Thursday Night’s Noise
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It was a busy night around the state with some big time matchups (Lebanon vs Cookeville, Heritage vs Sevier, Knox Catholic vs Knox Webb, etc). Quinn Johnston TN #40 SG #12 HEIGHT 5'3" POS SG CLASS 2024 View Profile Quinn…
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Continue ReadingIt was a busy night around the state with some big time matchups (Lebanon vs Cookeville, Heritage vs Sevier, Knox Catholic vs Knox Webb, etc).
Johnston has put together a wonderful, well-rounded rounded career at Summitt. The NGU committ has been a steady 14 point per game with nice rebounding and defensive instincts. This week she surpassed the 1,000 point mark for her career, and what a great milestone for Johnston.
Sometimes one of the highest praises you can give a player (or person for that matter), is consistency….Johnston has been the epitome of that.
Highlights
Carsyn Loveday
Carsyn Loveday
The #4 ranked 4A Sevier County team was tested on Thursday by Heritage in a slug fest of title contenders. In one of those “gotta see it to believe it” moments, senior guard Carsyn Loveday knocked down a 40 foot three at the buzzer to give the Bearrettes the win. Loveday is a terrific senior leader that does all the little things that impact winning in a major way…but might not necessarily shot up in the box score. What a fun memory, and HUGE SHOT, for Loveday.
On the night, she finished with 14 points and three made 3’s.
Sevier continues to roll, (21-2) and Cybil Penland Cybil Penland 5’10” | SG Sevier Co. | 2025 State TN joins teammate Aubrey Laney as the second Bearrette to pass the 1,000 point mark for her career. This Sevier Co team is loaded with experience, depth, high-iq, great team defensive, and and kids that can get big bucket. Penland, an LMU commit, is another Sevier County player thats just rock solid–you know she’ll give you 15 points with nice rebounding, high efficiency. Penland is a winner, a
Kenady Deal
Kenady Deal
Everyone’s basketball journey is different…and some kid’s simply show at an early age that they are truly different. Kenady Deal is legit….DIFFERENT. She just passed the 1,000 point mark as a 7th grader, as she scored 17 in a big post season win putting them into prime position to bring home a state championship.
On a team with other really high-level players (Mollie Stuffle ’29 and Addie Lawson ’28), Deal gives a dimension of scoring, attacking, playmaking that is so far beyond her years is really not fair. Deal is different because she is already a three level scorer, and probably a top 3 scoring 29 in her class.
It was a lot of fun to watch Heritage almost take one from 4A powerhouse Sevier County. Swaney led Heritage with 16 points. Sevier County did a great job limiting Chloe Heath Chloe Heath 6’0″ | SF Clinton | 2025 State TN to only 9….and that was perhaps the difference. Post season basketball get slow, and mucky, and very much matchup driven….If a team takes Heath out of the game offensively, can a Faith Morris Faith Morris 5’7″ | PG Heritage | 2027 TN or Aleyah Smyth Aleyah Smyth 5’9″ | SF Heritage | 2026 State TN (or someone else) be that 3rd scorer Heritage is going to need.
Isabella Garcia
Isabella Garcia
We got another slugfest on Thursday as Cookeville and Lebanon faced off. Cookeville won 50-44, and moved to 7-0 in the district. They were again led by the senior post Garcia who just continues to pile up impressive performances. She put together a 18 point, 8 rebound, 2 steal, 1 block, 3 assist effort. Garcia’s old school, back to the basket approach is a joy! And I haven’t seen a better right hand baby hook….its a move that if she gets her left shoulder into on the drop step, you’re done!
Allie Gilles has 14 points and 2 blocks and 3 steals. Gilbert was limited to 9, but I’m always encouraged by a team that figures out how to win when their leading scorer is limited. Really nice team win for Cookeville, and great team defense by both clubs in this matchup.
Townsend is a 2027 that is flown under the radar a bit individually as she’s on a loaded Sevier County team. But, Townsend has been able to carve out a valuable role off the bench, and her minutes has grown through the season. She’s earned the trust of her team’s coach’s and upperclassmen, and it’s really an impressive feat given the depth of Sevier for a freshman to earn minutes. She’s also an extremely high character kid!
Remember, every player’s journey is different….embrace being a “star in your role” and good things tend to happen. They have for Maggie Townsend Maggie Townsend 5’8″ | PG Sevier County | 2027 TN !