How Clarksville Pulled it Off

Advancing to the TSSAA State Tournament is never easy, but the task became immeasurably harder for Clarksville’s 4A schools when reclassification placed them alongside the Memphis big boys. Though this year Hendersonville features two elite teams (Lebanon, Beech), that Clarksville versus Hendersonville pathway is traditionally far less daunting than matching with teams like Whitehaven, Memphis East, Bartlett, Overton, White Station, Cordova, or Arlington. How did the Clarksville Wildcats defeat Memphis East (24-6)? How did they overcome this mammoth obstacle? Halfcourt Probing Beyond just [player_tooltip player_id="1006439" first="J.J." last="Wheat"], the CHS team pulled the quick Memphis East players wider and wider apart. The goal was to enlarge the driving lanes and allow for the shorter guards of Clarksville High to operate with some breathing space. In addition to the utilized spacing, the Wildcats demonstrated that their breakdown dribblers could all craft something on their own. Arnett Hines and [player_tooltip player_id="1404408" first="Jaheim" last="Berry"] and Wheat all generated offense via the dribble. https://twitter.com/CHSWildcatHoops/status/1501062026705129476?t=zzo7WnPsaRNVluRbmGzI4A&s=19 When J.J. pulled up from 25’ in the waning seconds of the first quarter, the Mustangs didn’t know it, but the game was already over. He drained an insane, albeit ’in-rhythm’ three-pointer, and bounced around more like Mario than Luigi, assured that this was his and their moment. CHS lead 22-10 after only eight minutes of play against a Top 4 team in the state. Trusted Companions Seniors, groupings of seniors, always happen to win big games in March. This senior bunch demonstrated such an unselfishness, such a trust in each other. On one play midway through the ripping first quarter, JJ Wheat chucked a trap-carving pass 20’ across the court into the hands of Arnett Hines, who passed up a good shot for a great shot to find [player_tooltip player_id="1404408" first="Jaheim" last="Berry"]. Berry buried a beautiful three-pointer. <h3>The Talented Visitors</h3> Take a look at the talent on the Memphis Mustangs to realize how absurdly ill-matched this game looked on paper heading in. Starting point guard [player_tooltip player_id="1034555" first="E.J." last="Smith"] is ranked #4 overall in our Class of 2023 rankings. His backcourt-mate [player_tooltip player_id="1034559" first="Jamarion" last="Harvey"] ends his junior season ranked #10 overall and [player_tooltip player_id="1211912" first="Alijah" last="Curry"], formerly #1, is back up to #2 after a great January and February. Richmond III is solidified as a Top 10 player in 2024 also. To contrast, Clarksville High features one elite prospect JJ Wheat, one fringe Top 100 ([player_tooltip player_id="1404408" first="Jaheim" last="Berry"]), and one 2025 Watch List member, Trey Weatherford. The physical differences in height alone were stark. The Mustangs were taller at every single position, though more thin at most. Clarksville exploited their experience and muscular advantage repeatedly. <blockquote> Memphis East #0 [player_tooltip player_id="1034555" first="E.J." last="Smith"] (2023) #1 [player_tooltip player_id="1034559" first="Jamarion" last="Harvey"] (2023) #3 [player_tooltip player_id="1180592" first="Markese" last="Washington"] (2024) #4 [player_tooltip player_id="1211912" first="Alijah" last="Curry"] (2024) #5 Zachery Hayslett (2023) #10 Tony McKay (2023) #12 Dylan Brooks (2024) #13 Leon Bell (2024) #20 Barack Beard (2024) #23 [player_tooltip player_id="1404415" first="Joshua" last="Thompson"] (2024) #24 [player_tooltip player_id="1213160" first="Billy" last="Richmond III"] (2024) #30 Khari Reed (2024) #35 Alex Hopson (2024) </blockquote> [player_tooltip player_id="1034559" first="Jamarion" last="Harvey"] finished with 20 points and three assists, while E.J.Smith recorded 20 points too. [player_tooltip player_id="1211912" first="Alijah" last="Curry"] scored 14 points with five rebounds. In truth, he was the player most likely to put up 20 points in this scenario and the fact that he scored 14 is a credit to the Wildcat defensive concept and execution. Defensive Transition The number one reason for the WIldcat success was unglamorous. The seniors simply did the dirty work of sprinting back on defense. Take this singular play as the microcosm that it was. [player_tooltip player_id="1034559" first="Jamarion" last="Harvey"] burst down the his leftside alley, through the frontcourt, and lofted a layup attempt he probably made uncontested 50 times this winter. In this game, facing this Wildcat team, Harvey was blocked by Arnett Hines, the opposing forward! Harvey and the Mustangs are incredible at 2 things, turning you over and scoring quickly in transition. Clarksville was one of the few teams capable of slowing this down. Clarksville returns to the State Tournament, thanks to these keys.

Advancing to the TSSAA State Tournament is never easy, but the task became immeasurably harder for Clarksville’s 4A schools when reclassification placed them alongside the Memphis big boys. Though this year Hendersonville features two elite teams (Lebanon, Beech), that Clarksville versus Hendersonville pathway is traditionally far less daunting than matching with teams like Whitehaven, Memphis East, Bartlett, Overton, White Station, Cordova, or Arlington.

How did the Clarksville Wildcats defeat Memphis East (24-6)? How did they overcome this mammoth obstacle?

Halfcourt Probing

Beyond just J.J. Wheat J.J. Wheat 6'0" | PG Clarksville | 2022 State TN , the CHS team pulled the quick Memphis East players wider and wider apart. The goal was to enlarge the driving lanes and allow for the shorter guards of Clarksville High to operate with some breathing space. In addition to the utilized spacing, the Wildcats demonstrated that their breakdown dribblers could all craft something on their own. Arnett Hines and Jaheim Berry Jaheim Berry 5'10" | PG Clarksville | 2022 State TN and Wheat all generated offense via the dribble.

https://twitter.com/CHSWildcatHoops/status/1501062026705129476?t=zzo7WnPsaRNVluRbmGzI4A&s=19

When J.J. pulled up from 25’ in the waning seconds of the first quarter, the Mustangs didn’t know it, but the game was already over. He drained an insane, albeit ’in-rhythm’ three-pointer, and bounced around more like Mario than Luigi, assured that this was his and their moment. CHS lead 22-10 after only eight minutes of play against a Top 4 team in the state.

Trusted Companions

Seniors, groupings of seniors, always happen to win big games in March. This senior bunch demonstrated such an unselfishness, such a trust in each other. On one play midway through the ripping first quarter, JJ Wheat chucked a trap-carving pass 20’ across the court into the hands of Arnett Hines, who passed up a good shot for a great shot to find Jaheim Berry Jaheim Berry 5'10" | PG Clarksville | 2022 State TN . Berry buried a beautiful three-pointer.

The Talented Visitors

Take a look at the talent on the Memphis Mustangs to realize how absurdly ill-matched this game looked on paper heading in.

Starting point guard E.J. Smith E.J. Smith 6'3" | PG Memphis East | 2024 TN is ranked #4 overall in our Class of 2023 rankings. His backcourt-mate Jamarion Harvey Jamarion Harvey 6'0" | SG Memphis East | 2023 State TN ends his junior season ranked #10 overall and Alijah Curry Alijah Curry 6'8" | PF Camden | 2024 State #314 Nation NJ , formerly #1, is back up to #2 after a great January and February. Richmond III is solidified as a Top 10 player in 2024 also.

To contrast, Clarksville High features one elite prospect JJ Wheat, one fringe Top 100 ( Jaheim Berry Jaheim Berry 5'10" | PG Clarksville | 2022 State TN ), and one 2025 Watch List member, Trey Weatherford.

The physical differences in height alone were stark. The Mustangs were taller at every single position, though more thin at most.

Clarksville exploited their experience and muscular advantage repeatedly.

Memphis East
#0 E.J. Smith E.J. Smith 6'3" | PG Memphis East | 2024 TN (2023)
#1 Jamarion Harvey Jamarion Harvey 6'0" | SG Memphis East | 2023 State TN (2023)
#3 Markese Washington Markese Washington 6'5" | SF Memphis East | 2022 State TN (2024)
#4 Alijah Curry Alijah Curry 6'8" | PF Camden | 2024 State #314 Nation NJ (2024)
#5 Zachery Hayslett (2023)
#10 Tony McKay (2023)
#12 Dylan Brooks (2024)
#13 Leon Bell (2024)
#20 Barack Beard (2024)
#23 Joshua Thompson Joshua Thompson 6'5" | SF Douglass | 2024 State TN (2024)
#24 Billy Richmond III Billy Richmond III 6'6" | SF Camden | 2024 State #21 Nation NJ (2024)
#30 Khari Reed (2024)
#35 Alex Hopson (2024)

Jamarion Harvey Jamarion Harvey 6'0" | SG Memphis East | 2023 State TN finished with 20 points and three assists, while E.J.Smith recorded 20 points too. Alijah Curry Alijah Curry 6'8" | PF Camden | 2024 State #314 Nation NJ scored 14 points with five rebounds. In truth, he was the player most likely to put up 20 points in this scenario and the fact that he scored 14 is a credit to the Wildcat defensive concept and execution.

Defensive Transition

The number one reason for the WIldcat success was unglamorous. The seniors simply did the dirty work of sprinting back on defense. Take this singular play as the microcosm that it was.

Jamarion Harvey Jamarion Harvey 6'0" | SG Memphis East | 2023 State TN burst down the his leftside alley, through the frontcourt, and lofted a layup attempt he probably made uncontested 50 times this winter. In this game, facing this Wildcat team, Harvey was blocked by Arnett Hines, the opposing forward! Harvey and the Mustangs are incredible at 2 things, turning you over and scoring quickly in transition.