February saw the end of the regular season that transitioned into the district, region and sub-state games, as teams from all four classifications qualified for the state tournament next week on the campus of MTSU. Let's break down all the action leading up to state.

 

Headlines

Jordan Frison (Memphis Overton) has been on a mission. The senior guard was laser focused in leading his squad to a state tournament berth and he was going to make sure that nothing stood in his way. He drops 32 against Memphis East in the region final and then adds a slick 28 against Dickson County to lead the Wolverines to that coveted state tourney spot. 

Xavier Alexander (Memphis Overton) played Robin to Frison’s Batman scoring 33 markers in the sub-state win over Dickson County. Watch out Class AAAA the Wolverines are for real.

Woodie Harvey (Memphis East) closed the season with a giant bang dropping a cool 30 spot on Memphis Central then giving a performance of a lifetime with a 33-point effort in the sub-state, on the road against Rossview, leading the Mustangs to the state tourney.

 

Scoring Exploits

Christian Gilliland (Northpoint Christian) finished the regular season strong scoring a trio of 27-point games against the likes of Harding Academy, Trinity Christian and Margolin.

Julius Thedford (Whitehaven) is teetering on the verge of breaking out for real. The junior post dropped a season-high 36 markers against Memphis Overton and put the city on notice for the near future.

Seth Grandberry (Lausanne) put the finishing touches on a fine senior campaign dropping a 30 spot on USJ and securing a Mr. Basketball nomination along the way.

Jacob Gazzo (Briarcrest Christian) helped lead the Saints to the title game in DII/Class AA. Along the route to the state finals, Gazzo contributed with a 30-point effort against St. Benedict and a 27 spot against CPA to lead his squad to the state tourney berth.

 

Here are some other large scoring nights in West Tennessee for the closing of the regular season, the district, region and sub-state games.

 

Brandon Payne (Millington Central) 43pts vs. Bolton

Jordan Allen (Hillcrest) 40pts vs. Power Center Academy

Marvin Warren (Trezevant) 36pts vs. MLK Prep

Christian Alston (Bartlett) 34pts vs. Collierville

Caleb Johnson (City University) 31pts vs. Westwood

Alijah Curry (Memphis East) 30pts vs. Memphis Central

Holden Warmath (Covington) 30pts vs. Munford

Corbin Boling (Fayette Academy) 29pts vs. Margolin

Eric Jones (Fayette-Ware) 27pts vs. Hamilton

Cello Jackson (FACS) 26pts vs. Trinity Christian

Damarian Yates (Fayette-Ware) 26pts vs. Millington Central

C.J. Bullard (Raleigh-Egypt) 25pts vs. Millington Central

Delrico Grady (KIPP) 25pts vs. Mitchell

Kaden Smith (Mitchell) 25pts vs. KIPP

 

Milestones

K. J. Tenner (Cordova) put the final touches on a monumental junior season. The scoring machine had a sic 41-point effort against Arlington to close the season and also surpassed the 1,000-point barrier for his career. He also managed a cool 28 against Germantown.

Lachlan Matthews (Perry County) etched his name into school folklore surpassing the 1,000-point barrier for his career.

Chad Barham (Chester County) closed the season with a flourish helping lead his squad to a state tournament berth and moving past the 1,000-point barrier in only his junior season.

 

Have You Seen?

Cameron Brown (Mitchell) is a name that will become familiar to not only those in the Memphis area but basketball fans around the state. The sophomore is a talent as evidenced by his 29-point effort against Sheffield.

Marquis Tunstall (Power Center Academy) turned some heads with his late-season heroics. The junior guard dropped a slick 27 against Hillcrest in the region final and helped lead his squad to a state tournament berth.