Team chemistry has Rossview boys basketball in contention for District 10-AAA title

Chemistry is the life blood for any team sports. And Rossview High's boys basketball team seems to have it in spades.

If it isn't the way the Hawks share the ball, moving it around the perimeter, cutting to the basket, kicking the ball back out to shooters, then maybe a simple "I love you" will convince you.

"That shows right there just how close this team is," Rossview forward Max Leinweber said after teammate Kole Monson stepped into the interview room with those three words. "That's a perfect example of our chemistry. He didn't need to do that but he went out of his way to tell us that. This is a true team."

That chemistry has Rossview right in the thick of the District 10-AAA championship hunt with only Northeast standing in the way. The Hawks (16-3, 8-1) dropped Kenwood 57-47 in Thursday's district game.

And the chemistry between Rossview's version of the Big Three is a large part of that success. Leinweber, Austin Jackson and Will Midlick have been terrorizing opponents all season. And few teams in Clarksville can match the balance that Rossview puts out on the floor each night.

Jackson has been the workhorse lately. He had his third straight 20-plus point game Thursday, putting up 21. But Midlick and Leinweber have had their scoring outbursts as well. All three are averaging over more than 15 points.

Midlick, who arrived in Clarksville when his father took over the women's program at Austin Peay last year, has quickly found his niche.

"Wherever coach (Johnny) Jackson puts me, that's where I'm going to play," said Midlick who finished with 15 points Thursday. "Whatever he needs me to do. I feel like I can fit into any offense."

Jackson creates the spacing on offense with his ability to knock down long 3-pointers and Leinweber provides the dirty work in the post.

"It's going to be someone different every night," Jackson said. "That's the beauty of our team. You don't know who it will come from. And it isn't just us three. We have other guys that can score 20 or more. We have at least five guys that can fill it up on any night. That's going to cause issues for the other team."

It already has. Rossview has won 10 of its last 12 games, including three straight. The Hawks are scheduled to face a surging West Creek on Tuesday before a monster showdown with Northeast next Friday.

The Eagles' game against Henry County was moved to Jan. 24 because snow and ice were in the forecast for Friday. That means the Eagles remain perfect (8-0) in district and 15-3 overall. Northeast knocked off Rossview, 72-70, last month.

"Our first priority is to focus on West Creek," Jackson said. "Then it's Northeast, and we are really looking forward to that game. We feel like we have something for Northeast after they beat us and celebrated like they won the district championship."

Leinweber may have been more succinct. 

"Watching film the next day, of us losing to Northeast, and watching how they celebrated ... I got frustrated," Leinweber said. "We're going to be ready."

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