By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
The Division II state tournament gets underway today and will continue through Saturday as four state champions will be crowned at Allen Arena on the campus of David Lipscomb University.
The Lausanne girls and St. George boys will both be trying to defend their Division II-A titles while the Ensworth girls and Briarcrest boys will try to do the same in Division II-AA.
Division II-A Schedule – Wednesday, Allen Arena
Noon – Bishop Byrne (26-3) vs. Davidson Academy (20-4), Girls: Davidson won the teams’ only meeting 40-36 back in December so expect a tight game.
Bishop Byrne is very balanced on offense having three players scoring in double figures led by Kelsey Duckett (10.9 points per game),Rachal Clayton and Brittany Walls while Davidson is led in scoring by Alexandria Warfield and Holly Beth Jones.
1:30 p.m. – Harding Academy (20-7) vs. University School of Nashville (22-4), Boys – Harding Academy will get a big boost as its best player in Mr. Basketball Finalist Marlon Brown returns from strep throat. USN should make a good showing as they have double trouble in Mr. Basketball Finalist Meiko Lyles (22 points per game) and Ricky Coleman (17).
5:30 p.m. – Harding Academy (29-3) vs. Lausanne (14-7), Girls – Lausanne boasts junior Miss Basketball finalist junior Lauren Avant, a Tennessee commitment, while Harding has its own Miss Basketball finalist in Alex Black.
Bad news for Harding Academy is Lausanne cruised to both regular season wins, prevailing by an average of 26 points.
7 p.m. – Lausanne (21-7) vs. St. George's (23-6), Boys – St. George's won both regular season meetings this season and rely on the play of sophomore Mr. Basketball Finalist Bobby Parks Jr., (22 points per game) while Lausanne will be led by its own Mr. Basketball Finalist in sophomore Wil Martinez.
Division II-AA Girls Schedule for Thursday
Noon – Baylor (20-9) vs. Knoxville Webb (27-3) – The Red Raiders will be making their first state appearance since 2001 when they were the runner up. Kiera Payne will lead the way for Baylor as they will try to contain Miss Basketball finalists in Faith Dupree, a Tennessee signee and Jessica Goswitz, a Rice signee.
1:30 p.m. – Ensworth (22-5) vs. St. Benedict (23-7) – Former coach David Pack led the Tigers to an upset of Knoxville Webb last season but Ensworth won’t surprise anyone this season. Ensworth will be led by Miss Basketball finalist Marie Carpenter.
Division II-AA Boys Schedule for Friday
Noon – Briarcrest (21-11) vs. Father Ryan (23-7) – The Saints are back with key returnees from last year’s state title champion team. North Carolina signee Leslie McDonald, George Mason signee Johnnie Williams and point guard Greg Wooten will lead the way for Briarcrest.
Father Ryan will be led by Princeton commitment Brendan Connolly who is a Mr. Basketball Finalist.
1:45 p.m. – Ensworth (26-5) vs. Evangelical Christian School (22-6) – Ensworth will be led by two-time Mr. Basketball Finalist Gary Pope and guard Tavarres Jefferson while ECS will counter John Jordan, Dupree Lytle and 3-point bomber Jonathan Milewski.
ECS head coach Terry Tippett is trying to win his sixth state championship after one at Trezevant and four at White Station.
Division II-A Boys and Girls Finals
Girls-6:00 pm; Boys- 8:00 pm
Division II-AA Boys and Girls Finals for Saturday
Girls- 6pm; Boys- 8 pm
Wrestling: Bradley Central triumphant in state finals
The state wrestling finals concluded last weekend at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga on the campus of the University of Chattanooga.
In addition to a team champion in both Division I and Division II, the TSSAA crowned 14 individual champions from 103 pounds all the way up to 285.
Bradley Central followed up a dual title it won three weeks ago in Clarksville with a state title, outlasting bitter rival Soddy Daisy 191-143.
The Bears placed four wrestlers in the finals of their respective finals with three being crowned state champions. Soddy Daisy won two of three finals.
Blake Ridenour, the 152-pound champion from Maryville, was voted best wrestler while the 112 pound match between Dustin Gardner and Blake Thomas was voted best match.
Brentwood junior Cameron Croy capped off his second straight undefeated season as he won the 189-pound weight class for the second straight year.
Below are the results for all weight classes:
103 – Tyler Pitts (Bradley Central) Major decision over Nick Maxwell (Karns), 14-5
112 – Dustin Gardner (Soddy Daisy) Decision over Blake Thomas (Brentwood), 6-3
119 – Logan Biddy (Bradley Central) Decision over Marvin Lopez (Cleveland), 11-5
125 – Campbell Lewis (Soddy Daisy) Pin over Jacob Holley (William Blount), 0:34
130 – Cody Hood (Ooltewah) Decision over Taylor Witt (Soddy Daisy), 2-1
135 – David Graham (Bradley Central) Decision over Jeremy Miller (Greenback), 3-2
140 – Jonathan Taylor (Red Bank) Decision over Anthony Grady (Clarksville), 5-4
145 – Kole Bishop (Sullivan East) Major Decision over Brennen Cox (Independence), 10-1
152 – Blake Ridenour (Maryville) Major Decision over Chris Sinsheimer (Independence), 8-0
160 – Joe Proctor (Cookeville) pin over Josh Disney (Bradley Central), 3:33
171 – Jake Young (Ooltewah) Major Decision over John Salada (Cookeville), 16-6
189 – Cameron Croy (Brentwood) Decision over Michael Kennedy (Blackman), 5-2
215 – Nick White (Cookeville) Disqualification over Max Ofori (Cleveland)
285 – Caleb Leonard (Knoxville Halls) Decision Adam Peters (Cleveland), 4-2 OT
On the Division II side, Father Ryan gained five out of six final wins to defeat defending champion Baylor 253-235 for the team title.
Baylor won the duals title in Clarksville and defeated Father Ryan 46-15 at that event. But Father Ryan surprised many last Saturday by capturing its 11th overall title.
Justin Cash, the 152-pound champion from Brentwood Academy was voted Best Wrestler. The 125-pound match between rivals Michael Hooker from McCallie and Baylor’s Stuart Doster was voted Best Match.
Below are the championship match results:
103 – Cole Mosely (Father Ryan) Major Decision over Carlos Calloway (Brentwood Academy), 13-4
112 – Zach Watson (Baylor) Technical Fall over J P Carney, (Christian Brothers), 5:35
119 – Daniel Baucke (Christian Brothers) Decision over Alex Manley (Baylor), 4-0
125 – Stuart Doster (Baylor) Decision over Michael Hooker (McCallie), 3-2
130 – A lex Johnson (Christian Brothers) Decision over Daniel McClure (McCallie), 2-1
135 – Cody Austell (Father Ryan) Decision over Zach Hanniford (Christian Brothers), 2-0
140 – T.J. Duncan (McCallie) Decision over Zach Johnson (Christian Brothers), 16-9
145 – Chance Hayes (Baylor) Major Decision over Nick Bateman (Father Ryan), 10-2
152 – Justin Cash (Brentwood Academy) Technical Fall over Chase Martino (McCallie), 5:30
160 – Patrick Marchetti (Father Ryan) Decision over Daniel Todd (Montgomery Bell Academy), 6-0
171 – Wes Wesley (Father Ryan) Decision over Mac Ferguson (Baylor), 7-4
189 – Max Jerrell (Montgomery Bell Academy) Decision over David Helton (Baylor), 7-2
215 – Cory Norcross (Father Ryan) pin over John Mackey (Baylor), 3:31
285 – Ryan Carrethers (Brentwood Academy) pin over Andrew Severson (St. Benedict), 1:37
Questions? Comments? Contact Donovan at dstew4vu@yahoo.com.
