CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Rossview boys and girls basketball teams are heading into Thanksgiving break as victors, having defeated Kenwood in two very different games at home. The Lady Hawks cruised to a win, 71-25.

The boys squads clashed in a thriller that made the night feel more like February than November. Jaylen Washington’s 28th point sent it to overtime for the Knights, but Rossview held on. Led by Landon Hankemeier’s 22, the Hawks claimed a 77-74 win.

Boys game

Kenwood started strong from range, sinking a pair of early threes from Nic Boykin and Keyshawn Pappillion. Both teams took time to settle down early, with a few turnovers in each direction. Kenwood’s speed gave them the advantage in transition, and they closed the first quarter out leading, 20-11.

The second quarter proved to be very different. Rossview Coach Johnny Jackson previously told Clarksville Now he was fine with opponents not really knowing his young squad. Well, the cat’s out of the bag: sophomore Landon Hankemeier roared to life, seeming unstoppable from any range he liked while coming up big on defense too. He scored 10 of the Hawks’ 27 points in the period – and five of his teammates chipped in some points as well.

Rossview cut the lead to 19-22 before Kenwood’s multisport senior Jaylen Washington stole an inbounds pass and was fouled on a successful 3-pointer. Rossview hit a series of free throws to cut the lead back down before Hankemeier took a steal the distance and gave Rossview their first lead, 30-29, with 3:56 left in the half. Washington immediately replied and the game remained back-and-forth to the end. Rossview led at the half, 38-35.

Kenwood’s adjustments during halftime held Hankemeier to two points in the third quarter. Not to be outdone, Washington responded with his own 10-point quarter. The visitors took a 59-53 lead into the fourth quarter after draining a buzzer beater.

Rossview clawed back into the game once again, earning a three-point lead after a dunk by Julian Hatfield with 3:20 remaining in regulation. The Hawks fouled Washington on another 3-point attempt, however, and he tied the game back up at 64 from the charity stripe.

Hankemeier’s next trip to the free throw line grew the Hawks’ lead back up to three. The teams traded 2-pointers before Kenwood picked Rossview’s pockets and Washington got an attempt at a game-tying three. He missed, but the ball went out of bounds off Rossview. With 15.1 seconds left, Kenwood put the ball back in Washington’s hands, trailing 69-66.

The senior redeemed himself from the next county over, tying things up with 10.2 to go. Rossview senior Ty Butler drove the ball down the court quickly, dishing it out to Hankemeier. The sophomore came along the baseline and missed the layup, which Jacob Edwards tried to tip in for the Hawks. That attempt also bounced out as regulation came to an end. Cheers erupted from both crowds at the prospect of more close basketball.

In the extra period, things remained competitive with Rossview narrowly ahead. With 16 seconds left, Kenwood stole the ball again and senior Aljeric Conyers slammed it down. The Knights, still trailing, were forced to foul Rossview, but Butler did his job at the line and kept the home team up by three with 4.4 seconds to go.

The Hawks stripped the ball from Kenwood, forcing it out of bounds. With only .1 on the clock, the visitors threw up a desperation ball that was off the mark. Rossview escaped with the win, 77-74, holding Washington scoreless in overtime.

Coach’s take

Reacting to the win, Jackson said, “I thought it was a classic game to be this early in the season. It had a tournament feel to it, and I know that sounds foolish being this early in the year, but it really did. We had two athletic teams who really went at each other.”

“I thought Jaylen (Washington) was special, especially hitting that three to send it into overtime,” Jackson continued, looking over the stats sheets. “But we had a coming out party with Landon Hankemeier, the sophomore, with 22 points. He was really good tonight, made some big shots. Seneca Bradley was huge – he had 15 – and Ty Butler ran the show with 19.”

Jackson wrapped up his praise for his boys, adding, “Our pressure was good. When we went zone in the fourth quarter, and overtime, I think it was really big. It gave them a different look, and made them try to do some different things. We did the best we could trying to get the ball out of Jaylen’s hands, but I thought we had an all-around great team effort.”

Total Scores – Rossview (2-1)

Landon Hankemeier – 22, Ty Butler – 19, Seneca Bradley – 15, Julian Hatfield – 8, Jacob Edwards – 7, Cam Ward – 3, Houston Hebert – 2, Jamarcus Caldwell – 1

Total Scores – Kenwood (2-1)

Jaylen Washington – 28, Cam’Ron Powell – 11, Keyshawn Pappillion – 11, Caleb Grady – 10, Nic Boykin – 3

Girls game

Both teams entered the girls game missing some key components. Sydney DesRoches was resting a minor injury for Rossview, while Kenwood lacked Shayanna Mimms and Iyanna Curtis.

The hosts controlled this game much more than the boys’ match, leading from start to finish. Kenwood came out showing a zone defense, but Rossview’s ball movement kept the Knights on their back foot and the Lady Hawks jumped out to a 10-2 lead. Defensively, the home team showed quick, active hands that intercepted passes and ripped the ball from the visitors’ possession.

The lead was 21-4 at the end of the first quarter, then 43-8 at the half. Rossview coach Justin Woods started subbing out his starters in the second half and the home team claimed another win, 71-25.

Woods lauded his team’s effort and selflessness, saying, “Our ball movement was really good tonight; we only had 8 turnovers. The stats sheet said we had 31 assists. I don’t know if that’s accurate, but if so, that’s probably a record for us. That’s a high number, for sure.”

“We made eleven 3’s, and any time you shoot the ball like that … and it wasn’t just one person. A lot of people would make one, or make multiple. You know, that was good to see. I liked when the young kids got in at the end, how excited our bench was for them. I think this group is really together and I think it shows in the way we play and how unselfish we are.”

Rossview senior Laci Edwards led all scorers, putting in 20 points. Aubrey Padgett had another deadly game from beyond the arc, sinking four for 12. Torri James contributed 10, while Nevaeh Brown chipped in another 8 coming off the bench late in the game. Emani Collier also had 8; Jana Darnell added 6 and Madisyn Thompson, 3. The Lady Hawks move to 3-0 on the season.

Kenwood was led by Yazman Pearson with 16. Tay Brandt contributed 4, Demetria Duncan hit a 3, and Neveah Mann scored 2.