From the Tennessean ...
Region 5-AAA girls final has national poll implications
Posted on February 29, 2012 by Maurice Patton
Clarksville is one of five Tennessee girls basketball teams ranked in this week’s ESPN Fab 50 nationwide poll.
The Lady Wildcats, in fact, are the No. 7 team in the rankings — a spot behind Riverdale, but ahead of Science Hill (20), Memphis Overton (47) and defending Class AAA state champion Memphis Central (48).
Mt. Juliet is unranked, unmentioned and unlisted in said poll.
So Wednesday night’s Region 5-AAA championship clash between the two shouldn’t be much of a clash, right?
After all, Clarksville’s got five Division I signees, three of which are Southeastern Conference-bound — including Bashaara Graves, a Miss Basketball finalist who’s set to go to UT, and 3-point shooter Chandler Cooper, who will play at Florida.
Mt. Juliet counters with post Caya Williams, who has signed with Middle Tennessee State, and reserve post Barianne Taylor (UT-Martin).
But …
Don’t be surprised when the Lady Bears grab home court for Saturday’s Class AAA sectional round — and put highly ranked, highly touted Clarksville on the road — with a win tonight.
At 31-3, Mt. Juliet’s losses have been by 19 total points, twice to Riverdale (62-57 at home, 62-58 in Murfreesboro on Feb. 13) and to Science Hill on a neutral floor.
Clarksville, unbeaten at 34-0, hasn’t had a closer game than a 48-34 win over Hillsboro in December, and the Lady Wildcats opened the region tourney with a 59-35 win over Wilson Central before defeating Station Camp 66-27 in Monday’s semifinal.
Tonight will be a close game, and it’s tough for a team that hasn’t had the experience of those type situations to find itself in the middle of one — and to react favorably to such a setting.
Mt. Juliet 56, Clarksville 51.
And while it may be a national stunner, locally it won’t be nearly as surprising.