's Creek. <strong>Deashawn Adams</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2880796' first='Chance' last='Whitlock']</strong> both finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds. <br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2133810' first='Ty' last='Cobb'], Upperman: Cobb had 23 points, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 rebounds in a win over Lenoir City. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2815986' first='Colton' last='Johnson']</strong> finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds. <br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2281200' first='Jay' last='Kirk'], Alcoa: Kirk had 16 points in a win over Austin-East. [player_tooltip player_id='2260983' first='Jamir' last='Dean'] finished with 13 points. [player_tooltip player_id='2333265' first='Condis' last='Cherry'] added 12. [player_tooltip player_id='2350882' first='Eli' last='Graf'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2281190' first='Jibriel' last='Koko'] both provided 10 points.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1389705' first='Ramireon' last='Taylor'], Bradley Central: Taylor reached 1,000 points.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2495403' first='Nick' last='Steen'], Fulton: Steen had 22 points in a win over Cocke County. <strong>Derrick Smith Jr.</strong> added 21.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2345556' first='Daniel' last='Patton'], Centennial: Patton had 38 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks in a double overtime loss to Rockvale.<br><br><strong>Gavin Johnson</strong>, Oliver Springs : Johnson had 40 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds against Oakdale.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1378680' first='EJ' last='Jordan'], Franklin Road Academy: Jordan had 29 points in a win over MTCS. <strong>Castor Maynard</strong> added 14. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2750445' first='Omarii' last='Sanders']</strong> pitched in 13. <strong>Spiro Darsinos</strong> provided 12. [player_tooltip player_id='2693721' first='Lucas' last='Kinnard'] scored 11.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2364080' first='Will' last='McCrary'], Jackson County. McCrary had 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks in a loss to Cumberland Gap.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1377886' first='Aaron' last='Layne'], Roane County: Layne had 38 points in a win over Loudon. <strong>Aidan O'Leary</strong> added 11.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2194623' first='Miles' last='Alexander'], Cannon County: Alexander had 16 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a rebound against Smith County.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2236492' first='Kobi' last='Jackson'], Independence: Jackson had 16 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and one steal in a loss to Cane Ridge.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1927473' first='Tarecous' last='Stevens'], Fayette Ware: Stevens had 15 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Northridge (AL). [player_tooltip player_id='2283267' first='Elijah' last='Lowe'] finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds. [player_tooltip player_id='1321569' first='Tacarien' last='Freeman'] pitched in 12 points and 5 assists. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2796643' first='Kylon' last='Terry']</strong> provided 12 points and 6 rebounds.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2527305' first='Caden' last='Owens'], CAK: Owens had 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in a win over Concord. <strong>Zachary Coffman</strong> finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds. <strong>Bryson White</strong> added 11 points and 3 rebounds. <strong>Teeno Hutchinson</strong> provided 10 points and 5 rebounds.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='2439013' first='Cutter' last='Sisk'], Beech: Sisk had 23 points in a win over Station Camp. [player_tooltip player_id='2610425' first='TJ' last='Ruffin'] finished with 17. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2807696' first='Talon' last='Davenport']</strong> added 16. <br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1352801' first='Gunnar' last='Lewis'], CPA: Lewis had 27 points - connected on 7 3s - in a win over East Nashville. <br><br><strong>Cortez Murphy</strong>, East Nashville: Murphy led the Magnet Eagles with 22 points against CPA.<br><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1946924' first='Chris' last='Johnson'], Nolensville: Johnson had 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a win over Siegel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1522618' first='Caiden' last='Bauldwin'], Bradley Central: Bauldwin had 31 points and 9 rebounds in a win over Tyner Academy in the Best of Preps Tournament Championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1377904' first='Birman' last='Jenkins III']</strong>, Jackson Christian: Jenkins had 24 points in a win over MTCS. <strong>Kelsey Rose</strong> added 19.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->