Thursday October 28, 2021

From Hickory Flat HS

Hickory Flat, MS

As most of you know I didn’t watch a game from a gym last season due to the pandemic. That doesn’t mean I wasn’t watching film and games on the internet or social media. I watched plenty of that and I worked behind the scenes. But now I’m back. I won’t be doing any traveling out of the north Mississippi area this year and it will be almost impossible making full Saturday tournaments due to my work schedule. But I hope to get plenty of games in this season and I’ll try my best to see as many different teams as I possibly can. Let’s start with a pair of non-football schools on opening night.

(G) Tremont Lady Eagles 1-0 (1A Tremont, MS) 39

Hickory Flat Lady Rebels 0-1 (1A Hickory Flat, MS) 37

Notes: Tremont was able to fend off the home team to sneak away with the win. Mallory Holley (5-11 ’22 F/C Tremont 14 pts 2 3’s 12 reb 1 st) controlled the paint on her way to a big double-double for the Lady Eagles. She was also able to step out and knock down the long ball. It was a very interesting match-up with her and the younger Camri Westmoreland (6-1 ’24 F/C Hickory Flat 6 pts 2 reb). Westmoreland will be a fun player to watch develop over the next couple of years. She has a very bright future. Morgan Green (5-3 ’24 G Hickory Flat 9 pts 1 3’s 6 reb 1 ast 3 st 1 blk) is a very athletic lefty that can create her own shot whenever she needs to. Abby Leathers (’25 F/C Tremont 11 pts 7 reb 1 ast 1 st 2 blk) is a very promising freshman with size for Tremont. Chasity White (5-2 ’25 SG Hickory Flat 9 reb 3 ast 2 st) wasn’t able to get in the scoring category but her presence was definitely felt in the second half. She entered the game and became a ball magnet. She grabbed 8 boards and tracked down plenty of loose balls in the latter half of the game.

Tremont (traveled 67 miles) 39

’22’s

Mallory Holley 5-11 F/C 14 pts 2 3’s 12 reb 1 st

’24’s

Saige Black 5-5 G 9 pts 2 3’s 7 reb 2 ast 2 st

’25’s

Abby Leathers F/C 11 pts 7 reb 1 ast 1 st 2 blk

Hickory Flat (home team) 37

’23’s

Vanterrica “Vonnie” Garner 5-5 G/F 6 pts 3 reb 3 ast 3 st

Abigail “Abby” Tatum 5-6 SG 16 pts 4 3’s 3 reb 1 st

’24’s

Camri Westmoreland 6-1 F/C 6 pts 2 reb

Morgan Green 5-3 G 9 pts 1 3’s 6 reb 1 ast 3 st 1 blk

’25’s

Chasity White 5-2 SG 9 reb (8 in 2nd half) 3 ast 2 st

Barnes Crossing Kia Player of the Game

Presented by Jeff Robert/Magnolia Hoops

Mallory Holley

Tremont

5-11 ’22 F/C

14 pts 2 3’s 12 reb 1 st

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(B) Tremont Eagles 1-0 (1A Tremont, MS) 51

Hickory Flat Rebels 0-1 (1A Hickory Flat, MS) 46

Notes: I was fully expecting to watch this game and see some sloppy preseason type ball but both teams really surprised me by looking like they were half way in the season. These teams also reminded me of why Magnolia Hoops is around. I saw three next level guys that I didn’t know anything about but I do now. My dad spotted Drew Wilson (6-0 ’22 G Hickory Flat 28 pts 2 3’s 9 reb 3 ast 1 blk 6 st 1 charge taken) early in the game but I wasn’t completely sold on him. He had some good moments and then a few that I wasn’t so sure about. Then the third quarter happened. The only thing in the gym that could contain him in that frame was the buzzer at the end of the quarter. This includes everything that Tremont threw and him and even his own teammates. Why do I say this? Yep, you know I’ve got numbers to back it up. This is the 3rd quarter stats of every player that touched the court not counting Wilson, 9 pts 4 reb 3 ast 5 st. That’s both teams combined. Wilson had 17 pts 5 reb only 1 ast (why pass when you are that hot) and 5 st. He showed that he could play next level with that production input. Well if he was so hot then why didn’t Hickory Flat come away with the win? That’s a great way to mention how I chose the player of the game. Drake Moore (5-10 ’23 G Tremont 3 pts 1 3’s 4 reb 1 st 2 charges taken) snuck in to take a charge on Wilson in the 4th quarter which ended up being his 5th foul.When Moore took the charge on Wilson it completely changed the game. Sometimes it really is the small things that win the ball games. Tremont then went into conserve and get out of here mode to finish the game up. Tremont actually looked like a 20 point better team in the warm ups. The duo of Tyler Whitaker (6-5 ’22 G/F Tremont 16 pts 2-2 ft 4 reb 3 ast) and Haden Robinson (6-4 ’22 G/F Tremont 14 pts 4-4 ft 5 reb 4 ast 2 blk) will give a lot of teams trouble this year. Both have good size, both are athletic and both are very solid players. They can play above the rim or can stretch the ball outside and shoot it. Both also play all 5 positions on the court. Whitaker and Robinson can easily play on the next level. They are very polished with footwork and head fakes. Tremont will have a very good season this year with these two bigs leading the way. Hickory Flat will also be a much improved team this year. Both of these teams should expect to be playing playoff basketball this season and Tremont has a very good chance of winning their division.

Tremont (traveled 67 miles) 51

’22’s

Tyler Whitaker 6-5 G/F 16 pts 2-2 ft 4 reb 3 ast

Haden Robinson 6-4 G/F 14 pts 4-4 ft 5 reb 4 ast 2 blk

Jacob South 6-0 C 11 pts 3-4 ft 4 reb 1 ast 1 st 1 charge taken

Denton Crenshaw 5-7 G 5 pts 1 3’s 2 reb 6 ast 1 charge taken

Gentry Lynch 5-9 G 4 reb 3 ast 1 st 1 charge taken

’23’s

Drake Moore 5-10 G 3 pts 1 3’s 4 reb 1 st 2 charges taken

Hickory Flat (home team) 46

’22’s

Drew Wilson 6-0 G 28 pts 2 3’s 9 reb 3 ast 1 blk 6 st 1 charge taken

Alex Tatum 6-1 F 6 pts 4 reb 2 ast 1 blk 2 st

’23’s

Logan King 5-9 G 4 pts 1 reb 4 st

Austin Bryant 5-5 G 6 pts 2 reb 3 st

Barnes Crossing Kia Player of the Game

Presented by Jeff Robert/Magnolia Hoops

Drake Moore

Tremont

5-10 ’23 G

3 pts 1 3’s 4 reb 1 st 2 charges taken