H.S. BASKETBALL: TCA's Northcut, Smith end high school career together
Trinity Christian Academy's Alex Northcut and Ryan Smith have been friends since they met in kindergarten.
Little did they know back then the impact they along with the other seniors on this year's TCA team would have on the Lions' basketball program.
Northcut and Smith have helped TCA to winning seasons all four years with two District 15-A titles, four Region 8-A semifinal appearances and three sectional berths.
The Lions hadn't previously seen the type of success the program has had over the last four years.
Saturday, Northcut and Smith will combine for one final time in high school for the South team in the West Tennessee All-Star basketball game at Liberty.
"It is going to be fun," Northcut said. "We want to come out and enjoy the moment. This is our one final game together, so we want to enjoy it. This will be one more exclamation point on our career."
The girls' game begins at 6 p.m. with the boys' game following. The dunk contest and 3-point contest will precede the girls' game.
"We have been playing together since we started school and were playing in the yard," Smith said. "So one more game with him means a ton."
But knowing that this game will be the last is also bittersweet.
"Going our separate ways after this with the friendship we have built is going to be tough," Smith said. "We have done some great things together on the court.
"I am blessed to play in this game with guys of this caliber."
Being on a team with so many of the West Tennessee is an honor for Northcut.
"I think that West Tennessee has some of the best basketball the state has to offer, so it is a privilege to have the opportunity to play in this game.
The South team was originally loaded with District 15-AA players with two from Covington, two from Haywood, one from Ripley and one from North Side.
The South team has two players who have won a state title in South Side's Terrikous Smith and Haywood's Kyler Douglas.
Haywood's Jordon Varnado and Ripley's Chad Culbreath will not be playing in the game because they have already left for college.
Michael Odom, 425-9754
South All-Stars
Kyler Douglas - Haywood
Jordon Varnado - Haywood
Chad Culbreath - Ripley
Bobby Shanks - Covington
Tristan Anthony - South Gibson
Hayden Cary - Obion County
Alex Northcut - TCA
Latavvis Golden - Middleton
Terrikous Smith - South Side
Hunter Garner - Clarksburg
Jalen Claybon - Covington
Khylan Sullivan - North Side
Ryan Smith - TCA
Coach — Lonnie Starks (Ripley)