Division II-A Opening Round Of State Tournament

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><br>USE CODE "tinnon30" FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Division II-A opening round of the state tournament kicked off last night. Tough matchups throughout the bracket were ready to tip off as teams looked to survive and advance. Last night featured some pivotal matchups where squads not only got the job done but also set themselves up nicely to take on the next round of opponents. Waiting in the wings are USJ, Notre Dame, PCA, and TKA, none of which are cake walks by any means. However, this next round will be just as tough as the opening round matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a recap of the Division II-A first round of the state tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MTCS 62</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CAK 64</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CAK advances to play USJ.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trinity 57</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nashville Christian 46</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Trinity advances to play Notre Dame.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson Christian 38</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>GCA Knoxville 58</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>GCA Knoxville advances to play PCA.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northpoint 27</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ezell-Harding 67</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Ezell-Harding advances to play TKA.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the field set with some top-tier action in the Elite 8, here are some players who helped their team survive and advance last night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264638"],"_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-699f34be47c24"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Was feeling it as she dropped 21 points and grabbed 5 boards. Heading into a place like MTCS is not easy. She shot the ball well, contributed in multiple areas of the game, and helped lift up this talented CAK squad. Look for her to be a factor against USJ as they look to travel to Jackson in a tough contest.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["519799"],"_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-699f34be47cb4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Solid winger who was a problem for MTCS during key stretches. She has 15 points and grabbed 4 boards as she helped CAK capture the win. This versatile forward is a problem and will be a factor down the stretch as CAK looks to keep advancing. Her play will be key as she can do multiple things and create mismatches. Look for her to be a focal point for teams to contend with.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["816622"],"_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-699f34be47d20"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This athletic guard was too much for Northpoint. Going back to the Memphis area (where she is from), she put on a show for all to see. It was a homecoming for her as she put up 16 points in the Lady Eagles' victory. Look for her to play her part and be a factor as Ezell travels to Seymour to take on TKA in the next round.<br><br></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='1445592' first='Annelise' last='Friend']","_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":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Jackson Trinity","_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-699f34be47e0e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Athletic guard who put on a show in the first round of the state tournament. She was too much to handle as she sliced to the rim multiple times. She played solid defense, brought the energy, and her team followed her leadership. Keep tabs on this young lady as they travel to Notre Dame to play a stingy defensive team.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["513232"],"_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-699f34be47e71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This electric and talented ballplayer was amazing last night. Finishing with an impressive stat line of 30 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 assists, you could tell she was going to make sure her squad wouldn't be denied the opportunity to advance. The UAB signee is a tremendous hooper who gets after it on both ends of the floor. With such speed and quickness, it was too much for Jackson Christian to handle. She and the Lady Rams of GCA head to PCA for a pivotal matchup with Final 4 implications. Look for her to come out of the gates strong and showcase why she is one of the top guards in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->