Basketball Edition 2020-2021

GREAT EXPECTATIONS 2020-21 BASKETBALL EDITION

INSIDE: Season previews, rosters, schedules for all Greene County teams

Loaded Greeneville Boys, North Greene Girls Eye State Tourney Berths

THIS EDITION IS A PRODUCT OF THE GREENEVILLE SUN AND GREENEVILLESUN.COM

Page 2 • THE

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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2020-21 COMPOSITE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

November, 23-28

North Greene at West Greene

West Greene at Hardee’s Classic North Greene (Boys) at Hardee’s Classic South Greene (Boys) at Hardee’s Classic North Greene (Girls) at Pigeon Forge Thanksgiving Tournament South Greene (Girls) at Food City Thanksgiving Tournament

Tuesday, December 15

Monday, November 30

Friday, December 18

Northview Academy at North Greene

Greeneville vs. Alcoa (at Webb) KACHEA at Chuckey-Doak (Boys) David Crockett at South Greene

Tuesday, December 1 Greeneville at Morristown East Providence Academy at Chuckey-Doak South Greene at David Crockett West Greene at Washburn

Grainger at Chuckey-Doak Cherokee at West Greene

Friday, January 15 Claiborne at Greeneville Chuckey-Doak at South Greene Hampton at North Greene West Greene at Cumberland Gap

Saturday, December 19

North Greene at Cedar View Christian Volunteer at West Greene

Monday, December 21

Friday, December 4

Hampton at Chuckey-Doak

South Greene at North Greene

Tuesday, December 8

December 26-31 Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic Greeneville (Boys) at Arby’s Classic

Tuesday, January 5

Knoxville Catholic at Greeneville (Girls)

Greeneville at Cumberland Gap South Greene at West Greene

Cumberland Gap at Chuckey-Doak North Greene at University High Grainger at South Greene West Greene at Claiborne

Saturday, December 12

Thursday, January 7

Tuesday, January 19

Tuesday, February 9

Jefferson Countya at Greeneville Chuckey-Doak at Providence Academy North Greene at Sullivan North Washburn at West Greene

West Greene at Greeneville North Greene at Hampton Claiborne at South Greene

Thursday, January 21 Grainger at Greeneville

Monday, January 25 Tuesday, January 26 Greeneville at South Greene West Greene at Chuckey-Doak

Thursday, January 28 University High at North Greene

Friday, January 29

Friday, January 8

Chuckey-Doak at Cumberland Gap South Greene at Grainger Claiborne at West Greene

Chuckey-Doak at Greeneville North Greene at Cloudland West Greene at Grainger

Monday, December 14

Tuesday, January 12

Dobyns-Bennett at Greeneville

Greeneville at West Greene

Monday, February 8 Morristown East at Greeneville

Friday, February 12 Greeneville at Claiborne South Greene at Chuckey-Doak Unaka at North Greene Cumberland Gap at West Greene

Monday, February 15 Chuckey-Doak at Hampton West Greene at North Greene

North Greene at Northview Academy

South Greene at Lakeway Christian West Greene at Clinch

Greeneville (Boys) vs. Buckhorn, Ala. (at Science Hill)

Greeneville at Chuckey-Doak Sullivan North at North Greene Grainger at West Greene

West Greene at Volunteer

Claiborne at Chuckey-Doak North Greene at Unaka South Greene at Cumberland Gap

Thursday, December 10

Friday, February 5

Saturday, February 6

Friday, January 22

South Greene at Greeneville Chuckey-Doak at West Greene Hancock County at North Greene

Cumberland Gap at Greeneville Chuckey-Doak at Grainger North Greene at Cloudland West Greene at South Greene

Greeneville at Daniel Boone North Greene at Tri-Cities Christian South Greene at Hampton West Greene at Cherokee

KACHEA at Chuckey-Doak (Boys)

Monday, January 4

Tuesday, February 2

Monday. January 18

December 28

Greeneville at Jefferson County Happy Valley at Chuckey-Doak North Greene at Hancock County Hampton at South Greene

Friday, December 11

Lakeway Christian at South Greene

Chuckey-Doak at North Greene

Thursday, December 3

Saturday, December 5

Thursday, January 14

Thursday, December 17

Greeneville at Webb North Greene (Boys) at Oneida Christmas Tournament South Greene (Boys) at Big H Christmas Bash

Greeneville at Grainger Chuckey-Doak at Claiborne Cumberland Gap at North Greene Clinch at West Greene

North Greene at Chuckey-Doak South Greene at Claiborne

Saturday, January 30 Greeneville at Dobyns-Bennett North Greene at South Greene

On The Cover Greeneville boys basketball coach Brad Woolsey talks with Reid Satterfield during a Class 2A sectional win over Fulton last season. ... North Greene girls basketball coach James Buchanan coaches against Greenfield during the Class A state tournament at Middle Tennessee State University last season.

Thursday, November 26, 2020 • THE

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Page 3

2020-21 CHUCKEY-DOAK GIRLS BASKETBALL

New Coach, Lady Black Knights Look For Improvement

BY TATE RUSSELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR The Chuckey-Doak girls basketball team went through a big change in the offseason when longtime coach Beth Frye decided to retire and take an assistant coaching job at Walters State, but the Lady Black Knights did not have to look far to find a replacement.

Lisa Darnell, who was Frye’s assistant for 18 seasons, took over as the Lady Black Knights head coach during the offseason and now looks to build on the successes the program experienced under Frye.

“I love basketball, but the main reason I took the job is because I didn’t want the girls to have to go through another change,” Darnell said. “With COVID being here this year, they have had to deal with so much.

This year has been challenging and I hope that I can give them a little stability.

“This has been an adjustment for me. I do miss coach Frye, but I would like to continue that tradition that she built. I hope that we can make it better and stronger than it’s ever been.”

Taking over a program during a pandemic has only added to the challenges facing the first time head coach, but the Lady Knights are handling the limited offseason and tremendous uncertainty of the upcoming season as best as they can.

“This has been a difficult offseason,” Darnell said.

2020-21 CHUCKEY-DOAK LADY BLACK KNIGHTS

“We are taking temperatures daily and doing those symptom questionnaires.

Then we have to figure out contact tracing if there is an issue. It has become our new normal, and we are adjusting and hoping for the best.

“We haven’t been able to do much work over the summer. We haven’t been able to condition how we normally would, and there will be some adjustments to make early in the season.”

The last two seasons have been difficult for the Lady Knights as they have won a combined four games, but they are optimistic about improving on that win total

this season.

The Lady Knights will rely on a pair of talented senior post players in Gabby Carter and Earendia Davis.

Each one brings something a little bit different to the position.

Carter is a 6-footer who will force opposing players to make adjustments every time they enter the lane, while Davis is a crafty scorer who can find the bottom of the net despite being undersized.

“Those two are going to be very important this year,” Darnell said. “With how limited the offseason has been we did not get much conditioning in,

and that may dictate how effective they are early in the year.

“They both bring strong qualities, but they also bring different qualities that complement each other.

I think that combination should be important for us.”

Because of their experience, Darnell wants to play through the post this season. She hopes that as Carter and David draw defensive attention they can open things up for their younger teammates on the perimeter.

“I’m hoping that the playing time they were forced into as underclassmen will help them now that they are

more experienced,” Darnell said. “We are going to need them to step up because we do have a lot of younger girls that we are going to need them to help along.”

Chuckey-Doak’s third senior is Carolina Martin. She played as a freshman and is now rejoining the team.

Darnell will count on her to be another strong leader for Chuckey-Doak.

The Lady Knights have two juniors in sisters Hannah and Breanna Roberts.

Hannah will be one of Chuckey-Doak’s top outside shooters while both can play key roles because of their varied skill sets. After Carter and Davis, the sisters

will be the Lady Knights’ most effective rebounders, and they can also defend on the perimeter.

Point guard Taliah Ealey is back for her sophomore season, and after learning the position as a freshman Darnell thinks the speedster can take a big step in her development this year.

“Tahlia will be our point guard again,” Darnell said.

“She never played point guard in elementary school or middle school, and that was an adjustment for her.

I think her game has grown a lot. She is very athletic, and she only has one speed, SEE LADY KNIGHTS ON PAGE 7

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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2020-21 CHUCKEY-DOAK BOYS BASKETBALL

Knights Trying To Get Grip On Bizarre Year

BY TATE RUSSELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Coming into what might be the most unusual season he has ever faced, Chuckey-Doak boys basketball coach Sam Broyles has no idea what to expect in the 2020-21 campaign.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions the Black Knights were able to do almost no team work over the summer, And when restrictions were lightened, many Black Knights were already working with football, and then quarantines have limited availability once practice resumed at the first of November.

Broyles was even quick to mention on top of all the other challenges coming into the season, the Chuckey-Doak community lost revered coach Ray “Teedee” Maupin in recent weeks, which was just another blow.

“This has been like nothing that I’ve ever been a part of,” Broyles said. “We’re dealing with a problem that is all over the world. We’ve had it pretty tough here, and I have had several kids out in the preseason.

“This really is a scary time. We don’t know if we are going to get to play, and then will it be like football where we miss every other week? The biggest difference for us is we’re going to be inside now, and who knows how that will go?

Then to make things worse we lose coach Maupin right before the season starts.”

2020-21 CHUCKEY-DOAK BLACK KNIGHTS

The Chuckey-Doak boys will not take the floor until Dec. 1, because with so few practices together Broyles does not think his team will be ready until then.

“The teams that have more experience are going to benefit this year. You don’t have much time to work together so if you bring back guys that have worked together you have an advantage, at least early,” Broyles said. “You may have to be moving kids up and down from J.V. and varsity all year, just not knowing who is going to be available is going to be a challenge.”

The Black Knights are coming off of a tough season where they went 8-21 but were within 10 points in

13 of those losses.

Chuckey-Doak’s top returner is senior swingman Tyler Ramsey. The 6-foot-2 wing can do a little bit of everything on offense, and will be counted on to carry much of the scoring load this season. On defense his length makes him a tough perimeter defender.

“Tyler is going to be crucial this year,” Broyles said. “Just being able to keep everybody up through this time is going to be very important. He is a guy that is a good shooter, a good scorer, and we are going to count on him.”

Kameron Yost is also a returning senior at the guard spot. Chuckey-Doak will count on him to handle much of the ball-handling

duties.

What Broyles likes most about his senior guards is that they both play at full speed all the time, and the Knights will need that kind of effort with a tough District 2-2A slate in front of them.

“This is a group that plays hard, and they will give you everything they have,” Broyles said. “That is something you love as a coach. We know we have some teams in our district like Greeneville, Grainger and South Greene that have some good players back. We are going to have to step up on defense to handle those teams.”

In the paint, Chuckey-Doak brings back senior Eli Beddingfield as a physical

presence on the block, but he has not played or practiced basketball since March, and Broyles expects it to take some time for him to transition from football.

Broyles does think his post rotation has the ability to challenge opponents this season. Joining the physical Beddingfield is 6-6 freshman Christian Derry, who could be another force in the paint.

Hayden Anderson is a long athlete who shined with the junior varsity last year and is now poised to play a bigger role in the varsity rotation. He can run the floor and will pose matchup problems for many opposing post players.

Wesley Bowers is a 6-4 sophomore that Broyles

also expects to be a contributor down low after becoming bigger and stronger in the offseason.

Drake Cox is the Black Knights’ final senior. He transferred from David Crockett last year and had to play on the junior varsity team. Now fully eligible, Broyles thinks he is in position to take on an important role on the perimeter.

Sophomore Cadin Tullock and Roberto Vazquez, a junior, will compete for minutes at the point guard spot, but Broyles needs to see both in live action to get a better feeling about who he can count on in crunch time.

Jaylen Willett, Kendall SEE KNIGHTS ON PAGE 7

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2020-21 GREENEVILLE BOYS BASKETBALL

Greene Devils Looking Forward, Not Back 17.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game while SPORTS EDITOR being named all-state a year The Greeneville Greene ago.

Devils worked their tails Gillespie, a 6-1 junior off last season only to be swingman, averaged 14.8 robbed of the ultimate goal of points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.3 playing in the state tournaassists. ment when the tourney was “For us offensively, it’s just wiped out by the coronavirus about us taking good shots,” pandemic.

Woolsey said. “The guys we It hurt like heck. And have coming back should while the Devils have every be able to do that well. That right to be bitter, Greeneville should be a strength for us.” coach Brad Woolsey thinks Gillespie is one of seven his team has moved on as football players who hadn’t another season has gotten joined the basketball team underway. through last week due to “I think these kids just like Greeneville’s deep postseaplaying so much that they son run on the gridiron. probably aren’t even thinking Gillespie has been a major about the fact they didn’t get contributor to Greeneville’s to finish last year,” Woolsey football success as a receiver, said. “I think they’re thinking catching 16 passes for 281 it’s just time to play again as yards and three touchdowns opposed to thinking about through the Greene Devils’ what they missed out on.” second-round win at AnderGreeneville went 26-6 son County on Nov. 13. overall, 12-0 in District 2-2A, On a few of Gillespie’s throttled Grainger 76-46 catches, he has outjumped in the district tournament defenders for the ball. championship game, ran “Kobi has continued to get past Sullivan South 87-70 in stronger physically,” Woolsey the Region 1-2A championsaid. “You watch him on ship game and outgunned the football field and you Fulton 97-84 in the Class 2A can see where the plays he’s sectional. making out there could very Just how hot were the easily translate to even more Greene Devils heading into success for him on the bastheir first state tournament ketball court. We’re hoping since 2014? They had reeled that’s going to hold true.” off nine straight mostly lopConnor DeBusk, a 5-9 sided wins, and they had won senior, returns at point guard 20 of their final 22 games. after averaging 7.8 points, “I’m sure if the guys start 3.3 rebounds and five assists thinking about tournament last season. time, they’re thinking, ‘Let’s While Greeneville appears do this again. Let’s get down to have plenty of offense, the road and actually get to they must figure out how enjoy it this time,’” Woolsey to replace graduated center added. “But I think right now Austin Loven. At 6-4, Loven they’re just happy to be on was the Greene Devils’ leader the floor again.” on the defensive end.

Greeneville returns the The heir apparent to Loven bulk of its roster from last is Terry Grove, a 6-4 junior season, including leading who averaged 4.2 points and scorers Reid Satterfield and 2.8 rebounds while averaging Jakobi Gillespie.

Satterfield, a 6-foot-3 SEE DEVILS ON PAGE 7 junior swingman, averaged

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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LADY KNIGHTS

KNIGHTS

DEVILS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

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which is go.

“I think if we can get her to play hard when we want her to, and to back off when we want her to it will help her a lot.”

Helping with the ball-handling duties will be a pair of freshmen in Bri Lowe and Anna Lee Seaton. Darnell likes the talent both possess, but knows competing at the varsity level will be an adjustment.

Sophomore Lexi Hensley missed much of last year with an injury, but is back and healthy heading into this season.

The Lady Knights also have freshmen Hayleigh Hensley, Kylie Malone and Hayleigh Taylor. Darnell thinks all will contribute this season.

Barner and Wade Fletcher are all junior guards who bring athleticism to the lineup, but they do not have much experience in varsity action.

Freshmen Brock Rush, Luke Myers and Isaiah Treadway might also get varsity opportunities this season.

Broyles expects all of his player to see important minutes this season, and feels depth will be even more valuable as teams try to navigate illness, quarantines and contact tracing.

13 minutes of playing time last season. He also blocked eight shots.

“Austin was a great communicator who played his butt off all the time,” Woolsey said. “Of the guys coming back this year, Terry would be the guy to take on that role. He’s not as good of a communicator at this point as Austin was, but he can do it and he kind of gets into that mode sometimes. And he has some really good defensive instincts and does the things you have to do as a big man.”

Bradley Wells, a 6-4 junior, and Avery Collins, a 6-2 senior, will be counted on to defend the paint and grab rebounds off the bench.

Trey Mayes, a 5-10 senior swingman, is a candidate for Greeneville’s fifth starting spot. He averaged 2.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and an assist in 11 minutes a game last season.

Adjatay Dabbs, a 6-1 sophomore guard, could be a scorer on the rise for Greeneville. In just six minutes a game last season, he averaged 2.4 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

CHUCKEY-DOAK LADY BLACK KNIGHTS No. 1 3 5 10 11 12 14 20 21 22 23 24

Name Earendia Davis Anna Lee Seaton Hayleigh Taylor Tahlia Ealey Carolina Martin Bri Lowe Kylie Malone Hannah Roberts Lexi Hensley Gabby Carter Breanna Roberts Hayleigh Hensley

LADY BLACK NIGHTS 2020-21 SCHEDULE

Grade Sr. Fr. Fr. So. Sr. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. Sr. Jr. Fr.

(Home games in CAPS) Dec. 1 PROVIDENCE ACADEMY Dec. 4 at Claiborne Dec. 8 at West Greene Dec. 11 CUMBERLAND GAP Dec. 15 GRAINGER Dec. 17 at North Greene Dec. 21 HAMPTON Dec. 26-31 Ladies Classic at Greeneville Jan. 4 HAPPY VALLEY Jan. 8 at Greeneville Jan. 12 NORTH GREENE Jan. 15 at South Greene Jan. 19 at Providence Academy Jan. 22 CLAIBORNE Jan. 26 WEST GREENE Jan. 29 at Cumberland Gap Feb. 2 at Grainger Feb. 5 GREENEVILLE Feb. 12 SOUTH GREENE Feb. 15 at Hampton

CHUCKEY-DOAK BLACK KNIGHTS

No. 44 42 40 34 30 25 24 22 20 15 14 12 5 4 3 2

Name Hayden Anderson Wesley Bowers Christian Derry Eli Beddingfield Isaiah Treadway Wade Fletcher Luke Myers Jaylen Willett Tyler Ramsey Ethan Grindstaff Kendall Barner Roberto Vazquez Brock Rush Cadin Tullock Drake Cox Kameron Yost

Grade Jr. So. Fr. Sr. Fr. Jr. Fr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Fr. So. Sr. Sr.

GREENEVILLE GREENE DEVILS No. 2 3 4 5 11 12 22 23 24 33 34 35

Name Connor DeBusk Jakobi Gillespie Adjatay Dabbs Reid Satterfield Jackson Tillery Reid Cannon Jayquan Price Terry Grove Keelen Lester Bradley Wells Avery Collins Trey Mayes

Grade Sr. Jr. So. Jr. Jr. Sr. So. Jr. Jr. Jr. Sr. Sr.

GREENE DEVILS 2020-21 SCHEDULE BLACK NIGHTS 2020-21 SCHEDULE

(Home games in CAPS) Dec. 1 PROVIDENCE ACADEMY Dec. 4 at Claiborne Dec. 8 at West Greene Dec. 11 CUMBERLAND GAP Dec. 15 GRAINGER Dec. 17 at North Greene Dec. 18 KACHEA Dec. 21 HAMPTON Dec. 28 KACHEA Jan. 4 HAPPY VALLEY Jan. 8 at Greeneville Jan. 12 NORTH GREENE Jan. 15 at South Greene Jan. 19 at Providence Academy Jan. 22 CLAIBORNE Jan. 26 WEST GREENE Jan. 29 at Cumberland Gap Feb. 2 at Grainger Feb. 5 GREENEVILLE Feb. 12 SOUTH GREENE Feb. 15 at Hampton

(Home games in CAPS) Dec. 1 at Morristown East Dec. 4 at Grainger Dec. 8 SOUTH GREENE Dec. 12 Buckhorn (Ala.) at Science Hill Dec. 14 DOBYNS-BENNETT Dec. 18 vs. Alcoa at Knox Webb Dec. 19 at Knox Webb Dec. 26-31 Arby’s Classic at Tennessee High Jan. 4 at Jefferson County Jan. 5 at Cumberland Gap Jan. 8 CHUCKEY-DOAK Jan. 12 at West Greene Jan. 15 CLAIBORNE Jan 18 at Daniel Boone Jan. 19 JEFFERSON COUNTY Jan. 21 GRAINGER Jan. 26 at South Greene Jan. 30 at Dobyns-Bennett Feb. 2 CUMBERLAND GAP Feb. 5 at Chuckey-Doak Feb. 8 MORRISTOWN EAST Feb. 9 WEST GREENE Feb. 12 at Claiborne

Page 8 • THE

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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2020-21 GREENEVILLE GIRLS BASKETBALL

Young Lady Devils Hope To Build On Success

BY SAM BUNDY SPORTS EDITOR Like any talented young team, the Greeneville Lady Greene Devils had ups and downs a year ago.

There were nights when they beat teams they probably shouldn’t have, and there were nights when they couldn’t figure things out and wound up with lopsided losses.

All in all, though, the Lady Devils turned heads with a 19-14 overall record and a 9-3 mark in District 2-2A. The positives far outweighed the negatives, and Greeneville coach Annette Watts is hoping to build on that momentum.

“I love how hard this group plays, how excited they are playing with each other. They just get so happy for each other when somebody does something good,” Watts said. “I like this bunch because they want every day to be the best. They buy into today being better than yesterday, and I think that’s why we were successful last year.

“We beat some people we weren’t supposed to beat because they believe in the process, they believe in each other, they believe in the coaching staff. They’re going to go hard and give you all they’ve got.”

Greeneville graduated two seniors and have none on this year’s roster. In fact, the Lady Devils only have two juniors – point guard Delana DeBusk and shooting guard Grace

2020-21 GREENEVILLE LADY GREENE DEVILS

Hayes. After that, they’re a sophomore-heavy bunch.

“Delana has to run us.

We go as she goes. She’s definitely our floor general,” Watts said. “And Grace knows she has to be a vocal part of things this year.”

DeBusk averaged 8.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game last season, while Hayes averaged 6.8 points and 2.3 rebounds.

DeBusk was late joining the team after helping Greeneville’s girls soccer team to its second straight Class 2A state championship this fall.

“I like what I’ve seen from Delana so far. She’s driving the lane a little more this year and finishing strong at the basket,” Watts said.

“Being in the weight room has really helped her. She’s

stronger and just as quick as she has been, and she’s probably more hungry than ever. She likes going to Murfreesboro and winning championships.”

Hayes battled through sort of a sophomore slump last season. Watts says Hayes is “Incredibly smart,” which might have actually been a detriment at times.

“If a player doesn’t start the season the way they think they should, they sometimes overthink the game,” Watts said. “Grace is very analytical. She wants to figure things out. …

There were times last year that she wasn’t looking to shoot because I think she got it in her head a little that scoring wasn’t her job.

But scoring is everybody’s job.

“Everybody has to score

six, eight, 10 points for us to be able to win. We can’t have one show pony.

We have to have a team of workhorses.”

Sophomore swingman Lauren Bailey averaged 16.5 points, six rebounds and 2.4 assists last year. While the Lady Devils will certainly look to her for points again this season, Watts says it’s just as important – if not more so – for Bailey to contribute heavily on the defensive end.

“Lauren has continued to get better defensively. Her goal was to get to where I wasn’t on her every second about defense. You know, ‘Lauren, I don’t care if you’re scoring 20, if you’re giving up 25 we lose,’” Watts said with a chuckle.

“In practice so far, she’s been where she needs to be

Greeneville’s other starters.

“I’ve seen lots of good things from Chloe,” Watts said. “She has gotten stronger. She’s grown taller.

She’s still an undersized post, but gosh she does all the dirty work well.

“Lindy will play a stretch forward. Her shooting has come a long way. She has to understand she has to score because Lauren has to have some help. We’ve got to find more scoring.”

Sophomores Tambryn Ellenburg (2.9 ppg) and Delaina Martin (1.6 ppg), and freshman Anna Shaw are expected to contribute.

“Anna is all go,” Watts said. “She’ll relieve Delana at the point. And if I need both of them in the game for ball handling, she can on defense. Very aggressive, play the two guard as well. but smart.

She’s exciting to watch.”

“We’re calling on her to Watts sees the usual be a much bigger rebound- suspects — Grainger and er this year. We know the South Greene — at the scoring is going to be there top of District 2-2A and from her, but the rebound- Elizabethton as a team to ing has got to be there for watch in Region 1-2A. But us to have a lot of success.” the toughest opponent for Bailey, one of the best Greeneville, or any team for perimeter shooters in East that matter, might be the Tennessee, has also been coronavirus pandemic. working on taking the ball “We know there are going to the basket. to be bumps in the road, “We’re trying to get her some ups and downs (with to the hoop, trying to get the virus),” Watts said. “I her to drive the ball a little just want the kids and our more,” Watts said. “She’s fans to stay healthy and a good free throw shooter. safe. I hate if you have sick And if you get fouled on the people it counts as a loss, way to the basket, you get a but there is no other way to defender in foul trouble and do it. You have to keep the maybe get them out of the schedule moving. You could game.” never get everything made Sophomores Lindy Carter up.”

(7.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Chloe SEE LADY DEVILS ON PAGE 15 Marsh (6.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg) are

Thursday, November 26, 2020 • THE

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Page 9

2020-21 NORTH GREENE GIRLS BASKETBALL

Loaded Lady Huskies Taking Nothing For Granted

BY TATE RUSSELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR The North Greene girls are coming off a trip to the Class A State Tournament and are returning almost the entire roster, but the Lady Huskies enter the 2020-21 campaign knowing nothing is guaranteed.

“I think the girls know what we are capable of, but I try to remind them what could have happened last year,” North Greene coach James Buchanan said. “We played a barn burner with Cloudland in the district championship game. If that goes differently we might have to go to Cosby in the region. That is always a hard place to play.

“Things bounced in our favor last year, but we are well aware that things could have been different.

It was not like we breezed our way to Murfreesboro.

We had to win some close ones. We know we are not a shoo-in to go back, and the girls have been putting in the time and effort to try to duplicate last year.”

North Greene returns all five starters and its top two bench players from its state tournament run. Among those are All-State center Brooklyn Anderson, 2020 Region 1-A Tournament MVP Haleigh Bernard and 2019 District 1-A Tournament MVP Breezy Savage.

Having so much experience back will be very important to the Lady Huskies who have been limited in the preseason due to COVID-19 restrictions.

2020-21 NORTH GREENE LADY HUSKIES

The Lady Huskies missed out on most of the work they would normally get in during the summer, and since practice began at the beginning of November Buchanan’s pool of available players has dwindled because of quarantines. But Buchanan expects many teams will have similar issues all season, as positive cases and close contacts continue to grow, and he thinks teams will have to be prepared to mix up their lineups.

“We may have a little bit of an advantage because we have so much of our rotation back,” Buchanan said.

“They were all here last year and we haven’t changed what we are going to do that much. I know a lot of teams don’t have that luxury. But still it has been tough to get everybody here at practice at the same time, and you may see some rust early.”

The Lady Huskies’ two senior starters, Savage and Bernard, have been hugely important in the preseason and will be important in leading North Greene through what could be a tumultuous season.

Bernard is a forward who can do a little bit of everything on the offensive end of the floor. She will be one of North Greene’s best perimeter shooters while also having the ability to be an athletic mismatch on the block.

Savage is a veteran point guard who will be counted on to direct the offense while being a pest on the defensive end of the floor.

“Those two have already been important to us,” Buchanan said. “In our practices I can put something in, and immediately those two are helping the younger players along. It has been a blessing that I

son rotation most nights, but this year Buchanan thinks it is likely that he will have to go deeper into the lineup as players are held out because of coronavirus precautions.

“We talked about it in practice, and you always tell them they have to be ready to be called on, but when you are No. 15 on a roster of 15 you pretty much know you are not being called on,” Buchanan said. “This year you may get two in foul trouble, one with a bloody nose and six in quarantine.

Then No. 15 might have to play some big minutes.

“We have tried to emphasize that, and told the girls have two seniors that have them both to make plays it’s not just about effort, but played that many minutes. when called upon. attentiveness in practice.”

Not only have they played, The Lady Huskies’ top One thing several membut they have played major two bench players from a bers of his team have done minutes in big-time games, year ago are back as well. to make sure they do not get and they have turned in Junior Hailee Englsih is one held out because of contract some tremendous perforof the team’s top shooters tracing is they have chosen mances in those games.” and can come into the to become virtual learners North Greene’s top game and be an instant instead of attending school returning player might be offensive spark. Sophomore in person. Since they will Anderson, a junior who was Sonya Wagner is someone not be in the school buildselected to the Tennessee who Buchanan thinks can ing, a classmate testing Sports Writers Association’s become an elite scorer positive for the virus will Class A All-State team last while also adding some size not impact whether those year after averaging 12.7 and strength to the guard players will be able to take points and 11.5 rebounds rotation. the court. per game. Her size and “Hailee has elevated “A lot of my kids have strength will frustrate most her game to the point to chosen to go virtual,” Buteam’s on the Lady Huswhere I think she is one of chanan said. “If they are at kies’ schedule, while on the better shooters in our home, they are much less the defensive end she will area,” Buchanan said. “I likely to be sitting next to alter shots and swallow up think she has earned more someone who tests positive. rebounds. playing time. Then Sonya “We are in the education Also returning to the Wagner can be an explosive business first, and obviously starting lineup are junior scorer. She is making some in a class with a teacher is guards Shelby Davenport youthful mistakes, but her the best way to learn, but and Emily Britton. Both potential may exceed every- those families have made have started since they were body on the roster.” the decision they think is freshmen and Buchanan Last season the Lady SEE LADY HUSKIES ON PAGE 15 knows he can count on Huskies used a seven-per-

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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2020-21 NORTH GREENE BOYS BASKETBALL

Expectations High For Senior-Laden Huskies

BY TATE RUSSELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR The North Greene boys basketball team will rely on five seniors to lead it through what will likely be a tough District 1-A during what could be the most unusual season anyone has experienced.

Those seniors include guards Cayden Foulks, Chance Campbell and Carson Whaley, forward Kendall Loftis and center Shane Cooter.

“We are kind of lucky in the fact that we have five seniors that have played for me three years,” North Greene coach Sam Tarlton said. “This is the first time I have had a senior come all the way through.

“These guys know what I expect, and we aren’t going to be making any grand changes. We should be experienced and I think that can be an advantage early with as limited as the offseason has been.”

The Huskies are coming off a season in which they went 21-12 and finished tied at the top of District 1-A going into the postseason, but after falling in the district semifinals the Huskies saw their season end at Jellico in the first round of the Region 1-A Tournament.

Top scorer Turner Bailey is gone, but Tarlton thinks he has a core of players that can make up for those missing points as a group.

“We are going to try to replace those points by committee,” Tarlton said.

“Turner played great for

2020-21 NORTH GREENE HUSKIES

us last year, but I think we have experienced guys who have been through the fire who can get it done as a group. These guys are up for that challenge.”

The Huskies did not have much opportunity to work on team concepts over the offseason, due to COVID-19 restrictions, but they did put in a lot of time working on individual skills, and Tarlton has seen a lot of growth.

“We did a lot of individual skill development over the offseason,” Tarlton said.

“We worked developing each person individually as a player, and I think since we have started this fall we have seen some guys looking a lot better.”

Loftis will lead that group as a slashing forward who can get to the rim and finish as well as anyone in the

region. After working in the weight room Tarlton expects him to be more physical this year, and will count on him to even play minutes at the five spot at times.

“Kendall has really worked in the weight room this offseason and we are expecting big things out of him,” Tarlton said. “The biggest thing with Kendall is his mentality. He can’t settle for jumpers. His athleticism makes him a mismatch going to the basket. He just has decide to dominate.”

Campbell and Foulks are a pair of quick guards who can both shoot from the outside and will not be afraid to take the ball into traffic on the dribble. Foulks often handled the point guard duties last season.

Whaley has primarily

been an outside threat for the Huskies, but Tarlton expects him to expand his game in his senior campaign.

“All three of those guys are really shooting the ball well right now in practice,” Tarlton said. “What I really like about that group is that you won’t find three guys that play harder. Carson has grown in the offseason, he’s longer, and I expect a really good year defensively out of him. I think they are all poised for good senior years.”

Cooter will play a key roll for the Huskies this season as their only true post player. It will be important that he can stay on the floor, but Tarlton thinks some might be surprised with how he has expanded his game to spread out the defense.

“Shane is always going to

and he can handle the ball, which will make him a matchup problem every night.

Shultz is the younger brother of Lennart Shultz, who was a difference maker for South Greene in 201819.

“I think Shultz is going to be pretty good for us,” Tarlton said. “He is a big, strong kid. He’s about 6-foot-3 and shoots the ball extremely well. He kind of brings a physicality to our team that we need.”

Junior Cameron Breeden and freshman Jason Britton will be the next players off the bench for the Huskies and Tarlton thinks both have the potential to develop into quality players.

John Neal Grissinger guard the biggest guy on the is another junior, Dennis other team,” Tarlton said.

Malone is a sophomore and “We know our league is Sam English is freshman physical and those Greene who round out the roster.

County games are going to be physical, and he will be a Evan Starnes is a junior physical presence for us. He who the Huskies planned is the anchor of our defense, on being in the rotation, but he tore his ACL in the and I think you’ll see him preseason. use his 3-point shot a little Last season the Husmore. I think having a five kies finished on top of the that stretches the floor can District 1-A standings with help us a lot.”

Hampton, both at 8-2 in In addition to their five seniors, the Huskies will league play. Tarlton feels rely heavily on junior Cody like his team can be right Freshour and exchange stu- there again, but knows that dent Chriss Shultz. Tarlton University High and Unaka expects all seven to play will be looking to knock starters’ minutes regardless them off along with the of who takes the court first. Bulldogs.

Freshour is long and Knowing that the district athletic and can be counted is up for grabs, and knowon to lock down on defense. ing that because of the Tarlton is really high on coronavirus pandemic that what Shultz can add to his this season will be far from team as well. The German SEE HUSKIES ON PAGE 16 has good size, he can shoot

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Thursday, November 26, 2020 • THE

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Page 11

2020-21 SOUTH GREENE GIRLS BASKETBALL

After Losing Just One Senior, Lady Rebels Hopes High said. “We may not know until warmups on game day who will start. It does With seven players back make it hard for people to who were in the playing prepare for us. But we’ve rotation last year, coach got a lot of friendly compeStephen Gregg has high tition going on in practice, hopes for this year’s ediand that’s good because it tion of the South Greene keeps everybody focused.”

Lady Rebels.

With a normal schedule Coming off a 24-8 season that is loaded with good of a year ago, the tradicompetition, including tion-rich Rebels missed a district that is always out on a state tournament strong but may be exceptrip, losing in the regional tionally loaded this time semifinals to old nemesis around, Gregg knows come Grainger. Only one senior, March the team’s record Jalyn Casteel, graduated might not be indicative of off that team. how well they’ve played.

“It’s the first team I’ve “Our district is loaded,” had that never lost a game he said. “I think Grainger in the summer,” quipped is the favorite. We never Gregg with a smile. “Of figured them out last year. course we never won one, They swept us. Greeneville either.” is a year older. I think we The loss of summer can be in the mix, but we’ll camps and training is have to play well every a blow to all teams, the night.” coach said, but the biggest The three Rebel seniors thing is the freshmen each offer something never got a chance to really unique, Gregg noted. Kiley experience the speed of Collins, a 5-7 guard, might the high school game and garner the most attention see how different it is from from opponents’ scouting what they’ve been accusreports. tomed to.

“She’ll get a lot of atten“Our priority is the tion, no doubt,” he said. safety of the kids, always,” But we think Haley Kells Gregg said, speaking of the (5-7 guard) and Jaden COVID pandemic. “This Merriweather (5-8 post) season could be a tricky will take some of that focus one. There are no barriers off Collins because people in playing basketball … a know they can score, too.” lot of sweat and everybody Collins, Gregg said, is handling the ball.” one of the best set shooters With nine players on the he’s ever had. current roster, seven of “She’s got to shoot more them have playing experioff the move, and that’s ence at the varsity level. something we’ve worked “We are doing it day by on,” he said. “And she day, practice by practice, must finish her shots.” and I can’t say who the Kells, he added, is a starting five will be,” he streaky shooter who can

BY WAYNE PHILLIPS

SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS

2020-21 SOUTH GREENE LADY REBELS

fill it up from the wing position at times.

“She did a great job for us last year,” he said of Kells, who recently signed a track scholarship. “Her speed and leaping ability is a real asset.”

Merriweather is also a veteran and somebody the coach will look to for whatever position on the floor she’s needed.

“She battles hard in the paint, but we can throw her in there anywhere and she responds,” he said.

Addison Williams, a 5-9 junior, will be in the paint and will have to be counted on to excel at rebounding.

“We’ll still run our offense through the post, so she will have to get some touches,” he said. “She seems to be really focused this year, and we want her SEE LADY REBELS ON PAGE 16

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Page 12 • THE

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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2020-21 SOUTH GREENE BOYS BASKETBALL

Rebels’ Success Depends On Getting Shots To Fall

BY WAYNE PHILLIPS SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS The past two basketball campaigns for coach Terry Hoese at South Greene have been especially pleasing.

The Rebels chalked up 24 wins last year, the second most wins in a season that Hoese’s teams have claimed. Two years ago while they finished at 16-14 they won the district title with a 10-2 mark.

So will there be a rebuilding project underway this year out south of the river?

With five seniors back this year, and four of them starters at some point last year, it’s not like the cupboard has been completely cleaned out for the Rebels.

“We played with a lot of seniors last year and they clicked from the start,” Hoese said. “They just liked to play. Levi (Myers) went 100 miles per hour all the time and the rest of the team seemed to feed off him. Plus we had big Sully (Fox) inside, who was a game changer because he could defend the post and rebound.”

Fox was 6-6, and last year’s squad was huge compared to the size of this year’s team. That means a different style of play will be in the offering as the 202021 season begins.

“We’ll have to go back to the way we used to play,” Hoese grinned, “just go out there and shoot the ball.

We can shoot. If the team is having a good night, we can put up some points. If they’re not, well …”

Hoese has warned his

2020-21 SOUTH GREENE REBELS

players to enjoy every single day, every single practice, “because we don’t know what tomorrow will be like.”

He was obviously referring to the COVID outbreak and what it could mean for basketball programs over the coming months. Hoese can only hope his basketball team will be as fortunate as the football team, which was one of the few teams in East Tennessee to be able to play a full schedule this year.

“Not having a summer with the team, not being able to get the kids together as a team … it’s going to take a lot of time to get ready,” he said. “Plus most of our guys play football so they haven’t even been to the gym yet.”

While there are several returnees on the basketball roster, only two of them – Ty Bailey and Isaac Hoese – aren’t members of the highly successful football team which won a school record 12 games heading

into the state quarterfinals.

Seniors Aydan Hawk, Jay Higgiins, Preston Bailey and Ty Bailey all played often last year. The other senior is Isaac Hoese, the coach’s son.

With five seniors, five juniors and four sophomores on the roster, Hoese seems to have the program in gear to not have to go through a mammoth rebuilding campaign every other year or so, and that is a big thing at a smaller school.

Several of the returnees were certainly major contributors to last year’s 24-10 season.

Aydan Hawk, a 5-11 wing, had to sit out half of last year with a broken arm. But he will be counted on as a leader.

“Aydan is decent size and he shoots the ball really well,” Hoese said. “Plus he’s a smart player. He knows how to play the game. In fact, this entire group of boys are a bunch of smart kids who know how to

play.”

Preston Bailey is 5-10 who also shoots well from the perimeter and handles the ball well.

“Preston sees the floor as well as anybody we’ve got,” the coach said. “Plus he plays hard and loves to win.”

One of Ty Bailey’s, a 6-0 senior, biggest assets is he never seems to get tired.

“We practice for two hours and he plays the whole time and never lets up,” Hoese said. “He’s the type of kid that you love to coach. He will go in there and post up for us. He’ll be under sized most of the time, but he does a good job in there.”

Jay Higgins, a 5-11 senior, got in a lot of time last year and is another Rebel who goes hard from start to finish. The coach describes him as “a streaky shooter who can really go off sometimes when he gets on a roll.”

Isaac Hoese is only 5-11,

last year, but he’s strong and thick and will have to be counted on for some muscle. The same can be said for Luke Myers, who is also a junior at 5-11, and will be counted on to help in the paint “because he’s strong and can hold his own in there.”

The Rebels do have some size in a pair of sophomores, 6-5 Hayden Birdwell and 6-4 Andrew Thornburg, and until football is over they will have to play, even though both are inexperienced and are going through the learning process. but plays bigger than that Chandler Fillers, a 6-1 because of his long arms, junior, will play on both the his father said. He’s one of wing and in the post. He the team’s best shooters has shooting range and can and defends well “up top handle the ball. because of his length.”

Conner Marshall, a 5-9 sophomore; Hunter Toth, The point guard duties a 5-9 sophomore; and will be in the very capable hands of Clint Lamb, a 5-11 Hayden Hartman, a 5-11 junior, are all looking for senior who started in that playing time. slot last year.

“Really, this team is just “He has gotten taller and a bunch of athletes,” Hoese filled out quite a bit since last year,” Hoese said. “He’ll summed up. “They are not give you everything he’s got great basketball players, all the time. He’s left-hand- just athletes, and I like that a lot.” ed, which is a special little The coach figures Greentwist for a point guard. He sees the floor and is a great eville High might very well be one of the better teams, passer. Clint has played a not only in the district, but lot of basketball in a lot of in the state. Grainger was different places with his young last year but will be AAU team.” much improved this time The Rebels will probaaround. bly struggle early until the “Cumberland Gap and football players get the gym Claiborne always give sneakers on.

“We might go back to the people fits,” he said. “And old days of 5-in and 5-out,” watch West Greene. They had a freshmen group last Hoese laughed. “But we’ll have to play a lot of people.” year that was very strong Caleb Robinson is a 6-0 SEE REBELS ON PAGE 16 junior who didn’t play

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Page 13

2020-21 WEST GREENE GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lady Buffaloes Have Experience Under Their Belts

BY WAYNE PHILLIPS

WEST GREENE LADY BUFFALOES

SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS West Greene coach Betsy Shaw, starting her third season at the helm of the Lady Buffs, looks toward the upcoming season with hopes that the team will continue the improvement they’ve shown during her first two campaigns.

Only two players are gone from last year’s team – one graduated and one transferred to Michigan – so there will be more experience on this squad than the coach has had during her tenure at West Greene.

“I don’t feel we’re playing with just freshmen and sophomores now, like we did the past two years,” the coach said when talking about the current team of Lady Buffs.

“Experience should help us.

But we are behind in practice.

We normally use the summer to work on fundamentals.

We couldn’t do that this year (because of COVID), so we’re having to do some work now on the basics. There just isn’t enough time.”

While the summer was a waste because of COVID, the players were expected to work out on their own, and Coach Shaw says they should be in good physical shape.

“We’ve been running the hill (the streets behind West Greene High) for a long time now,” she said. “We’ve run with weights. If nothing else, we want to be able to get up and down the floor and not get tired. You have to be in shape to finish games.

The girls should be in shape now.”

Alison Davis graduated and

Name Grade Christianna Ricker Sr. Brooke Atchison Sr. Tayli Rader Jr. Megan Daniels Jr. Breanna Cloren Jr. Hailey Ripley So. Mara Reagan So. Taylor Lawson So. Breanna Ellis So. Kinsley Ellenburg So. Madi Brown So. Abbey Cox Fr. Alissa Lawson Fr. Courtnee Jones Fr. Laci Jordan Fr. Alyson Ball Fr. Megan Atchison Fr.

2020-21 WEST GREENE LADY BUFFALOES

Rianna Siders transferred, but the rest of last year’s roster returns, and they are now a year older with some playing time under their belts.

“We are still basically young, because we have only two seniors,” the coach said.

“We have several coming back this year who played for us during last season.”

Coach Shaw sees the improvement in her team, but she knows that it takes time.

“I can always commend them on how hard they play, because they do,” she said.

“We improved on turnovers, cutting them from 30 a game to 20. That’s still too many, but we are improving. Something we’ve been focusing on is how to finish a game. Last year we lost nine games by 11 points or less. We wanted to focus on not being tired in the fourth quarter, what to do when, what’s a good shot vs. a great shot. There’s a lot of little things. If we had won half of those we lost by 11 or

less, well …”

Senior Christianna Ricker returns after starting at point guard most of last year. She will be key to the offense.

Brooke Atchison is the other senior. She will also be looked upon for leadership.

Freshman Madi Brown made an immediate impact last year and showed she could score. In fact, her efforts during the year earned her an all-county berth Another freshman, Kinsley Ellenburg, also showed great promise in the post, but an ankle injury sidelined her for much of the second half of the year. She will be returning this year.

“After Kinsley got hurt, we didn’t have much of a post presence,” Coach Shaw said.

“We want that to change. We want the guards to distribute the ball more and play the inside-outside game.”

Tayli Rader did handle a lot of scoring inside the lane, and the coach wants the junior to get plenty of touches this

season.

“She’s a good passer, and she passed sometimes last year instead of shooting,” she grinned. “We want her to shoot it if she has the ball in the paint.”

Megan Daniels also returns for her junior year and was a regular last season.

“Megan sets the standard for hard work,” the coach said. “She might score 20, or she might score one bucket, but she would always work hard on defense for you.”

The Buffs often played a four-guard offense last year, especially when Ellenburg wasn’t playing. On defense, the team often played zone because the situations dictated that.

“I would much rather play man, but there is a time and place for zone so we had to go that route,” Shaw added.

Junior Breanna Cloran and sophomores Hailey Ripley, Mara Reagan, Taylor Lawson and Breanna Ellis are looking for playing time as well.

The Lady Buffs are stuck in what has proven over the years to be one of the toughest Class 2A districts in the state. This year will be no different, with Grainger, Greeneville and South Greene all expected to be strong clubs.

“We want to make the top tier teams prepare when they play us,” Shaw said. “We have some talent, too and we don’t care who we play. We’ll go out there with the mindset to win. We’re taking little steps each year and trying to improve every time out. We’ve worked on leadership. We need leaders. A lot of the girls have worked out on their own this summer, and for that I’m proud. We’re not together yet, because that takes time.

But we’ll get there.”

The Buffs open with a Hall of Fame game at Cocke County, then play game at Hampton and Sullivan South, so they should quickly know what areas need more focus.

LADY BUFFALOES 2020-21 SCHEDULE (Home games in CAPS) Nov. 24-28 – Hardee’s Classic at David Crockett Dec. 1 – at Washburn Dec. 3 – VOLUNTEER Dec. 4 – CLINCH Dec. 8 – CHUCKEY-DOAK Dec. 13 – at Claiborne Dec. 14 – at North Greene Dec. 15 – CHEROKEE Dec. 26-31 – Ladies Classic at Greeneville Jan. 5 – SOUTH GREENE Jan. 7 – at Clinch Jan. 8 – at Grainger Jan. 12 – GREENEVILLE Jan. 15 – at Cumberland Gap Jan. 18 – at Cherokee Jan. 19 – WASHBURN Jan. 26 – at Chuckey-Doak Jan. 29 – CLAIBORNE Feb. 2 – at South Greene Feb. 5 – GRAINGER Feb. 6 – at Volunteer Feb. 9 – at Greeneville Feb. 12 – CUMBERLAND GAP Feb. 15 – NORTH GREENE

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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2020-21 WEST GREENE BOYS BASKETBALL

Guard-Heavy Buffs Looking To Run The Floor gotten to play,” Coach Deal said. “Grainger was down a little but they’ll be back.

“I’m looking forward to the season, because this is a good, coachable bunch of boys who play hard, and we just might sneak up on a few people.”

BY WAYNE PHILLIIPS SPORTS EDITOR EMERITUS Jacob Deal begins his third season as coach of the West Greene Buffaloes, and from all indications the Buffs have more weapons with which to fight the battle than they’ve had in recent years.

Although lack of size could be an issue with some opponents, this West Greene squad does sport plenty of experience, an asset that the coach feels should help his team be competitive in the tough District 2-2A. “You can’t coach experience,” Deal said. “Last year we started with a lot of new people. The biggest thing was team chemistry. When you step out there with somebody you’ve not played with very much, you don’t know what you’re going to get.

But as the season went on, they began to settle in, and it showed down the stretch as we played much better.”

The team finished 2-10 in the league and 6-25 overall, but they floored one of the best junior varsity teams they’ve had in many years, and a lot of those JV youngsters put in valuable time on the varsity as well.

“The JV did have a good year, and a lot of them played double duty with the varsity, and not just in spot roles,” he added. “They contributed and put in some crucial minutes down the stretch. We’ve got a lot of those kids back, because we played about everybody on the roster last season.”

As most teams are continuing to struggle with the various problems that COVID

2020-21 WEST GREENE BUFFALOES

has posed for high school athletes, Coach Deal and his Buffs got started in basketball a week late because some of the players had been quarantined.

“We didn’t get to do anything this summer except work out on our own,” he said. “And then we get started in the fall a week late, and it’s tough. But it’s something we all have to deal with the best we can. I think everybody is just up in the air about how this season will pan out. One kid goes down (with COVID) and your whole team is out. But everybody is facing those same situations.”

The Buffs did lose three players from last year’s roster, but the number of returnees and the spunk they showed in the latter portions of the previous season gives West Greene faithful hope.

While his rotation was as many as 10 players last year, Deal hopes that he can settle on an eight or nine man

rotation this season.

“We are guard heavy,” he said. “There’s not much size, so we will play 90-foot basketball if we can.”

Leading the group of returnees are the top two scorers from the previous campaign, guards Allen Vaughn, a senior, and sophomore Ethan Turner.

“I don’t know who will lead our scoring,” Coach Deal noted. “Several could on occasion. I expect Vaughn and Turner to be scorers.

Turner had a good year as a freshman, and so did Leyton Frye and Braylan Rader.”

Jacob Stimmell, a senior, started most of the year at point guard, his third year handling the point position.

He is also a capable scorer, the coach said, and he might be moved to more of a “2 position” this year as Frye can also handle the point guard duties.

Deal said it was way too early to even decide on a starting lineup.

“It would be nice to settle on a starting five, but especially with things as they are right now, it’s nice to know that you can fill in some spots with other kids and not lose a whole lot. I know we want to get the ball in more people’s hands this year and isolate them where they can get their shots and play off their strengths.”

Vaughn, Stimmell, Trevor Pruitt and Kenton Cobble are the returning seniors, and all are expected to be very much in the team’s plans.

“We will play with three, four or sometimes five guards,” the coach said.

“Trevor is more of a true post, but is better suited as a ‘4,’ so we really don’t have a true ‘5’ on the entire roster.

Turner has grown some and has filled out more, and he was our best rebounder last year, so we expect him to do that again. He played football this year, too, and that helped him some. Cobble is the strongest kid we’ve got,

so he’ll have to mix it up in there.”

Not a big fan of zone defenses, Deal said that his team will likely have to play some zone, but the defense of choice is man-to-man.

“I think our opponents will try to do things to battle our team speed, because we do have some speed,” he said. “Our transition game is something we work on every day.”

Juniors Kaeden Williams and Ashton Williams, along with sophomores Austin Wampler, Ethan Banks and Drake McIntyre, will be looking for playing time. Three freshmen – Justin Fillers, Baxley Britton and Mason McCamey – will also be on the varsity roster.

Deal said he feels Greeneville will be the team to beat in the district this year, with Grainger and South Greene also looking strong.

“I thought Greeneville might have won the whole thing last year if they had

No. 1 2 3 4 5 10 12 13 20 21 22 23 24 30 32

WEST GREENE BUFFALOES

Name Grade Allen Vaughn Sr. Leyton Frye So. Kaeden Williams Jr. Kenton Cobble Sr. Jacob Stimmell Sr. Austin Wampler So. Braylan Rader So. Trevor Pruitt Sr. Ashton Williams Jr. Justin Fillers Fr. Baxley Britton Fr. Ethan Turner So. Mason McCamey Fr. Ethan Banks So. Drake McIntyre So.

BUFFALOES 2020-21 SCHEDULE

(Home games in CAPS) Dec. 1 – at Washburn Dec. 3 – VOLUNTEER Dec. 4 – CLINCH Dec. 8 – CHUCKEY-DOAK Dec. 13 – at Claiborne Dec. 14 –at North Greene Dec. 15 – CHEROKEE Dec. 19-22 – at Cherokee Christmas Bash Jan. 5 – SOUTH GREENE Jan. 7 – at Clinch Jan. 8 – at Grainger Jan. 12 – GREENEVILLE Jan. 15 – at Cumberland Gap Jan. 18 – at Cherokee Jan. 19 – WASHBURN Jan. 25 – SULLIVAN NORTH Jan. 26 – at Chuckey-Doak Jan. 29 – CLAIBORNE Feb. 2 – at South Greene Feb. 5 – GRAINGER Feb. 6 – at Volunteer Feb. 9 – at Greeneville Feb. 12 – CUMBERLAND GAP Feb. 15 – NORTH GREENE

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LADY DEVILS LADY HUSKIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

GREENEVILLE LADY DEVILS No. Name Grade 3 Tambryn Ellenburg So. 5 Grace Hayes Jr. 10 Lauren Bailey So. 11 Lindy Carter So. 12 Chloe Marsh So. 20 Alexia Harmon Fr. 22 Delana DeBusk Jr. 23 Dalaina Martin So. Maggie Morelock Fr. 24 33 Anna Shaw Fr. 40 Eden Aiken So. 50 Kaylee Crumbley Fr.

LADY DEVILS 2020-21 SCHEDULE (Home games in CAPS) Dec. 1 at Morristown East Dec. 4 at Grainger Dec. 8 SOUTH GREENE Dec. 10 KNOX CATHOLIC Dec. 14 DOBYNS-BENNETT Dec. 18 vs. Alcoa at Knox Webb Dec. 19 at Knox Webb Dec. 27-31 Ladies Classic at Greeneville Jan. 4 at Jefferson County Jan. 5 at Cumberland Gap Jan. 8 CHUCKEY-DOAK Jan. 12 at West Greene Jan. 15 CLAIBORNE Jan 18 at Daniel Boone Jan. 19 JEFFERSON COUNTY Jan. 21 GRAINGER Jan. 26 at South Greene Jan. 30 at Dobyns-Bennett Feb. 2 CUMBERLAND GAP Feb. 5 at Chuckey-Doak Feb. 8 MORRISTOWN EAST Feb. 9 WEST GREENE Feb. 12 at Claiborne

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

best for them. Some of these girls had to be quarantined, and they realized what that actually meant.

And that made them decide to go virtual, so they hopefully didn’t have to do it again.”

Among players who will add to North Greene’s deeper bench this year are seniors Emma Southerland and Natausha Harmon.

Zoe Sanders is a sophomore transfer who will add some depth at the point guard spot. Grace Buchanan is a sophomore who has become a reliable shooter and ball handler over the offseason, and Campbell Gaby is what Buchan describes as a “blue collar” player who the Lady Huskies can count on to fight for rebounds and loose balls – the dirty work – even though she is undersized.

Buchanan also has three freshmen who he thinks can be good players for his program down the road in Heidi Harmon, Haley Bailey and Adyson Ripley.

North Greene won both District 1-A and Region 1-A last year. The Lady Huskies had to beat Cloudland in close games both times to do it.

Buchanan also expects Hampton and Unaka to be better, which will make it a challenge for the Lady Huskies to repeat.

The TSSAA has also decided that the higher seeded team will host postseason games this season, which will make regular season district games even more important in an

already tough league.

NORTH GREENE LADY HUSKIES No.

2 4 5 10 11 14 15 20 21 22 25 33 34 42 50

It’s time to get comfortable!

Name Grade

Zoe Sanders So. Hailee English Jr. Heidi Harmon Fr. Emily Britton Jr. Cambell Gaby So. Grace Buchanan So. Sonya Wagner So. Breanna Savage Sr. Shelby Davenport Jr. Emma Southerland Sr. Haley Bailey Fr. Natausha Harmon Sr. Haleigh Bernard Sr. Adyson Ripley Fr. Brooklyn Anderson Jr.

LADY HUSKIES 2020-21 SCHEDULE

(Home games in CAPS) Nov. 23 Thanksgiving Tournament at Pigeon Forge Nov. 30 NORTHVIEW ACADEMY Dec. 5 SOUTH GREENE Dec. 8 HANCOCK COUNTY Dec. 11 at University School Dec. 14 at West Greene Dec. 17 CHUCKEY-DOAK Dec. 26 Ladies Classic at Greeneville Jan. 4 at Hancock County Jan. 8 CLOUDLAND Jan. 12 at Chuckey-Doak Jan. 15 HAMPTON Jan. 19 at Sullivan North Jan. 22 at Unaka Jan. 25 at Northview Academy Jan. 28 UNIVERSITY SCHOOL Jan. 30 at South Greene Feb. 2 at Cloudland Feb. 5 SULLIVAN NORTH Feb. 9 at Hampton Feb. 12 UNAKA Feb. 15 WEST GREENE

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GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

LADY REBELS

whole game,” the coach said. “We’ve got to mix it up some and play both man and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 zone. We need to be able to put them in a to have the ball in her hands.” defensive situation that will allow them to Point guard duties remain in the hands of be successful. We will still do some full5-6 junior Braylee Woods. court press to either slow down or speed “She’s a true point guard, and she’s com- up a team. We’ve got our half-court trap in. ing off a very steady year,” Gregg said. “We It’s going to be interesting to see just how expect her to be the floor general. She’s a this season unfolds.” good passer. She’s worked hard to change The team opens the year with a pair of her stance and shooting style. She can be a Hall of Fame games on the road at Lakeway coach on the floor, and you need that from Christian where they will take on powerthe point.” houses Maryville and Alcoa. Then comes Jordyn Roderick, a 5-10 junior, has the an early tournament at Sullivan East before length to be a force and Gregg calls her “a they get into league play. diamond in the rough.”

“She played point guard in middle SOUTH GREENE LADY REBELS No. Name Grade school, so if Woods get in trouble we can 3 Haley Kells Sr. use her out there, or we can move Jayden 5 Addison Williams Jr. out front,” he added. “She’s not strong 10 Braylee Woods Jr. enough yet to battle in the post. But early 11 Haley Susong So. on anyway we need her on the perimeter.

Kiley Collins Sr. She’s an excellent ball handler for her size.” 20 Jayden Merriweather Sr. Amelia Mullins, a 5-6 junior, got in plen- 24 30 Amelia Mullins Jr. ty of minutes her sophomore season. She Ava Clark Fr. can be, the coach said, a sparkplug who can 42 53 Jordyn Roderick So. give the team a quick turnaround.

“We want her to be a lockdown defender,” he said.

LADY REBELS Freshman Ava Clark is a 5-10 freshman, 2020-21 SCHEDULE and the coach said she still doesn’t know (Home games in CAPS) her ceiling.

Nov. 23-28 – at Sullivan East tourney “She’s still learning the high school game, Dec. 1 – at David Crockett but the light bulb will click on soon,” he Dec. 4 – CUMBERLAND GAP grinned. “She doesn’t know not to shy away Dec. 5 – at North Greene from the older girls. She will battle.”

Dec. 8 – at Greeneville Haley Susong is a 5-7 sophomore who Dec. 11 – GRAINGER will be counted on for minutes as well.

Dec. 18 – DAVID CROCKETT Gregg said he hopes that sophomore Dec. 28-31 – Ladies Classic at GreenMacey Snapp can be moved up to the vareville sity soon.

Jan. 4 – HAMPTON “She’s a volleyball player that we coaxed Jan. 5 – at West Greene into coming out to help us,” Gregg said.

Jan. 7 – at Lakeway Christian “She won’t back off. She can be physical Jan. 12 – at Claiborne and we want her to be a rebounder for us.”

Jan. 14 – LAKEWAY CHRISTIAN In addition to trying to focus on Collins, Jan. 15 – CHUCKEY-DOAK Gregg said most opponents will also key on Jan. 18 – at Hampton Merriweather and try to shut her out. That Jan. 22 – at Cumberland Gap will mean some others must step up.

Jan. 26 – GREENEVILLE “We are all pretty decent shooters,” he Jan. 29 – at Grainger said. “Roderick can put it on the floor and Jan. 30 – NORTH GREENE hit some runners in the lane. Woods will Feb. 2 – WEST GREENE need to hit some shots outside, too.”

Feb. 9 – CLAIBORNE “I’m stubborn, but I’ve been around long Feb. 12 – at Chuckey-Doak enough now to know that we can’t outman everybody and play 90 feet of heat the

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HUSKIES

REBELS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

normal, Tarlton hopes his squad can develop some toughness to handle the challenges it will surely face.

“We have to be tough this year,” Tarlton said. “You are going to see a lot of things that are out of your control this year. The team that focuses on what they can control and deals with adversity the best is going to be the team that comes out on top.”

so I expect them to be much improved.”

NORTH GREENE HUSKIES No. 1 3 4 5 10 11 21 22 23 24 32 33 42

Name Grade Sam English Carson Whaley Cayden Foulks Chance Campbell Evan Starnes Cody Freshour John Neal Grissinger Dennis Malone Cameron Breeden Jason Britton Kendal Loftis Chriss Shultz Shane Cooter

Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Jr. Jr. So. Jr. Fr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

HUSKIES 2020-21 SCHEDULE (Home games in CAPS) Nov. 24 Hardee’s Classic at David Crockett Nov. 30 NORTHVIEW ACADEMY Dec. 5 SOUTH GREENE Dec. 8 HANCOCK COUNTY Dec. 11 at University School Dec. 14 at West Greene Dec. 17 CHUCKEY-DOAK Dec. 26 Ladies Classic at Greeneville Jan. 4 at Hancock County Jan. 8 CLOUDLAND Jan. 12 at Chuckey-Doak Jan. 15 HAMPTON Jan. 19 at Sullivan North Jan. 22 at Unaka Jan. 25 at Northview Academy Jan. 28 UNIVERSITY SCHOOL Jan. 30 at South Greene Feb. 2 at Cloudland Feb. 5 SULLIVAN NORTH Feb. 9 at Hampton Feb. 12 UNAKA Feb. 15 WEST GREENE

SOUTH GREENE REBELS No. 1 2 3 11 14 15 23 25 31 33 35 41 43 45

Name Grade Clint Lamb Jr. Isaac Hoese Sr. Conner Marshall So. Jay Higgins Sr. Aydan Hawk Sr. Hunter Toth So. Preston Bailey Sr. Chandler Fillers Jr. Ty Bailey Sr. Caleb Robinson Jr. Luke Myers Jr. Hayden Hartman Jr. Hayden Birdwell So. Andrew Thornburg So.

REBELS 2020-21 SCHEDULE (Home games in CAPS) Nov. 24-28 – at Hardee’s Classic Dec. 1 – at David Crockett Dec. 4 – CUMBERLAND GAP Dec. 5 – at North Greene Dec. 8 – at Greeneville Dec. 11 – GRAINGER Dec. 18 – DAVID CROCKETT Dec. 19-22 – at Cherokee Tournament Jan. 4 – HAMPTON Jan. 5 – at West Greene Jan. 7 – at Lakeway Christian Jan. 12 – at Claiborne Jan. 14 – LAKEWAY CHRISTIAN Jan. 15 – CHUCKEY-DOAK Jan. 18 – at Hampton Jan. 22 – at Cumberland Gap Jan. 26 – GREENEVILLE Jan. 29 – at Grainger Jan. 30 – NORTH GREENE Feb. 2 – WEST GREENE Feb. 9 – CLAIBORNE Feb. 12 – at Chuckey-Doak

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Thursday, November 26, 2020 • THE

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Page 17

2020-21 TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY MEN’S BASKETBALL

SAC COACHES PICK PIONEERS FOURTH The Tusculum University men’s basketball team has been picked to finish fourth in the South Atlantic Conference, according to the 202021 SAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

The Pioneers received 117 total points of the conference’s 13 head coaches including Limestone who is competing in its first season as a full member of the SAC. Tusculum junior guard Trenton Gibson was also named to the Preseason All-SAC second team, which is selected by a vote of the league’s media relations directors.

Lincoln Memorial is the favorite win this year’s title as the Railsplitters garnered 155 points including 11 first place votes. Queens University of Charlotte is second in the voting with 144 points and one first place nod, while Lenoir-Rhyne is third with 122 points and one first place vote. Tusculum is fourth, followed by Catawba (114), Anderson (107), Wingate (81), Newberry (78), Carson-Newman (77), Mars Hill (64), Coker (45), UVA Wise (40) and Limestone (26).

Gibson, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound native of Murfreesboro, garnered

All-SAC honorable mention honors last year after leading the team in scoring and assists and was third on the roster in rebounding. The 2019 SAC Freshman of the Year averaged 13.5 points per game (20th in SAC) while dishing out 3.9 assists per contest (7th in SAC). His 5.9 rebounds per game was 16th in the league as he scored in double-figures in 24 of his 32 games last season.

Gibson also accounted for five games for 10 or more rebounds including last year’s season-opener where he posted a triple-double of 17 points, 11 boards and 12 assists in a win over USC Aiken.

During Gibson’s 61-game career, he has tallied 814 points, 352 rebounds and 229 assists. His .784 career free throw percentage at Tusculum is eighth in school history while his 3.75 career assists per game average is tied for 7th-best in the TU record book.

Gibson has also shined off the court where he is an honors student. He earned a spot on the PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN BY CHUCK WILLIAMS/TUSCULUM SPORTS INFORMATION

SEE TU MEN ON PAGE 19

Tusculum guard Trenton Gibson (left) dribbles against Coker in a game during the 2018-19 season.

Page 18 • THE

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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2020-21 TUSCULUM WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Pioneers Looking To Defend SAC Tourney Title The Tusculum University women’s basketball team has been picked to finish seventh in the South Atlantic Conference Preseason Poll as voted on by league coaches.

The Pioneers finished 24-7 overall last season and captured the third SAC championship tournament title in program history with a 61-49 victory over Anderson in the championship game.

Tusculum, which finished fourth in the conference with a 16-6 league record, was poised to make the sixth NCAA Division II tournament appearance in program history before the tournament was canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

First-year coach Meagan Price welcomes back two starters from last year’s squad, senior guard Jalia Arnwine (7.8 points per game) and senior center Maddie Sutton (9 ppg, 8.3 rebounds per game).

A total of 10 returning players are on the Pioneer roster this season, along with five transfer players and three additional

newcomers.

The SAC grew to a 13-team conference in the offseason with the addition of Limestone, which won the Conference Carolinas championship last season and qualified for the NCAA tournament. All teams will play a 20-game conference schedule, which will include eight round-robin games and single games against four additional opponents.

Carson-Newman (22-8, 17-5 SAC), which lost to Tusculum in the SAC championship semifinals a year ago, earned seven first-place votes in the poll and 149 points to take the top spot in the survey.

The Tusculum University athletic department has announced its policy for spectators for the 2020-2021 basketball season.

Tusculum has established a seating capacity of 250 fans (10% capacity) for its home games.

Masks and face covers are required and fans should observe physical distancing at all times.

SEE TU WOMEN ON PAGE 19

PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE SUN BY CHUCK WILLIAMS/TUSCULUM SPORTS INFORMATION

Tusculum’s Maddie Sutton (25) attempts to dribble past a Carson-Newman defender during Tusculum’s 79-74 win last season at Pioneer Arena.

Thursday, November 26, 2020 • THE

www.greenevillesun.com

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Page 19

TU WOMEN

TU MEN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

Fans may sit in groups only if members reside in the same household. Groups must sit at a minimum of 6 feet apart. Anyone who does not abide by these policies will be asked to leave the facility.

Attendance will be limited to families of TU basketball student-athletes, coaches and support staff; Tusculum faculty & staff; Pioneer Club members (priority level only); and families of visiting team student-athletes and coaches.

Attendance for the general public will not be allowed. All Tusculum home basketball games will be available to watch free on the Tusculum Athletics YouTube page. A radio broadcast will be available on the Pioneer Sports Network on WSMG (95.5 FM & 1450 AM) and will also be streamed on the internet.

CoSIDA Academic All-District first team and was the 2020 recipient of the SAC Elite 20 Award.

The sport management major is a member of the SAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Tusculum Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, Dean’s List, President’s List and the Charles Oliver

TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Class Hometown 0 Shominique Pearson C 6-0 Sr. Bruceton 1 Deidre Cheremond F 5-9 Jr. Cape Coral, Fla. 2 Jalia Arnwine G 5-6 Sr. Knoxville 3 Elle Hutchinson G 5-8 Sr. Cairns, Queensland, Australia 4 Jilian King G 5-3 So. Spring Hill 5 Marta Rodrigues G 5-6 Jr. Lisbon, Portugal 10 Jordan Rogers G 5-5 So. Grand Prairie, Texas 11 Sophie Henry G 5-7 So. Sevierville 14 Kirsten Click G 5-8 So. Amelia, Ohio 15 Madison Sutton G 5-9 Fr. Hampton, Ga. 20 Brianna Dixon G 6-0 Sr. Decatur, Ga. 21 Aliyah Miller G 5-7 Sr. Clarksville 23 Mya Belton G 5-10 Jr. Blythewood, S.C. 24 Katelyn Weems G 5-7 Sr. Chuckey 25 Maddie Sutton F 6-0 Sr. Walland 30 Hannah Barr G 5-4 RFr. Winston-Salem, N.C. 32 Averie Price G 5-9 Fr. Lebanon, Va. Coach: Meagan Price (Missouri Baptist, 2011) 1st season/3rd overall Assistant Coach: Camden Boehner (West Chester, 2018) Graduate Assistant Coach: Eveline Parsons (Berry College, 2020) Assistant Athletic Trainer: Kasi Zeigler (Charleston Southern, 2018)

TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY WOMEN’S SCHEDULE (Home games in CAPS) Nov. 24 UVA WISE, 5:30 p.m.

Nov. 28 at Lincoln Memorial, 2 p.m.

Dec. 5 at Newberry, 2 p.m.

Dec. 9 at Limestone, 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 LENOIR-RHYNE, 2 p.m.

Jan. 6 CARSON-NEWMAN, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 at Catawba, 2 p.m.

Jan. 13 MARS HILL, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 COKER, 2 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Queens, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 at Anderson, 5:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 at Lenoir-Rhyne, 2 p.m.

Feb. 6 NEWBERRY, 2 p.m.

Feb. 8 WARREN WILSON, 6 p.m.

Feb. 10 at Mars Hill, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 LIMESTONE, 2 p.m.

Feb. 17 LINCOLN MEMORIAL, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 20 at Coker, 2 p.m.

Feb. 24 at UVA Wise, 5:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 ANDERSON, 2 p.m.

March 3-7 SAC Tournament, TBA

Honor List and the Division II Athletic Directors Association Honor Roll.The Pioneers return two starters and nine lettermen from last year’s 19-13 squad that finished fourth in the league for a second straight season and advanced to the SAC semifinal.

Coach JT Burton has guided Tusculum to 35 victories and back-to-back winning seasons in his first two years at the helm of the TU program.

TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY MEN’S ROSTER No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Class Hometown Pompano Beach, Fla. 0 Joshua Scott F 6-5 205 So. 1 Justin Mitchell F 6-5 199 So. Lexington, Ky. 2 Makai Olden G 6-6 170 So. Morristown 3 Cameron Willis G 5-10 160 So. Springfield, Ky. 4 Keaston Brown G 6-1 170 So. Lexington, Ky. 5 Zack Dixon G 6-2 180 So. Charlotte, N.C. 10 James West IV G 6-1 180 Sr. Woodbridge, Va. 11 Avishai Lowery G 6-1 170 So. Athens 12 Ray Tyler G 6-0 160 Fr. Murfreesboro 13 Yan Kankela F 6-5 175 Fr. Charleston, W.Va. 14 DyQuavis Wilkins F 6-5 175 So. Greenville, N.C. 15 Dan Atkins G 6-3 175 Fr. New Tazewell 20 Peyton Blackburn G 6-2 190 Fr. Dublin, Va. 21 Inady Legiste F 6-7 235 Fr. Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 22 Miguel Boskovic G 6-5 200 So. Spain 23 Adrian Cohen G 6-5 200 Jr. Woodstock, Ga. 24 Brandon Mitchell F 6-9 195 Sr. Virginia Beach, Va. 25 Kairee Price G 5-9 160 Fr. Antioch 30 Kobe Funderburk G 6-0 170 Fr. C harlotte, N.C. 33 Trenton Gibson G 6-4 200 Jr. Murfreesboro 34 Peter Mgbechi C 6-10 220 So. Nigeria Coach: J.T. Burton (Tennessee Wesleyan, 1999) 3rd season/9th overall Assistant Coaches: Justin Chartrand (Morehead St., 2017), Dionte Ferguson (South Alabama, 2015) Director of Basketball Performance: Justin Irwin (Central Oklahoma, 2020) Assistant Athletic Trainer: Laura Mister

TUSCULUM UNIVERSITY MEN’S SCHEDULE (Home games in CAPS) Nov. 21 WINGATE, 4 p.m.

Nov. 24 UVA WISE, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 28 at Lincoln Memorial, 4 p.m.

Dec. 5 at Newberry, 4 p.m.

Dec. 9 at Limestone, 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 12 LENOIR-RHYNE, 4 p.m.

Jan. 6 CARSON-NEWMAN, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 at Catawba, 4 p.m.

Jan. 13 MARS HILL, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 16 COKER, 4 p.m.

Jan. 20 at Queens, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 27 at Anderson, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 at Lenoir-Rhyne, 4 p.m.

Feb. 6 NEWBERRY, 4 p.m.

Feb. 10 at Mars Hill, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 13 LIMESTONE, 4 p.m.

Feb. 17 LINCOLN MEMORIAL, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 20 at Coker, 4 p.m.

Feb. 24 at UVA Wise, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 27 ANDERSON, 4 p.m.

March 3-7 SAC Tournament, TBA

Page 20 • THE

GREENEVILLE SUN BASKETBALL EDITION • Thursday, November 26, 2020

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