Keys to a title: District 10 crown up for grabs

Four teams will have a few days to rest before determining who'll be crowned the District 10-AAA boys and girls champions.

With no games Monday because of President's Day, the winners of Saturday's district semifinal games will play Tuesday and Wednesday for the championship at Northwest. The girls will start with the 6 p.m. consolation game Tuesday and the championship game at 7:30. The boys will be the same times on Wednesday.

With wins by Rossview and Henry County on the girls side and Northwest and Springfield on the boys, the stage is set. Here are the keys for each team to win a district tournament title.

GIRLS CHAMPIONSHIP

Lady Patriot way

Henry County only needs to follow the lead of its star Gracie Osborn. Osborn was unstoppable Saturday against Clarksville High. She had 36 points and was especially effective getting the ball to the rim. That could be a problem against a bigger Rossview team but few have found a way to stop Osborn this year.

Rossview split with Henry County during the regular season and both finished 1-2 in the standings. Both are already in the region but a district title is at stake and the Lady Hawks have owned it the past three years.

Hawks let loose

Rossview has a variety of ways to hurt you. The combination of Semajia Ogburn and Madison Hash down low or the guard play of Madison Ballance, Karle Pace and Holly Sellers, all of whom can shoot, is more like pick your poison. Macy Rippy's ankle injury is a big blow but the Lady Hawks have managed without her. Her absence will certainly be felt against Henry County Tuesday.

But if Rossview wants a chance to win, it'll have to slow down Osborn, simply put.

BOYS CHAMPIONSHIP

The big, bad wolf

Springfield has been on top of the district now for a little over a year. The Yellow Jackets crashed the district title party last year, beating Rossview. Now they find themselves back in it after disposing of Northeast Saturday. So far, no one has had an answer for Springfield's Keenan Pulley. His jumpers and 3-point shooting remain efficient and he rarely takes bad shots.

Northeast tried to employ a 1-2-2 zone, and it nearly worked in the first half. Springfield had eight of its 12 turnovers in the first half, trying to figure out how to attack that zone. But Springfield has shown all year why it led the district standings nearly wire-to-wire.

Can Vikings plunder?

That sets up Wednesday night's district title game against Northwest. The Vikings had problems with Kenwood for three quarters before pushing the gas pedal and winning by 15 points.

Northwest trailed Springfield big two weeks ago but played the first half without star Tariq Silver. Silver expects to go four quarters Wednesday and Northwest matches up well with Springfield man-for-man. The Yellow Jackets' lone district loss this season was to Northwest last month.

Poise will be a big key for a team like Northwest that feeds off its emotion.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at georgerobinson@theleafchronicle.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports. 

DISTRICT TOURNAMENT SCORES

District 10-A Championship

Girls: Houston County 32, Clarksville Academy 27

Boys: LEAD Academy 92, Clarksville Academy 90

District 11-AA Consolation

Girls: East Hickman 46, Stewart County 36