Weekend could provide 7-AAA boys basketball separation
MURFREESBORO – A two-game weekend of boys basketball league play could finally create some separation among those in District 7-AAA.
"It probably depends on who wins," Riverdale boys coach Kevin Woodson said. "It could be even more of a logjam."
Entering the end of the first half of district play, five of the seven teams have lost two or fewer games in 7-AAA play. Blackman (13-2 overall, 4-1 in 7-AAA) and Riverdale (10-10, 3-1) are the lone boys teams with one league loss.
Riverdale plays at Siegel (6-9, 1-3) today and then at Oakland (11-4, 2-2) on Saturday to wrap up its first half of league action.
"If we can go into the end of the first half with one loss, that's a huge advantage," Woodson said. "But it's also a tall order to win both — or even one. You have to be on your 'A' game, or you will go home with an L in the loss column."
Siegel, which graduated two of the top players in the county a season ago, picked up its first 7-AAA win earlier this week. The Stars traditionally play a faster-paced contest. However, the next night the Warriors will have to be ready for a half-court game with Oakland and stopping post players in Ricky Dunnaway and Jarrell Reeves.
Oakland coach Mike Wright, whose team plays at Smyrna today (WUXP-30, 7:30 p.m.) said the biggest obstacle teams face this weekend is lack of preparation time for the Saturday contest.
"You have to go get ready for your (Friday) opponent, then on Saturday morning start preparing them for the next game," Wright said. "It's a quick turnaround. Physically, we're in shape. Playing the two games isn't as big of an issue."
Wright believes this weekend will go a long way in determining the league frontrunners.
"I think some things will shake out this weekend," he said. "I think it will give everybody an idea of where they stand. But as long as I've been doing this, I can't remember being in a district that has been as balanced as this from top to bottom."
Part of the reason for the parity is the number of starters that graduated. Defending Class AAA state champion Blackman is playing with four new starters. Siegel lost several key personnel due to graduation.
La Vergne (12-7, 2-2) graduated its entire starting lineup, which included four three-year starters. And junior center Quinton Armstrong, who had been the team's second leading scorer and leading rebounder, moved to Michigan during the holidays.
"He was playing around 23 minutes a game," La Vergne coach Jeremy Moore said. "We have guys to give those minutes, but we've had to re-define the roles. We're struggling with that and finding our identity of our team without him."
Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.
(All games start at 6 p.m.)
Stewarts Creek at La Vergne
Oakland at Smyrna*
Riverdale at Siegel
Eagleville at MTCS
Central Magnet at Cannon Co.
*WUXP-30, WGNS (1450-AM, 100.5-FM)