Memphis Central defeats Southwind: 3 observations

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Memphis Central (22-3, 6-2) spoiled Southwind's senior night, defeating the Jaguars in overtime, 60-53.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 3 observations from the Warriors' win over Southwind:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Attacking the rim</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Memphis Central attacked the rim nonstop after senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='3229704' first='Kris' last='Smith'] went to the bench in the first half dealing with an injury. The Jaguars were already shorthanded in the frontcourt, with senior forward Austen Price done for the season with a lower body injury. With the 6-foot-6 Smith on the bench, the Warriors' guards took less jump shots and attacked the rim in the second half and overtime. Memphis Central got everything it wanted at the rim. In overtime, juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3312335' first='Carlos' last='Fitzgerald'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2202778' first='Jaydon' last='Hill'] converted on 3-point plays to give the Warriors a 52-47 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both 3-point plays were huge since both teams had a difficult time creating separation in regulation. With Southwind (20-7, 6-2) struggling to make shots, Hill and Fitzgerald aggressiveness on the offensive end helped break the game open in the Warriors favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Didn't fold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Memphis Central could have won the game in regulation if Fitzgerald would have made two foul shots in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter that would have given the Warriors a 48-45 lead. Prior to Fitzgerald going to the free throw line, junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2202778' first='Jaydon' last='Hill'] converted on a 3-point play to put the Warriors up one. Memphis Central didn't fold after having back-to-back turnovers that turned into scores for the Jaguars. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2291144' first='Cassius' last='Vaughn'] scored a layup off a turnover.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1591000' first='Monterrio' last='Cox'] got a steal and a layup to give Southwind a short-lived one-point lead before Hill's 3-point play. Cox also went coast-to-coast for the game-tying layup. The Jaguars gained momentum and were alive but the Warriors quickly took it away with timely scores and stifling defense in overtime. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a highly contested TSSAA 4A District 16 matchup, Memphis Central didn't go away and silenced the home crowd in the end with the road win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Good contributions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3312335' first='Carlos' last='Fitzgerald'] led the Warriors with 17 points. [player_tooltip player_id='2816290' first='Makel' last='Boyd'] finished with 11. [player_tooltip player_id='2043463' first='AJ' last='Polk'] added 9 points. Polk had a good stretch in the 3rd quarter, scoring 5 straight that helped Memphis Central grab a 40-38 lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->