Coming In Hot!
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As we wind down the regular season, Week 11 is now in the books. Teams have been jockeying for position in the standings and here we are, knocking on the door of district tournament play. I will say, this week…
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Continue ReadingAs we wind down the regular season, Week 11 is now in the books. Teams have been jockeying for position in the standings and here we are, knocking on the door of district tournament play. I will say, this week we had girls come out like gamebusters, peaking at the right time as their clubs continued to get hot. Talk about taking advantage of the moment, we had girls across the state step up and elevate both themselves and their ball clubs.
Each week, I kid you not, it seems that we uncover someone who gets hot at the right time. They come in and make big-time buckets or make big-time stops. This state is littered with talent that just does such things like this on a consistent basis. Gamers are what we have here. We breed them. We built them. We compete.
In the University of Tennessee’s locker room, hangs a sign that says “Hold The Vision. Trust the Process.” As we enter district play ball clubs will be tested beyond measures. Kids will deal with injuries, bodies will be tired, things may not go as planned. However, it will be all about preparation, execution, and the mental fortitude that will help elevate a ball club to new heights. One possession at a time. One moment at a time. Each second is important. Hold the Vision ladies. Trust the process. Your’e coming down the home stretch. You’ve been through it, now it’s time to bust through.
As we get ready for district play, check out some names from across the state who ended the regular season with a bang.
East Tennessee
Sydney Mains Sydney Mains 5'11" | SF Knoxville Catholic | 2024 State TN (Sr./G/ Knoxville Catholic)– She is heating up. Well, she’s been hot, let’s say that. Mains is a dawg who wants another title. She’s hungry and is on the prowl to help propel her ball club to another title. The Lady Irish will be hard to beat. You better believe Sydney will do all she can to make sure another gold ball comes back to Knoxville.
Lanee Carmichael Lanee Carmichael 5'10" | C Clinton | 2026 State TN (So./F/ Clinton)– She’s in her bag. Carrying her squad and helping them become victorious. She’s on the boards, knocking down shots, winning at each and every possession on both ends. Dropped 33 points on Friday night as her club came home with a W. She’s on a mission and she’s not stopping any time soon.
Ayana Porter Ayana Porter 5'4" | PG Oak Ridge | 2025 State TN and Ze’Yana Stewart (Oak Ridge)– The ying and the yang, both of these girls game to feast on their competition. Dropping 22 (Porter) and 27 (Stewart), talk about a tough 1-2 punch that was hot. The girls are peaking at the right time and they are hungry for more. Look for them to get after it and compete through this tournament season,
Karina Bystry Karina Bystry 5'10" | PG McMinn Central | 2025 State TN (Jr./G/McMinn Central)– Fantastic ball player who competes her tail off. She was on fire, shooting from the arc at a high clip. Finished with 21 points but it was the other thing that impressed me most. She was on the boards, grabbing 10! When you get more possessions like that, your club is going to win. Look for them to compete against Bradley Central next week and go into district play with something to prove.
West Tennessee
Ava Jones Ava Jones 6'1" | PF Hutchison | 2026 State TN (So./PF/ Hutchison)– Keeps getting better and better. She is peaking at the right time and her club is riding her coattail. She moves great for a big, someone who gets up and down the floor with ease. She finishes through contact at the rim, blocks shots, gets steals, and is confidence from the FT line. The kid is tough and every time she plays, especially here lately, she fills multiple statistical categories. Solid player who is hard to deal with.
Zarria Shipp (Sr./F/ Center Hill)– Something is brewing at Center Hill. Zarria is the captain of the ship displaying senior leadership. She has been clutch knocking down shots at a consistent clip. She’s been filling it up from the field and her confidence is through the roof. Look for Center Hill to make a run come district play.
Middle Tennessee
Abby Teter (Jr./G/ Cannon Co.)– Quiet assassin who just competes her tail off. Scored 22 pts in her team’s win. Abby can stroke it from the 3, but won’t hesitate to go get a bucket by putting the ball on the floor. Has a long frame that allows her to be a nuisance on the defensive end. She is hitting her stride and when she is on, her and her club are hard to deal with. Cannon Co. is sneak good. They work hard and play together.
Ella Johnson Ella Johnson 5'6" | SG Franklin Road Academy | 2028 TN and Ava Zenner Ava Zenner 5'7" | PG Franklin Road Academy | 2028 TN (8th Grade/ G/ Franklin Road Academy)– 28s are making a statement. They are lighting up the high school season and this 1-2 punch is feeding off of each other. Both have been in double figures their last couple of games, being the leading catalyst for their ball club. Try to stop one of them, the other one steps up. They play off each other so well. These girls are showing schools in the single A division how special they are. Skies are the limit for these two and look for them to continue to get better over the course of their careers. It’s just the beginning of something great on Franklin Rd.
Laila Downs-Darden (Fr./G/ Creek Wood)– Stud. Enough said. Has been hooping lately and propelling her ball club. Both ends of the floor, she’s been dominant. Need a bucket, she’s your girl. The kid is something special and getting 20 a game with ease, all you can do is give her those flowers. Tremendous work ethic, tough competitor. The kid is a tough matchup on a nightly basis. Look for her to do some great things throughout her high school career.