Basketball
Creek Wood’s Ross Cummings (20)
LEAD Academy’s Demarco Jackson.
For most Midstate Division I high school basketball teams, the postseason gets under way this week. Here’s a look at some of the top Midstate squads that could be vying for a 2016 state championship:
CLASS A
Boys
Clay County (25-2): The Bulldogs, led by Mr. Basketball finalist Tyreke Key, suffered a surprising league loss to Jackson County last week but still managed to secure the top seed in this week’s district tournament at Livingston Academy.
Huntland (22-3): Despite having their 11-game winning streak snapped during last week’s regular-season finale, the Kobe Foster-led Hornets remain unbeaten against Class A competition.
LEAD Academy (20-5): The Panthers, gunning for their second state tournament appearance in just four seasons of competition, haven’t lost since suffering a 58-57 defeat to MBA on Dec. 9.
Girls
Community (23-2): The Sarah Pierce-led Lady Vikings, looking for their second state tournament berth in as many seasons, have already eclipsed last season’s win total.
Pickett County (23-2): The 7-A champion Lady Bobcats, who are unbeaten against Class A competition, have the state’s second-highest scoring offense (77.2 points per game)
Houston County (21-6): After dropping three of their first five games, the Lady Irish, led by senior UT-Martin signee Breanna Boggs, rebounded to claim their sixth straight 10-A regular-season title.
TSSAA district basketball tournament schedules, pairings
CPA girls basketball coach Becky LeGate
CLASS AA
Boys
Maplewood (19-4): Junior Mr. Basketball finalist Bo Hodges has carried the load for the Panthers, but others will need to step up in order for them to make their first state tournament appearance since 2010.
Creek Wood (21-4): The 11-AA champion Red Hawks, led by Mercer signee Ross Cummings, are averaging a state-leading 80.1 points.
CPA (18-8): The Lions don’t have the star power of seasons past, but they’ve been getting it done from the outside, knocking down 271 3-pointers en route to a sixth straight regular-season district title.
Girls
East Nashville (23-2): Erica Haynes-Overton (20.4 points), Le’jzae Davidson (17.8) and Kaiai Upton (13.5) have helped guide the Lady Eagles to a second straight 20-win season.
Upperman (27-2): The Lady Bees, who are averaging 64.3 points, have won 21 straight since suffering a 45-40 loss to Jackson County on Dec. 5.
CPA (20-4): The 12-AA champion Lady Lions, led by Kenedi Hambrick’s 20.8 points per game, have strung together 12 wins in a row, and they’ve only suffered one loss against Class AA competition.
Blackman’s Cedriontis Wilson
CLASS AAA
Boys
Blackman (26-0): The Blaze, one of just four unbeaten boys teams in the state, have the second-stingiest scoring defense in the state, allowing 43.2 points per contest.
Cane Ridge (22-2): The two-time defending District 12-AAA regular-season champion Ravens have to be feeling confident after capturing a 62-60 win over previously unbeaten Station Camp in their regular-season finale.
Station Camp (28-1): Cane Ridge may have spoiled their undefeated regular season, but the three-time defending 9-AAA regular-season champion Bison’s 28 wins are the second-most in the state.
Girls
Blackman (23-3): The Lady Blaze, led by Miss Basketball finalist and Connecticut signee Crystal Dangerfield, suffered their first in-state loss since 2013 this season, but they still have to be considered the favorite in Class AAA.
Riverdale (22-3): The Lady Warriors, led by junior Miss Basketball finalist Anastasia Hayes, suffered a pair of regular-season losses to Blackman by a combined five points.
Wilson Central (26-0): The Wildcats have one of the state’s top scorers in senior Kendall Spray (27.1 points per game), who recently broke her own state record for most 3-pointers in a season (144).
Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.