Friday Night Insights: Notes From Around the State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As gramma Dycus used to say...."now we'er cooking with grease!" As we enter the second time through the district schedule, everything turns up a bit as teams begin to test different strategies in preparation for the district tournament. We say a ton of fascinating games around the state last night. Let's take a look at some of the biggest stories after a very entertaining Friday night!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["631094"],"_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":"You can't stop her....you can only hope to contain her.    And [player_tooltip player_id='631094' first='Ellie' last='Butler'] has finally been contained:  on Friday vs Cumberland County she was held to 13 points while facing constant double teams.  But, and this is part of why I'm such a fan of both Livingston Academy and Butler, they figured out a way to pull-out a big-time road win in a hostile environment.rnrnAgain....this is the time of the year where you really begin to see who you are as a team.  When teams defensively take your best player away, can you figure out ways to win?  This Livingston team is incredibly well coached, and their players were able to take advantage of the doubles teams, and figure out how to score enough buckets to win (and knock down some huge 3's down the stretch).rnrnAlso worth noting:  big time congrats to EB for passing 1500 points for her career (halfway through her junior year).rnrnShe's. A. Bucket.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["403162"],"_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":"Higgins scored 22 of her teams 38 points in a win over Fayettville.  She also added 13 rebounds and  3 assists for good measure.  Higgins scored 57% of her teams points in this one..and they needed every bit of it.  Higgins continues to find ways to impress.rnrnAgain, maybe the hardest thing to do in all of basketball is to be a high-level scorer while remaining efficient, and defenses are devising game plans specifically to stop you.  Only a few are good enough to keep getting buckets under these conditions....and Higgins seems to be one of them.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["514124"],"_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":"In a close win vs a very good Clay team (50-46), the sophomore PG led the way with 15 points.  On this night though, it was the Pickett defense that really spear headed the win.  Nicholas puts contsant defensive pressure on teh opposing PG, and in this game, I thought it made all the difference in the world.  Pickett held Clay to 10 first half points....and they will win that game 95% of the time.u003cbru003eu003cbru003ePickett now sits at 12-2.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["409093"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Reeder continue her dominance as she had 14 points, 14 rebounds and 4 assists.  Reeder has been a double-double machine all season long, and she was the best player on the floor in this game.  Reeder's two free throws at the end of regulation put the game on ice.  Pickett was able to go on the road and snap a seven game losing streak vs the Lady Bulldogs.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["409023"],"_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":"Mount Pisgah Christian beat Scott on the road 63-60.  Walls had another dominant performance with 19 points and 15 rebounds.  I'll continue to brag on Walls as a passer!  She had 4 assists in this win...and thats right at her season average.  Her ability to hit teammates on time and on target with high level vision is such an asset.  Walls simply continues to an incredibly diverse and skilled post.  Really enjoy her game.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='636393' first='Ava' last='Jones']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"White County","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"FBC Reign","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"White County moved on to 18-1, spear headed by a tremendous performance from Jones.  Jones had her personal best game of the season as she went off for 23 points and hit 2 of 3 from three.  As we head down the finish line....you have to love this White County team and the job Coach Dodgen is doing with them.  They seem to be getting better (which is hard to do when you're 18-1) both collectively and individually.  Jones is playing the best basketball of her life...and if she can turn in an 18 a game scoring threat it changes everything for White Co.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["810591"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Farragut got a much needed district win on Friday night as they try to simply stay afloat until Priest returns.  Versus Karns, [player_tooltip player_id='810591' first='Jaci' last='Neubert'] almost came home quadruple double game:  21 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 7 steals.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eI know the Farragut record isn't great as they sit at 8-10.  But, they haven't been blowout all season....and it's just been one of those funky years for this club.  But.....when [player_tooltip player_id='810510' first='Annie' last='Priest'] gets back....and you have to face her and [player_tooltip player_id='816585' first='KJ' last='McNealy'] and [player_tooltip player_id='810591' first='Jaci' last='Neubert']?!?!  That's a squad that no body is going to want to play.  I really like this group's potential to get hot at the right time.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["405841"],"_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":"For Clay County, this loss could turn out to be a good learning experience for them.  Buford was held to 8 points, while she's averaging 21.8 on the season.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eAs we start to go through the second round of district games, this is when you start to see teams tinker with strategies that might work come postseason.  For Clay, the question will be, if teams shut Buford down, can they figure out how to create enough points to win versus the best teams?","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["409073"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='409073' first='Chloe' last='Heath'] went crazy Friday night for Heritage with a 24 point, 8 rebound, 7 block performance.  This Heritage team is another that simply keeps getting betting both individually and collectively...and it's getting really hard to imagine a post season without them playing an important part of story.  They've been consistently one of the best teams in their class all season long.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["654019"],"_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":"At the She Got Game Classic, Bearden picked up a huge win on Friday night vs Grind Prep, Ok (Bearden 78 Grind 69).  Against extremely good competition, Hodge came in and did what Hodge doesu002du002ddropped an easy 31.  Murphy, however, was the big story as she chipped in 20 points and 7 rebounds.  When she's on (and those that know her game know that her skill set is super high) like she was Friday, it really gives Bearden a chance to be special as it gives themu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;rnu003colu003ern tu003cliu003eGreat team defenseu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eTremendously talented best playeru003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSecondary scorer that can give you 17u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eMultiple role players that can give you 4-12 points any given nightu003c/liu003eu003c/olu003e","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["516540"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"This was technically a Saturday game, but Bearden faced Hillgove, GA in a big time matchup.  Patel knocked down four 3's on her way to 12 points.  And, as said above, it's players like Patel that given Bearden the chance be so good.  The Bearden role players are perhaps the best in the state.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["821688"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"The freshman had 18 points in a tough 10 point loss to the mighty Sevier County squad (54-44).  Wood looked like a future star on Friday as she didn't force the issue, kept her teammates involved, and still got to big time personal numbers.  Wood has the chance to be special.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":12,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6599ed8b4b45c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["409016"],"_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":"Stewarts Creek continues to pile together quality wins, as they beat Hendersonville on Friday night.  Bernard continues to have a really impressive season, as the 6'0 junior has expanded her range, and is now a legitimate threat from three.  She's always been a high level defender, elite rebounder and shot blocker....and now she's putting together some offensive flashes that make her a different type of collegiate prospect!  She finsished with 8 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 blocks in a near triple-double.  Former Coach Bianca Hensley told me she's a terrific person off the floor too!  Well done young lady.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["408998"],"_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":"Private vs public is always a fun battle!  TKA beat Maryville 54-48 in overtime in a fun one!  Branam dominated with a 21 point, 12 rebound, 1 block performance. Branam is like Walls at Pisgah....it doesn't matter whether she's playing versus private or public....she's gonna drop 20 and 12.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='900251' first='Kyle' last='Young']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"12124","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"TKA","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Young showed up big time in a public vs private win over Maryville.  She was for three of four from three and finished with 9 points.  In the big picture, this was a big win, and TKA really needs that consistent 3rd scorer (whether it be Young, Athchley, or Loveday).  This TKA team has so much potential to make a deep season run, and these battles will help them tremendously.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["245357"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Reed got in foul trouble early, but still managed to finish with an easy double -double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.  With Reed playing strong","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659a11b10d7d8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["405709"],"_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":"Congrats to [player_tooltip player_id='405709' first='Daisy' last='Gale'] on both a big-time individual performance (29 points) in a win over MTCS, and more importantly, surpassing the 1,000 career point mark. Gale is a pure, intuitive score that plays the right way.  Congrats from PGH TN on your milestone young lady!","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659aa3b80e0b2"} /-->