Wednesday Morning Minutes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And here we go! Much of the state tipped off their district tournaments Tuesday night, and we've got news and updates from around the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["583370"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"In order for TKA to make a return trip to the Final 4, Walden and [player_tooltip player_id='408998' first='Brady' last='Branam'] have to be terrific.  With [player_tooltip player_id='583370' first='Skylar' last='Walden'] you have a D1 talent that can points up fast, but also plays well as a distributor.  In Branam, they have an old-school, post that can go get you a bucket.  In Monday night 1st round win in the Regional Tournament vs Notre Dame, Walden had 17 and Branam had 18.  This team is really deep and prepared for a deep run, and these two girls gotta come ready to compete every possession.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":[900249],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Atchley had 2 points and 9 rebounds in TKA's win over Notre Dame.  Those 9 rebounds matter even more come playoff time.  [player_tooltip player_id='900251' first='Kyle' last='Young'] had 7 boards.  [player_tooltip player_id='620459' first='Olivia' last='Loveday'] had 4.  This team battles on the glass!  Show me a team that loves to defend and rebound, and I'll show you a team that gives themselves a shot at winning.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["409023"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Gosh, we love the way that Walls' game has grown.  She's been a nightly double-double all year long, while also averaging nearly 4 assists a game.  Modern u0022bigsu0022 that can also act as a playmaker from the elbows and mid-posts are incredibly valuable, and Walls is that.rnrnBut....go look at her numbers!  She's also started to put up a high volume of threes (as many as 8 attempts in a game).  She already dominates her level....if she's adding a legitimate 3 ball then she's about to level up for the playoffs!  She's averaging 1.5 made 3s a game on 35% from behind distance.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jay Coker","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Heritage","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Heritage has been awesome all season, and while [player_tooltip player_id='409073' first='Chloe' last='Heath'] and [player_tooltip player_id='810476' first='Carsyn' last='Swaney'] receive most of the attention, Coker has put together a tremendous senior year.  Coker was named 1st Team All District, and there is a reason why....rnrnShe's been a rock-solid two-way player that impacts winning on both ends.  Attacks the glass hard.  Tough and strong enough to finish through contact.  Has developed nice touch.  She gives you close to a double-double every night with high-level defense, high IQ, and a level of grittiness that's tough to match.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["821868"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Summers earned the starting PG spot early on, and has not relinquished it.  The '27 has put together a tremendous freshman season from an experience standpoint....her counting stats don't pop....but more valuable are the minutes and experiences she's getting as a starting PG for a top-tier program in the state as a freshman.  Her upside is exceptionally high!","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["245358"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Masingale did everything in her power to propel her #1 ranked McMinn Central team against the #3 Gatlinburg Pittman crew.  She scored 16 in the first half, hit a late three to take the lead, and finished the game with 34 points.  [player_tooltip player_id='409633' first='Karina' last='Bystry'] finished with 17, including two clutch free throws to put MC up 1 with 12 seconds to play.rnrnTough when you get a combined 51 points from your top two scorers and still lose.  This loss hopefully shows Central something they needed to learn heading into the postseason.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='496294' first='Abby' last='Bryan']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Lincoln County","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Had a really nice regular season for Lincoln as they finished the district schedule 8-2.  Averaged 19 points and 8 rebounds in a tough 4A District 9.  Excited to watch this team as they head into tourney time...rnrnShe's hit more total 3's than any other '25 in the state (according to MaxPreps).  She's ahead of names like [player_tooltip player_id='409017' first='Ella' last='Ryan'], [player_tooltip player_id='409633' first='Karina' last='Bystry'], [player_tooltip player_id='403162' first='Shelby' last='Higgins'], [player_tooltip player_id='409020' first='Saylor' last='Clay'].  [player_tooltip player_id='496294' first='Abby' last='Bryan'] is sneaky really really good....","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["506234"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Washington is one of my favorite talents to watch in the state because of the way she defends.  On Tuesday though, she was celebrated for her offensive production:  she's now only the 4th Lady Knight to surpass the 1,000 point mark.  And the journey isn't done! Congrats LW!","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='899378' first='Ebany' last='Hill']","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"Washburn","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_8_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_8_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"I don't think there is a better shooting duo in the state than [player_tooltip player_id='899378' first='Ebany' last='Hill'] and [player_tooltip player_id='409020' first='Saylor' last='Clay'] at Washburn.  Hill is #1 in made three's for 26's, and Clay is #2 in made three's for '25s.  They are both averaging right at 3 made threes per game, and shooting +40%.rnrnIn Monday nights win Hill went for 24, and Clay went for 18.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["405707"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"One of our favorite seniors got a big-time senior night win: she went off for 25 points, 8 assists, and 5 steals.  In typical Thomas fashion, she dominated the game on both ends, and offensively was just as effective as a playmaker as she was a scorer.  Kid can do it all!","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65cba756c7655"} /-->