Class 1A East Regional Tournament Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regional brackets are beginning to get finalized across TN, and for the class of 1A, their brackets are almost officially set. Here is a look at some of the best players in the West Regional Tournament bracket in the class of 1A, and a look at what these players did in their district tournaments.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["513239"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699dd2b5843bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Unaka High School basketball team will have the benefit of having a bye on Friday, while other teams' seasons will be on the line with the regional tournament going on then. This comes from having a district title under their belt and having an overall record of 20-4. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='513239' first='Michelle' last='Shields'] has played an integral role in them being in this situation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shields had a good district tournament. This was highlighted by a big second half in the championship game against North Greene High School. The 2026 grad in helping came back from a 20 point defict dropped 13 of her 15 points in the contest in the second half. Adversity clearly does not affect Shields in the slightest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her versatile guard-like game at 5'11" also proved to be deadly in their game before taking on North Greene in the district tourney semis against Hampton High School. In this contest, Shields dropped 28 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["928326"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699e0b6b82703"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='928326' first='Lily' last='Wright'], from the week before Coalfield's district tournament to now, Lily Wiright has been playing at an insanely high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright on Feb. 10 showed off her do-it-all game, logging a triple-double, scoring 17 points, and getting 10 assists and 10 rebounds. To add to an already notable performance, this game helped her surpass the 1,000-point mark in her high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fast forwarding to the district tournament semi-final, Wright displayed that she not only has the capability of taking over a game offensively but can do so defensively as well. Against Wartburg High School, she logged seven blocks in the semis. Both her speed and basketball IQ regarding rotations stood out in helping generate these blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright and Coalfield will play their first game of the regional tournament on Friday against Midway High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["636399"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699e0b6b8275d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">En route to helping Copper Basin be a one-seed in the regional tournament and winning their third consecutive district title, senior [player_tooltip player_id='636399' first='Alexis' last='Hyatt'] is leaving behind a legacy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hyatt this year became the all-time leader in points in both the girls and boys programs at Copper Basin. She achieved this mark back in January. In helping her hit this milestone, night in and night out, Hyatt produces on the offensive end this season. Whether it's making threes or finding lanes to attack the bucket, she is a reliable scorer. Hyatt is also a clutch player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a regular season game against Grundy County High School this season, Hyatt made a buzzer beater three to give Copper Basin a 68-65 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Her clutch trait will be vital given all the crucial moments that come with the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='899898' first='Jalynn' last='Meadows']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Jackson County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699e0b6b82800"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Senior guard for Jackson County High School, [player_tooltip player_id='899898' first='Jalynn' last='Meadows'], is taking some good form from the team's district tournament into the regional.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the champions game of the District 7-1A championship against Pickett County, Meadows led Jackson Co. in scoring. She had 23 points, five assists, and made an impact defensively, logging six steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In producing offensive gems like this, Meadows offense has multiple layers. She can drive at a high level. This comes from her ability to stay low and make sharp moves around screens and score with opposing players contesting her. She also has a lethal three-point jumper. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She does not need much time to get her jumper. And even when a defender does get a close-out, she is still consistent in knocking down perimeter jumpers through contests all around the arc. Also, when Meadows is in the midst of navigating ways to score around the basket, she is great at locating open teammates in scoring spots. She can pass effectively in these situations with both her left and right hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Sadie Collins","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_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":"Oakdale","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-699e0b6b8288a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Oakdale Lady Eagles were on fire in the district tournament. And sophomore Sadie Collins was a big part of helping them claim the championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In her second high school season, Collins is already one of the best scorers in her district. In the two district tourney games, she led the Lady Eagles in points. She scored 22 in the semi-finals and 18 in the championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collins, as a player, is a highly skilled shooter from distance. She pairs this long-range shooting aspect of her game with above-average rebounding. She can also create scoring opportunities inside the paint with strong drives to the bucket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oakdale, in the first round, will play Wartburg Central High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->