TN’s Private Div II-A Final Four: Recaps & Reflections

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Game #1</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Goodpasture (24-3) 58</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The King's Academy (24-9) 47</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huge win by Goodpasture to send them to the Final Four. I was really impressed by Goodpasture in this game, as this was my first look at them. They started out down 6 early, but stayed composed and continued to battle. LaZaviona "Ona" Hawkins for Goodpasture got rolling in the 2nd quarter and never let up finishing with 19. Then the other GP guards (Addi, Ruffin, [player_tooltip player_id='821983' first='Brooklyn' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='810671' first='Harper' last='Kate Miles']) got into the mix. GP's top 5 are really skilled, play high level D, and make for a really solid postseason team with a lot of nice pieces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Goodpasture Stats</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='377303' first='Lazaviona' last='Hawkins'] '25 19 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='810655' first='Addi' last='Ruffin'] '25 13 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='821983' first='Brooklyn' last='Jones'] '27 10 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='810671' first='Harper' last='Kate Miles'] '25 - 7 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Madi Crocker '25 - 7 points 5 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">TKA Stats</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='583370' first='Skylar' last='Walden'] 17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='838514' first='Tiana' last='Branam'] 10 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='408998' first='Brady' last='Branam'] 7 points, 5 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='620459' first='Olivia' last='Loveday'] 5 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='838339' first='Emily' last='Atchley'] 4 points 5 rebounds</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='900251' first='Kyle' last='Young'] 3 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Dycus' Thoughts</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I ultimately thought the better team won. Goodpasture's starting 5 is excellent, and they barely came off the floor. Hawkins was the games MVP, but I thought the other 3 GP guards played wonderfully as well. 4 of the 5 GP starters are juniors that have been playing together for years. Their continuity and skill ultimately led to the win in this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='583370' first='Skylar' last='Walden'] had a nice game with 17....capping off a tremendous freshman season for her. [player_tooltip player_id='408998' first='Brady' last='Branam'] was dominant all year but struggled in this game. TKA is very reliant on Walden and Branam to carry the scoring load...and it just wasn't in the cards today.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["377303"],"_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":"PG [player_tooltip player_id='377303' first='Lazaviona' last='Hawkins'] was sensational, and the best player on the floor. The '25 played all 32 minutes, and made winning plays on both ends. All game long, she was wreaking havoc on the paint, and getting to the rim. She finished with 19 points on 8-14 shooting from two, and 3-4 from the free throw line. She also had 4 rebounds and 3 assists. She controlled the game from start to finish, and she's as shifty as the come....simply using stops and starts to avoid getting rattled. With 2:00 minutes left and up 7, GP put the ball in Hawkins hands to dribble out the clock. With 1:15 she called game with a left to right cross over through the elbow, fakes a pass to get the help defender away from the rim and finishes a tough layup to put them up 9. She's averaged 13 points, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds on the season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["810655"],"_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":"Another '25 guard for Goodpasture that was impressive.  Ruffin came into the game with a reputation as a high profile 3 point shooter.  She didn't shoot particulary well against TKA (5-15 from the field, 3-10 from 3) to finish with 13 points and 3 rebounds.  It was obvious that part of TKA's gameplan was to try to keep Ruffin from getting hot from 3....and they did a pretty good job....but that's the benefit of having a high level shooteru002du002d-it creates gaps.  Part of why Hawkins had so much room to operate was that TKA wasn't leaving Ruffin.  When you take one thing away you tend you give up another...and for Goodpasture they will simply let you pick your poison.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["450352"],"_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":"The Goodpasture freshman guard was awesome!!  I'd seen her name, but never had the chance to see her play...but now I understand the hype.  She's small, but fearless in attacking the rim.  When the D would sag, she was pulling.  She finished with 10 points and made 3. Again, same with Ruffinu002du002dJones shoots the lights out and TKA had to respect it.  They took away clean looks, but her gravity created gaps for Hawkins, or she was attacking herself.rnrn[player_tooltip player_id='821983' first='Brooklyn' last='Jones'] is a freshman with a 30 point, 8 made threes game.  She put up 24 points on 6 for 6 from three vs Providence Christian only two games ago.  She's beginning to assert herself one of the better '27 guards.","_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":"Madi Crocker","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"Goodpasture","_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":"Madi Crocker is another GP '25 will real upside.  She's a strong bodies post that does all the little things well.  She's shooting nearly 60% this season in the paint, and was 3/4 from the field vs TKA.  Very strong shoulders, knows how to use her body well to create scoring angles.  When she caught in the paint, it was game over.  Defensively, she did about as good a job as I've seen anyone do on TKA's [player_tooltip player_id='408998' first='Brady' last='Branam'].","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["838514"],"_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":"Branam look as confident as I've ever seen her.  Late in the 4th as TKA was attempting a late rally, she made a beautiful right foot jab, crossover step to left into a baseline attack and finished with a nifty u0022And 1u0022 through contact.  Branam looked skilled, assertive, long and athletic in this game.  She has all the intangibles to be a really good ball player down the road for TKA; and, she was fantastic for them today.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e34c76c08bb"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Game #2</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>University School of Jackson (22-5)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CAK (26-7)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one was bound to be a classic. [player_tooltip player_id='821641' first='Haylan' last='Ayers'] is one of the best '27s in the country. CAK is one of the most disciplines, well coached teams in their division. Abby WIlliams is simply terrific. The talent collective talent at CAK is also really high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson jumped out early on CAK, leading by 11 (20-9) early in the game. [player_tooltip player_id='821641' first='Haylan' last='Ayers'] had 5 points in the 1st quarter to get them rolling. But then CAK tightened up their defense and the tides began to turn. All of a sudden in the 2nd quarter, Jackson began turning it over (they finished the 1st half with 11 turnovers). Izzy Profitt had a bucket, Collie Thompson got a transition "and 1" off a turnover, and CAK's 8-0 run cut the game to 20-17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson was held scorelss the final 3:00 of the 1st half, and Jackson led 20-17 at the half. CAK was shooting only 17% (6-25) at the half and only down 3 because the high number of Jackson turnovers. Jackson shot 6-11 as a team in the 1st half.....TOTAL. Its really hard to win a game that you only shoot 11 times in a half...and they had the lead. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the 2nd half, CAK jumped out to a 7-0 run, with a [player_tooltip player_id='821765' first='Maddie' last='Braden'] 3, to put CAK up by 4. [player_tooltip player_id='821641' first='Haylan' last='Ayers'] and Ava Baram got going in the 3rd and the teams began going back and forth. The 3rd ended CAK 28-Jackson 27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4th An immediate bucket by Jackson put them up 1. Collie Thompson then had a TOUGH two foot, Luka-esque up and under to go back up 1. Thompson was so smooth all game, and really aggressive as a scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ella Driver '25 knocked down two free throws with 4:45 to put Jackson up 1. She's a fantastic energy kid! Showed a ton of hustle on a 50/50 ball to give her team the lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Jackson up 1, Ayers attacked hard with her left and finished through contact to give her 11 points and 10 rebounds, and a 3 point lead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='821765' first='Maddie' last='Braden'] (a lefty) then attacked with her off-hand with a TOUGH righty finish to pull CAK within 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 1:09, left Braden fouled out! sending Ayers to the free throw line. Ayers went 1-2 putting Jackson up 2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was huge. The best two players on the court were Ayers and Braden, and losing Braden was significant. But other CAK guards were ready to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collie Thompson then came down and hit a HUGE 3 with :44 seconds left to put CAK up 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USJ inbounded with :44, and Ayers didn't touch it until :24. As soon as she touched it CAK double her, leaving Driver wide open. Ayers' high level court vision saw her immediately and Driver was fouled. She hit both free throws putting them up 36-35 with :17 to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>USJ 36</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CAK 35</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline">Dycus' Thoughts:</span></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sometimes in basketball, because there are so few players on the court, having the best player on the floor really matters--especially when that "best player" is [player_tooltip player_id='821641' first='Haylan' last='Ayers']. [player_tooltip player_id='821765' first='Maddie' last='Braden'] (another '27 with stock that has to be skyrocketing) defended Ayers as well as you can. She only had 5 at the half, but then put her head down and began attacking the rim in the 3rd and 4th quarter and the game changed. Then when CAK felt like they had to send a double, Ayers picked them apart with a beutiful pass to the block to Driver. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It may sound weird...but I liked CAK more. I thought they were deeper. I loved their 4 high (Princeton spacing.....not straight 4 high) ball screen actions were fantastic. They defended Ayers as well as you can. And they lost. Somebody's gotta lose. I thought CAK played great, but didn't shoot it very well overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And Jackson had the best player on the floor. And ultimately, she's good enough to go win you a game. Especially when Ava Barham '24 is contributing like she was. Lily Teague '27 was very quiet in this one, in large part due to terrific CAK perimeter D.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ava Barham","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"University School of Jackson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I came away incredibly impressed by '24 Ava Barham.  She was everywhere as an inside out forward.  As CAK was switching the Ayers-Barham pick and roll, Jackson would often hit Barham on the mismatch and let her work.  She was right at a double double late in the 4th and her fingerprints were all of the the game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Collie Thompson","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"CAK","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Collie Thompson '26 was incredibly aggressive on the offensive end, and proved she had a lot in her bag.  She was actively hunting her shot on all three levels.  She has terrific footwork when she jump stops in the paint, and knows how to pivot through to create new scoring opportunities.  Collie Thompson can play!","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":2,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e34c76c09c7"} /-->