Region 2 Tournament Preview (3A)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>PICTURED: [player_tooltip player_id='2495403' first='Nick' last='Steen'] (Fulton Athletics)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region 2-3A is set with these four opening round matchups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">D3</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 Fulton<br>#2 Austin-East<br>#3 Seymour<br>#4 Carter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline">D4</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>#1 Clinton <br>#2 Scott<br>#3 Anderson County<br>#4 Gibbs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Fulton vs. #4 Gibbs</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fulton (20-9)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2495403' first='Nick' last='Steen'], [player_tooltip player_id='3195672' first='Rejuan' last='Womble'], [player_tooltip player_id='2816212' first='Keirus' last='Cox'], Justin Burris</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gibbs (3-20)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><em>Key Players</em>:</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gibbs played very, very poorly Tuesday night in a blowout loss at Anderson County. If they finish within 20 points of Fulton, then that would be a shocking result. The team lacks composure and ball-handling. Fulton is faster, bigger, and much more skilled. Gibbs earned their way into the regional with a victory last week over Union County, 67-54. Surely that will be their final win of the season. Fulton's culture sustains them and while the team is rebuilding this season the talent is still significant. District MVP [player_tooltip player_id='2495403' first='Nick' last='Steen'] is also the league's best defender. He was put forth justifiably as a Mr. Basketball candidate by the Fulton athletic department earlier this month. [player_tooltip player_id='3195672' first='Rejuan' last='Womble'] causes lots of problems with speed and quick hands. Nobody on Gibbs' squad can match Womble's quickness and Fulton's overall speed will create many problems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Scott vs. #3 Seymour</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Scott (18-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: Landon Washam, Isaiah Washam, Wyatt Lloyd, Landon Goodman</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Seymour (20-8)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='3196732' first='Talon' last='Pederson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2675165' first='Hayes' last='Golden']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott outplayed Clinton in the second half Tuesday but still fell 50-45 in the District 4 Championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wyatt Lloyd</strong> and <strong>Landon Washam</strong> are the tallest players Scott High plays and both offer something different. Washam's touch impresses from various points on the floor. Landon plays with the cleanest hip movement of all Highlanders. His agility helps. He thinks like a wing more than a bruiser. Scott might need a bruiser to get out of this region though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seymour is a worthy competitor for Scott.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seymour's guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2675165' first='Hayes' last='Golden']</strong> scores at an alarming rate. His performance is critical for the Eagles. Seymour matches up well against Scott. The Eagles won 70% of their games in a monster of a district. They play great teams close (Fulton, Red Bank, Austin-East). They are favored, by PrepHoopsTN, in this 2/3 matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Clinton vs. #4 Carter</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clinton (24-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2622587' first='Braylen' last='Hayden'], [player_tooltip player_id='2798064' first='Bryson' last='Maddox'], [player_tooltip player_id='1860350' first='Jaxson' last='Alcorn'], [player_tooltip player_id='2479964' first='Isaiah' last='Williams']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carter (15-16) </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2393889' first='Lincoln' last='Tummel']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Preview</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>District 4 Champions Clinton run out a seemingly endless supply of 6-foot-4 players and their rebounding success reflects that fact.<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1860350' first='Jaxson' last='Alcorn']</strong> played well in the District Championship win over Scott County. He gives the Dragons uninterrupted defensive intensity and solid rebounding. Typically, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2798064' first='Bryson' last='Maddox']</strong> is the team's best scorer, but they have been able to put up points if/when Maddux dips below his standard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Dragons are not at the level of Fulton, but they are closer than most years. This regional draw is favorable for the Dragons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2393889' first='Lincoln' last='Tummel'] scores and creates uniquely. Tummel plays the wing, sometimes wing forward. His shooting touch sets him apart from his peers. Surely, the guy can punish defenders from all over the floor, but Clinton is not small at the guard positions. They can get a hand in his face with regularity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter looks outmanned on paper though. They lack the team speed and size of Clinton. This game will be close to 10-15 minutes tops. Clinton does need to avoid the flat second half they played against Scott Tuesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Austin-East vs. #3 Anderson County, Saturday 7:00 PM EST</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austin-East (17-12)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2279457' first='Justin' last='Pruitt']</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anderson County (14-13)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Key Players: [player_tooltip player_id='2394206' first='Cam' last='Lawson'], Landry Sharp, Colton Lawson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mavericks of Anderson County played quite well in District play, finishing 6-2 in that portion. This team did suffer a 3-game losing streak and a 6-game losing streak much earlier in the season. The competition level ramps up fast as they meet District 3-3A Runners-up Austin-East.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skill between the two teams is relatively close, but Austin-East is the speedier outfit. If Anderson County can limit the Roadrunner transition, then this is a winnable game. That is a tall task though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2279457' first='Justin' last='Pruitt'] (Austin-East) makes big plays in big moments. The seasoned guard will not wilt regardless of the enormity of the situation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://poll.fm/16672222","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"crowdsignal","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/16672222 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Eliminated - Union County, Northview Academy, Cocke County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading -->