Friday Night in Williamson County

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2338577' first='Ryland' last='McKelvy']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Independence hosted a sputtering Nolensville (14-7) Friday night shortly after rivals Franklin/Brentwood wrapped a bit north. Brentwood dropped 12 three-pointers in the blowout victory. Despite one bad half, Independence (10-5) won 67-58 with a fantastic third quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior <strong>Emerson Lanier</strong> (Independence) made five three-pointers to finish with 15 points and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2236492' first='Kobi' last='Jackson']</strong> scored 21 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1946924"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d4fd10a81d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Solid start. Block. Baby hook. Johnson scored seven of his team's first 20 points. Finished with 15 points. Chris is a dominant rebounder at the high school level. He did ok Friday night, but Indy "swarm-rebounded" and it worked quite well. Johnson could have used more help in that aspect. A last-minute turnover stung as NHS tried t chase the game. It was probably over anyway, but the Knights wanted to put some pressure on the hosts and Johnson simply lost the handle on his attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2236492"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d4fd10a8a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Scored 21 points. Kobi made the game's first basket of the second half after a forgettable first half offensively (4p). He did miss his next two, shots he believed makeable. Kobi did drive and dish for a big three midway through the third quarter. His gravity collapsed the defense, and the made triple expanded the game to 31-22 IHS, their biggest lead of the game to that point. Kobi was particularly effective during a 15-7 Indy run in the third.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nolensville tried to get a quick score with seven seconds left. [player_tooltip player_id='2236492' first='Kobi' last='Jackson'] gave up a foul to slow the fastbreak, his second of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not his best game limiting turnovers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2338577"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d4fd10a94b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Active early. Strong defensive rebounding. Exceptional defensive commitment. Independence routinely ran into a wall when driving at McKelvy. Ryland is an undeniable talent. But like he did against Franklin he had some missteps. It was certainly a better showing though the Knights could have used more scoring from him. When McKelvy gets his head down and drives good things usually happen and yet there is fine line between a misguided forced shot and a drawn foul. When Ryland draws shooting fouls, he is wonderful at punishing the defense, but he teeters on the other side too occasionally forcing very, very difficult shots. Very good free throw shooting. Scored four points, all on free throws.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1959892"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d4fd10a99c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Earned a foul on Indy as he blocked out perfectly. His outside shot still was not dropping and that is usually the strongest point in his game. Finished with just five points. Nolensville needed much more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2205016"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d4fd10a9fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Nolensville dominated the first half, but Darrell Davis's two corner three-pointers to end the half elevated his team and the crowd. The home dudes overtook the visiting Knights at that point, 25-22. Davis Jr. finished with 10 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2854558"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d5cc59407f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Great game! Nothing flashy. Just effort. Brody ran the floor, finished in traffic. He simply did the things that winning teams do and he did them over and over in a game that certainly included flat spots. Cooper is not a primary scoring option and yet he never pouts or plays passively. Great teammate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2417844"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d6078edab3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Splendid no-look pass in the first quarter. He was the silver lining for Franklin Friday night in the blowout loss to rivals Brentwood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2376260"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d6078edb33"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Taller. Davis is up to 6-foot-9. Franklin had no answers for Davis. They sent double defenders at him in the early going. Unfortunately for FHS, Davis quickly switched the point of the attack. The only big Franklin really has missed Friday night with an illness. Davis scored 18 points, but made an even bigger impact as a passer out of the double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1911257"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d625da7f96"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> Scored seven of his team's first 13 points. He reached 10 points just a single minute into the second quarter. Finished with 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2499038"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-697d660d78857"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>1/30/26:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2499038' first='Luke' last='Mathey'] (<a href="https://x.com/MatheyLuke3">@MatheyLuke3</a>) hit back-to-back 3's midway through the 2nd quarter and, IMO, put the game away for Brentwood. It changed the game from 21-15 to 27-15. Franklin called a timeout. Mathey hit ANOTHER 3 a bit later. 33-15! That proved to be an insurmountable lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->