Ashville Crashes the Party Sets Up Showdown With Fairfield

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Class 4A Semifinals delivered drama, intensity, and big-time performances as four talented squads battled for a chance to play for the Blue Map. Many fans expected a championship clash between Fairfield and Jackson, but Ashville had other plans. The Bulldogs came out with purpose and controlled the game from start to finish, knocking off Jackson 70–55 and sending a loud message to the rest of the field. On the other side, Fairfield survived a gritty battle with a feisty Deshler team, pulling out a 61–57 victory in a game that tested their toughness and championship experience. Now the stage is set: Ashville vs. Fairfield for the Class 4A Blue Map. Before we turn our attention to Friday night's championship showdown, let's take a closer look at the players who stepped up under the bright lights and delivered standout performances in the semifinals…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3537400' first='JB' last='Potter']</strong> (6'2/SG/'26/Ashville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: jb_potter26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @jbp_three</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">JB is one of the most gifted scorers in the Class 4A semifinals, and he has been filling up the stat sheets from the start of the playoffs. He is a multi-level scorer who exudes confidence when looking for and creating his offense. He has been a nightmare for defenders guarding him and coaches planning against him. His stat line from the semifinal game shows his scoring prowess and efficiency. If Fairfield is going to have a chance, finding a way to stop JB is priority number one, two, and three. He finished the semifinal game with the following stat line. 26pts (9-16, 4-4 3-ptr, 4-4 FT) 11rebs, 4stls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2832735' first='Joseph' last='Taylor']</strong> (6'3/CG/'26/Jackson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: strife.jo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @JosephT2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Joseph is one of the best players in the Class 4A Final 4 at getting downhill and putting pressure on the rim. He is a physical player who plays through contact and attacks the rim with aggression that leads to buckets or fouls. The ball is in his hands the majority of the time, and Jackson went as he went. He had a roller-coaster semifinal; unfortunately, he was not able to put together enough moments to get his team over the top. He brought energy, effort, and passion while leading his team with 22 points and living in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Jiquell Armstrong</strong> (6'0/CG/'26/Jackson) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Jiquell had an impressive outing in the final four as he went for 19pts and showed his ability to score from all levels. He was aggressive early and lived in the paint. He shot it well from behind the arc, was tough to contain off the bounce, drew fouls, and got to the line. He showed up on the big stage and gave it his all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Milton 'MJ' Jones</strong> (6'5/Wing/'26/Fairfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: mjeezzy3_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">In all my years of covering Milton, I have never seen him play with more passion and energy than he did in this game. I said it in previous post, you could see the drive in his eyes. I have seen it in players who will do whatever it takes to win, and that is what MJ had in his eyes and did on the floor. He had a very efficient night from the field as he got to his sweet spots time and time again. He is one of the best inside the arc scorers in the state, regardless of class. He had his foot on the pedal the entire game and never let off. He will have to have that will to win in his final game of his high school career to walk away with the blue map, as Ashville is a solid all-around team that can win in several ways by getting point production across the board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194892' first='Eric' last='Williams']</strong> (5'9/PG/'27/Fairfield HS)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: ericglizxzy_</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Eric has really grown as a floor general, not just year to year, but from earlier this year when I saw Fairfield. He is playing with much more confidence and poise, and he seems to finally have his hands firmly on the steering wheel of this team. Everyone knows the Tigers team is MJ's team, but Eric's ability to orchestrate and keep everyone in rhythm and operating as a unit is what set him apart in the semifinals. What stood out in the semifinals is the 8ast and 0-tov, and he will have to not just duplicate but exceed that stat line to help Fairfield win it all again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3536596' first='Garrett' last='Reid'] </strong>(6'1/CG/'26/Deshler HS)  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">IG: Greid.2</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">X: @Garrett_reid_1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">Garrett showed a mature floor game and a potent scoring prowess in the semifinals. He is a stout, physical guard who plays aggressively. He did a good job balancing scoring and facilitating as he handled a huge workload for his squad. He did not have an efficient night from the field, but he did not let the struggles affect him from helping his team to stay competitive and even having a shot going down the stretch. He scored from all levels, played bully ball at times, showed finesse, and showed his IQ while initiating the offense. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->