We are about three or four games of high school basketball into 2016. After Christmas in the dead of winter is just when things heat up. Here comes the stretch, a team’s fate will rise or fall.
So with about a month left before the district tournament, here is a look at the local teams in Division I Class AAA teams in District 11: Independence, Franklin, Centennial, Ravenwood, Summit and Brentwood.
There is so much to cover, we are going to split this into two different posts, one for girls and one for boys. We will put up the boys hoops Class AAA post tomorrow.
Lots is happening with girls roundball. Someone in District 11 finally gave Dickson County a loss. And coming up on Friday third place Centennial heads to second place Ravenwood for one of the biggest games yet this season.
Girls Hoops
Dickson County, at 16-3 (5-1 in District 11), has a lead over Ravenwood for first place.
The Raptors are 15-5 overall and 4-1 in district. Last Friday (the 8th) they lost by 19 at Dickson in the first meeting between the two this year. The fight for the first seed in the district tournament, from which the top four finishers advance to regional play, may come down to one of the last games of the season: the Cougars come to Ravenwood on February 2.
Putting up about 12 points per game, Kiera Downey leads a Ravenwood squad that averages 49 points per game, while holding opponents to about 39.
On Friday night the Raptors hosted Summit in the first meeting between the two this season. They won 54-41, leading by 15 after three quarters.
A tough stretch is coming, as district play is starting up in full force. On Tuesday the Raptors head to Franklin and on Friday host Centennial.
Speaking of the Cougars, at 15-2 (3-2 in district), they are currently in third place in District 11. They score the most points per game in the district, at 51, and allow about 39. lost to Ravenwood by 9 on Dec. 8 and on Jan. 5 lost to Dickson 60-49.
On Friday night hosting Franklin, the Centennial came out on top in a defensive battle, winning 34-30 in overtime. Coming up this week Centennial goes to Brentwood for the first time this year and then to Ravenwood for a rematch.
The Lady Rebels, at 9-9 overall and 2-3 in District 11 are in fourth place. Franklin is 2-3 in 2016, beating Brentwood 38-31 on Tuesday. After hosting Ravenwood on Tuesday, they head to Independence on Friday, who they beat back in December 46-39.
The Bruins might have pulled off the upset of the season on Friday night. It did not look like Dickson County was going to lose again all year, let alone in District 11. But the now 7-9 (2-3) Bruins traveled to the Cougars and in a hostile gym pulled off a 45-42 upset and fought off a comeback after leading by 13 at the half.
The Bruins leading scorers this year are Abby Shealy (10.8 ppg), Taylor Sexton (8.9 ppg) and Cameron Courage (8 ppg).
On Tuesday Centennial comes to BHS and then Page comes on Saturday.
Summit, at 7-10 (2-3) is in sixth place in the district. Last week they beat Franklin but lost to Centennial 50-40 on Tuesday. Next up for the Spartans is Independence, coming up on Tuesday.
The Eagles girls basketball team is having a tough year. At 4-15 (0-5) they are in last place. In the last week and a half they lost to Brentwood, Ravenwood, Dickson County and on Friday night Oakland, 63-35.
But they get into a groove in the next few weeks, seeing district opponents for the second time. If they could play a little tighter defense (giving up 49 points per game) close games might swing their way: in the Overton Christmas Classic Tournament the lady Eagles lost to Hillsboro 44-48 and Antioch 47-48 after beating Overton 55-28. It must be encouraging , and speaks to the level of competition in Class AAA District 11, that the last place team in the district came within 6 points of going undefeated at a major local tournament.
Please join our FREE Newsletter
