Briarcrest Christian Making their bid for Favorites

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: Briarcrest Christian</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Monday night Briarcrest Christian (20-3) put down PURE Academy, 81-53, one more in a series of victims. When Briarcrest Christian convinced <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194485' first='Joshua' last='Huggins']</strong> to transfer in from Goodpasture Christian last summer and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr'].</strong> decided to return to the program instead of branching out results like this were expected. Veterans <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1658056' first='Parker' last='Pounds']</strong> (Air Force signee) and<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2283268' first='Greg' last='Spight']</strong> give the team four great scoring options, and the size is rarely matched statewide. So, now what? Well, Briarcrest Christian is aiming at the State Tournament broadly and the State Championship specifically. They believe they can win it all and that is an assertion shared by everyone in the Memphis area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Briarcrest Christian History</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Tournament Record:</strong>&nbsp;17-16<br><strong>State Tournament Appearances (19):</strong>&nbsp;2025, 2024, 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1996, 1983<br><strong>Team Runner-up (7):</strong>&nbsp;2025, 2023, 2020, 2013, 2012, 2005, 1983<br><strong>State Champions (3):</strong>&nbsp;2024, 2019, 2008</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Briarcrest Christian won it all in 2024 and finished second in 2025. This team is better than both but needs to avoid foul trouble when they get to the biggest stage. Teams like Brentwood Academy and Knoxville Webb feature imposing frontlines capable of drawing fouls on the Briarcrest bigs. John Paul II is not as foreboding, but guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560719' first='Trey' last='Pearson']</strong> (High Point University signee),<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2236659' first='Anthony' last='Wiggins']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578715' first='Osby' last='Cavin']</strong> (Montevallo University signee) all get to the paint at an elite level. Considering the Saints rely so heavily upon their starters staying on the floor is imperative. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Path</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Saints will comfortably earn the #1 seed from their West Region as both Memphis University School and Christian Brothers lack the high-end talent or size to compete. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Then, the challenges get real. As the West #1 Briarcrest Christian will matchup with either Knoxville Webb or Knoxville Catholic in the State Tournament Quarterfinal. Both are very good teams. Either would present a worthy foe. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knoxville Catholic is trying to pressure teams fullcourt a lot this year. BCHS might struggle with this because their primary ball-handler [player_tooltip player_id='2283268' first='Greg' last='Spight'] will get isolated and trapped. A savvy countermeasure by the Saints would be for [player_tooltip player_id='1760996' first='Fred' last='Smith Jr']. to bring the basketball up the floor. His handle is surprisingly good for his size, and he easily sees over most defenders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Webb shoots the basketball from deep as well as any private school in the state. This is another area for concern for BCHS because they defend the lane better than the arc. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of course, whomever plays against BCHS they must defend the potent attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Briarcrest Christian manages to win that game, then they advance to the State Tournament at F&amp;M Bank Arena in Clarksville. Expect teams like Knox Webb, John Paul II, Brentwood Academy, Lipscomb Academy to be waiting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->