TSWA honors college players of the week - Feb. 26

February 26, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Maryville College senior guard Reed Kemp put together a strong week to earn this week’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association, averaging 33.0 points and 4.0 rebounds as he helped the Scots earn the top seed in the Collegiate Conference of the South Tournament.

The Franklin, Tenn., native was named the CCS Player of the Week as he scored 36 points against Covenant, then 30 more in the Scots’ 77-72 victory at Belhaven to tie for the regular-season title.

For the week, Kemp shot 52.4 percent from the field, including 9-for-15 from long-range. He was also 13-for-16 at the free throw line, while collecting six assists and six steals to just five turnovers. Kemp has scored at least 30 points in each of the last four games and needs just 13 points to tie Maryville’s single-season scoring record of 645 points.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont senior forward Kendal Cheesman was named the Women’s Basketball Player of the Week as she collected a pair of double-doubles on the road at Illinois State and Murray State.

Against Illinois State, the Tampa, Fla., native pulled down a career-best 16 rebounds as she scored 17 points. She followed that performance up with her third-straight double-double at Murray State, scoring 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting and collecting 10 rebounds.

She finished the week shooting 63.6 percent from long range and 51.6 percent from the field. Cheesman has scored in double figures in nine straight games.

BASEBALL: Middle Tennessee center fielder Eston Snider had a hot week at the plate to earn Player of the Week honors, going 6-for-9 with eight RBI and a home run in each of the three games played. He led off the first game with a shot to left field, then, on Saturday, hit his first career grand slam to lead the Blue Raiders to a 10-0 victory.

In addition to his three home runs, he had three walks, two stolen bases and three runs scored. Snider ended the weekend with 15 total bases and a 1.667 slugging percentage.

Tennessee junior lefty Liam Doyle was named the Pitcher of the Week, collecting a win and a 1.69 ERA with one run allowed on two hits against Samford. The Derry, N.H., native bested his own week-old career high in strikeouts as he fanned 14 Bulldog batters over 5 1/3 innings. Doyle walked just one batter in the outing and he currently leads all SEC pitchers in strikeouts through the first two weeks of the campaign.

SOFTBALL: Trevecca’s Brianna Asmondy showed power at the plate this week as she launched five home runs during the Trojans’ series against Valdosta State to earn their first series victory in the Gulf South Conference.

Asmondy, the NFCA Division II National Player of the Week as well as the GSC’s top player this week, batted .556 with all five of her hits leaving the ballpark. She had 10 RBI and five runs scored, while also drawing a walk and was hit twice.

The NCAA Division II leader in home runs, she hit five of Trevecca’s nine long balls for the weekend.

Belmont redshirt junior pitcher Maya Johnson was the Pitcher of the Week as she went 2-0 with complete-game victories over Samford and Purdue.

The win over the Boilermakers was a big one as it gave the Bruins their second win over a Power 4 program this season. Johnson held Purdue scoreless while allowing just three hits and a walk in eight innings of work. Johnson struck out 12 in the contest.

For the week, Johnson recorded 23 strikeouts to one walk, yielding seven hits for a cumulative 0.47 earned run average.

Baseball
2/18 | Player: Blake Pou (Sewanee); Pitcher: Ryan Higgins (Carson-Newman)
2/25 | Player: Eston Snider (Middle Tennessee); Pitcher: Liam Doyle (Tennessee)

Softball
2/11 | Player: Danielle Jason (Tusculum); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
2/18 | Player: Abbie Buckner (Sewanee); Pitcher: Reagen Huskey (Sewanee)
2/25 | Player: Brianna Asmondy (Trevecca): Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)

Boys, girls basketball poll presented by CoachT.com - Feb. 24

February 24, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced rankings for boys and girls basketball for the 2024-25 season on Monday, the final poll of the year, with the poll presented by CoachT.com. Top 10 teams in each of the four Division I classifications and Top 5 in two Division II classes were selected by TSWA members with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

GIRLS
Class 1A
1. Pickett County (24-3) – 39 (3)
2. Wayne County (27-3) – 37 (1)
3. Moore County (25-3) – 32
4. Richland (24-3) – 28
5. Van Buren County (22-5) – 19
6. North Greene (27-3) – 16
7. Coalfield (25-5) – 15
8. McEwen (21-4) –12
9. East Robertson (20-5) – 6
10. Clarkrange (18-11) – 4
Others receiving votes: Dresden 4, Collinwood 3, Union City 3, Greenfield 2

Class 2A
t1. Westview (25-1) – 38 (2)
t1. McMinn Central (29-1) – 38 (2)
3. York Institute (23-5) – 31
4. East Nashville (21-1) – 27
5. Alcoa (23-6) – 22
6. Loretto (20-8) – 17
7. Gibson County (22-8) – 14
8. Smith County (22-7) – 9
9. Cheatham County (24-4) – 8
10. Summertown (22-4) – 7
Others receiving votes: Gatlinburg-Pittman 3, Stewart County 3, Huntingdon 2, Cannon County 1

Class 3A
1. White County (27-3) – 37 (2)
2. Heritage (27-2) – 36 (2)
3. Dyersburg (21-4) – 30
4. Jackson South Side (23-2) – 26
t5. Cocke County (25-6) – 20
t5. David Crockett (29-3) – 20
7. Upperman (24-6) – 19
8. Northview Academy (27-3) – 16
9. South Gibson (23-6) – 12
10. Crockett County (20-6) – 2
Others receiving votes: Livingston Academy 1, Valor Collegiate 1

Class 4A
1. Bradley Central (28-1) – 40 (4)
2. Coffee County (29-0) – 34
3. Bearden (28-4) – 32
4. Oak Ridge (25-3) – 29
5. Blackman (21-3) – 21
6. Sevier County (24-6) – 19
7. Brentwood (23-4) – 14
8. Morristown East (24-6) – 12
9. Clarksville (21-1) – 8
10. Lebanon (21-6) – 7
Others receiving votes: Lincoln County 2, Cleveland 1, Cookeville 1

Division II-A
1. University School of Jackson (25-3) – 19 (3)
2. Webb School-Bell Buckle (25-6) – 14 (1)
3. Providence Christian (22-6) – 14
4. Ezell-Harding (24-4) – 5
5. Christian Academy of Knoxville (25-8) – 2
Others receiving votes: The King's Academy 2, Nashville Christian 1, Franklin Road Academy 1, Silverdale Academy 1, Harding Academy 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (26-3) – 20 (4)
2. Lipscomb Academy (25-3) – 16
3. Hutchison School (23-6) – 12
4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (21-6) – 6
5. Father Ryan (21-6) – 2
Others receiving votes: Chattanooga Christian 2, Knox Catholic 2

BOYS
Class 1A
t1. Eagleville (23-2) – 38 (2)
t1. Chattanooga Prep (22-8) – 38 (2)
3. Santa Fe (24-2) – 29
4. Humboldt (22-5) – 26
t5. Pickett County (20-6) – 24
t5. MASE (16-2) – 24
7. North Greene (26-4) – 17
8. University High-Johnson City (20-6) – 9
9. Wayne County (22-8) – 8
10. Middle College (16-7) – 3
Others receiving votes: Clay County 2, Richland 1, Union City 1

Class 2A
t1. Loretto (27-0) – 38 (2)
t1. Alcoa (23-5) – 38 (2)
3. Tyner Academy (23-6) – 32
4. Tellico Plains (24-2) – 24
5. Jackson County (23-2) – 23
6. Kingston (24-3) – 19
7. Peabody (22-5) – 16
8. Fairley (19-5) – 11
9. White House Heritage (22-6) – 6
10. Gatlinburg-Pittman (21-9) – 5
Others receiving votes: White House Heritage 2, Hickman County 1, Westview 1

Class 3A
1. Upperman (24-2) – 39 (3)
2. Fayette Ware (22-5) – 35
3. Hume-Fogg (23-3) – 32
4. Jackson South Side (19-2) – 28
t5. Jackson North Side (24-4) – 19
t5. Stone Memorial (22-8) –19
7. Tennessee High (24-6) – 18
8. Greeneville (19-9) – 10
9. Tullahoma (25-4) – 9
10. Heritage (22-7) – 5
Others receiving votes: Red Bank 4, Knox Carter 1, Haywood 1

Class 4A
1. Whitehaven (24-3) – 39 (3)
2. Bartlett (21-7) – 33 (1)
t3. Hillsboro (27-4) – 29
t3. Bearden (27-4) – 29
5. Knox West (21-5) – 18
6. Oak Ridge (24-3) – 16
7. Franklin (22-5) –14
t8. Walker Valley (26-3) – 12
t8. Germantown Houston (21-6) – 12
10. Sevier County (23-6) – 11
Others receiving votes: Antioch 3, Independence 2, Beech 2

Division II-A
1. Providence Christian (25-2) – 19 (3)
2. Goodpasture Christian (29-2) – 15 (1)
3. Christian Academy of Knoxville (30-3) – 11
4. Battle Ground Academy (17-11) – 7
5. Trinity Christian (22-9) – 3
Others receiving votes: Harding Academy 3, Boyd Buchanan 1, Webb School-Bell Buckle 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (23-2) – 20 (4)
2. Briarcrest Christian (22-4) – 13
3. Pope Prep (26-3) – 12
4. Father Ryan (18-8) – 8
5. Montgomery Bell Academy (21-5) – 7
Others receiving votes: None

College players of the week named by TSWA - Feb. 19

February 19, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb senior forward Jacob Ognacevic continued his dominant play for the Bisons this season as he put up strong numbers once again to earn this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

The Sheboygan, Wisc., native averaged 27.0 points and 7.0 rebounds, shooting 67.9 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from the line. He scored 30 points on 12-for-16 shooting and 5-for-7 at the line against Stetson, then scored 24 points on 7-for-12 shooting and 9-for-11 shooting at the stripe against FGCU.

The 30-point effort was his fifth 30-point game of the season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes rewrote the record books against as she toppled the Southeastern Conference and NCAA freshman single-game scoring records with 55 points against Auburn in a 98-88 overtime win. She was 15-for-28 from the field and 23-for-24 at the free-throw line.

Her 55-point performance is tied for the ninth-most in a single game in NCAA women’s basketball history, joining Mississippi Valley State’s Patrica Hoskins – who reached 55 points twice in 1988-89. Hoskins and Blakes are the only two NCAA Division I women’s basketball players to score 53 or more points twice in the same season. She is also the first NCAA freshman and fourth Division I player since 1999-00 to have multiple 50-point games in the same season.

She also scored 13 points and pulled down nine rebounds in a double-overtime loss to Mississippi State. For the week, Blakes averaged 34.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 4.0 steals. Blakes was also named the Associated Press Player of the Week, the USBWA Tamika Catchings National Freshman of the Week and shared the SEC’s Player of the Week honor with Tennessee’s Jewel Spear.

BASEBALL: Carson-Newman sophomore righty Ryan Higgins was named the Pitcher of the Week with a strong performance against Emory & Henry. The Spotsylvania, Va., product was flawless through six inning before the perfect game bid ended in the seventh inning with a free pass as he helped lead the Eagles to a 7-0 victory.

Higgins struck out six in the winning effort, ending his night with no hits and only two runners reaching. He was also named the South Atlantic Conference Pitcher of the Week.

Sewanee senior outfielder Blake Pou was named the Player of the Week with a big offensive outburst against Capital. The Houston, Texas, native batted .462 on the week with two doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and five runs scored.

In the doubleheader, Pou hit a two-run home run in the first game, then singled, walked and scored a run in the nightcap. During the finale, he was 4-for-5 with a double, three home runs and eight RBI. During the Tigers’ 10-run fifth inning, Pou hit a two-run round-tripper, then cleared the bases again in the frame with a three-run blast. He later hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning.

SOFTBALL: Sewanee claimed both softball honors on the week as Reagen Huskey was named the Pitcher of the Week and Abbie Buckner the Player of the Week.

Huskey went 2-0 with a save as the Tigers won three of their four games. She allowed just one run to claim a complete-game victory over LaGrange. Huskey then threw five innings as Wesleyan, yielding two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. She closed out the week with 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the finale for the save. Huskey ended the week with a 1.43 ERA.

Buckner batted .533 as she collected eight hits across four games with three walks, six runs scored and nine stolen bases. In the opener against LaGrange, she had two hits with a run scored and an RBI. She went 2-for-4 with three runs scored in the first game against Wesleyan, then had two more runs scored and five stolen bases in the finale.

Baseball
2/18 | Player: Blake Pou (Sewanee); Pitcher: Ryan Higgins (Carson-Newman)

Softball
2/11 | Player: Danielle Jason (Tusculum); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
2/18 | Player: Abbie Buckner (Sewanee); Pitcher: Reagen Huskey (Sewanee)

Boys, girls basketball polls presented by CoachT.com - Feb. 18

February 18, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced rankings for boys and girls basketball for the 2024-25 season on Monday, with the poll presented by CoachT.com. Top 10 teams in each of the four Division I classifications and Top 5 in two Division II classes were selected by TSWA members with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

GIRLS
Class 1A
1. Pickett County (23-3) – 49 (4)
2. Wayne County (25-3) – 46 (1)
3. Moore County (23-3) – 40
4. Richland (23-3) – 33
5. Van Buren County (22-5) – 24
6. North Greene (25-3) – 23
7. Coalfield (24-5) – 19
8. McEwen (21-4) –16
9. Greenfield (22-5) – 10
10. Collinwood (16-6) – 4
Others receiving votes: East Robertson 3, Union City 3, Clarkrange 3, Dresden 2

Class 2A
1. Westview (24-1) – 48 (3)
2. McMinn Central (28-1) – 47 (2)
3. York Institute (22-5) – 39
4. Loretto (19-7) – 32
5. East Nashville (20-1) – 28
6. Alcoa (22-6) – 25
7. Gibson County (21-8) – 15
8. Cheatham County (23-4) – 12
t9. Huntingdon (22-6) – 7
t9. Smith County (21-7) – 7
Others receiving votes: Gatlinburg-Pittman 5, Summertown 5, Cannon County 5

Class 3A
1. Heritage (26-2) – 48 (3)
2. White County (26-3) – 45 (2)
3. Dyersburg (21-4) – 39
4. Jackson South Side (22-2) – 32
5. David Crockett (27-3) – 23
t6. Upperman (23-6) – 21
t6. Cocke County (24-6) – 21
8. Northview Academy (26-3) – 19
9. South Gibson (23-6) – 16
10. Crockett County (20-6) – 10
Others receiving votes: Livingston Academy 2, Valor Collegiate 2

Class 4A
1. Bradley Central (26-1) – 50 (5)
2. Coffee County (28-0) – 43
3. Bearden (27-4) – 40
4. Oak Ridge (24-3) – 36
t5. Blackman (20-3) – 24
t5. Sevier County (23-6) – 24
7. Brentwood (21-4) – 19
8. Morristown East (23-6) – 14
9. Clarksville (21-1) – 10
10. Lebanon (20-6) – 4
Others receiving votes: Nolensville 4, Lincoln County 4, Cleveland 2, Farragut 1

Division II-A
1. University School of Jackson (23-3) – 23 (4)
2. Providence Christian (20-5) – 15 (1)
3. Ezell-Harding (24-4) – 15
4. Webb School-Bell Buckle (23-6) – 9
5. Christian Academy of Knoxville (23-7) – 4
Others receiving votes: Nashville Christian 3, Providence Academy 2, The King's Academy 2, Goodpasture Christian 1, Notre Dame 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (24-3) – 25 (5)
2. Lipscomb Academy (24-3) – 20
3. Hutchison School (22-6) – 14
4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (20-5) – 11
5. Father Ryan (21-5) – 4
Others receiving votes: Knox Catholic 1

BOYS
Class 1A
1. Eagleville (22-2) – 48 (3)
2. Chattanooga Prep (17-7) – 46 (2)
3. Santa Fe (23-2) – 40
4. Humboldt (22-5) – 34
5. Pickett County (19-6) – 27
6. MASE (20-2) – 26
7. North Greene (24-4) – 24
8. University High-Johnson City (20-5) – 12
9. Wayne County (20-8) – 8
10. Clay County (17-6) – 3
Others receiving votes: Harriman 2, Richland 2, Jo Byrns 2, Union City 1

Class 2A
1. Loretto (26-0) – 49 (4)
2. Alcoa (23-5) – 46 (1)
3. Tyner Academy (22-6) – 40
4. Kingston (23-3) – 30
5. Tellico Plains (23-2) – 29
6. Jackson County (22-2) – 26
7. Fairley (22-5) – 24
8. Peabody (21-5) – 13
9. Liberty Creek (22-6) – 8
10. Gatlinburg-Pittman (21-8) – 6
Others receiving votes: White House Heritage 2, Hickman County 1, Westview 1

Class 3A
1. Upperman (23-2) – 50 (5)
2. Hume-Fogg (22-3) – 42
3. Fayette Ware (21-5) – 40
4. Jackson North Side (24-3) – 34
5. Jackson South Side (18-2) – 31
6. Stone Memorial (21-8) –18
7. Tennessee High (22-6) – 15
8. Greeneville (18-9) – 13
9. Tullahoma (24-4) – 12
10. Heritage (21-7) – 7
Others receiving votes: David Crockett 6, Red Bank 4, Station Camp 3

Class 4A
1. Whitehaven (24-3) – 50 (5)
t2. Bartlett (21-7) – 41
t2. Hillsboro (26-4) – 41
4. Bearden (26-4) – 32
5. Oak Ridge (23-3) – 27
6. Knox West (20-4) – 26
7. Germantown Houston (22-7) – 18
8. Walker Valley (24-3) – 14
t9. Franklin (20-5) – 9
t9. Sevier County (22-6) – 9
Others receiving votes: Brentwood 8

Division II-A
1. Goodpasture Christian (27-1) – 24 (4)
2. Providence Christian (22-2) – 17 (1)
3. Boyd Buchanan (24-5) – 9
4. Christian Academy of Knoxville (28-3) – 8
5. Trinity Christian (20-8) – 6
Others receiving votes: Ezell-Harding 5, Providence Academy 4, Battle Ground Academy 1, Webb School-Bell Buckle 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (23-2) – 25 (5)
2. Pope Prep (26-3) – 20
3. Briarcrest Christian (20-4) – 14
4. Montgomery Bell Academy (21-5) – 11
5. Father Ryan (18-8) – 4
Others receiving votes: Knox Catholic 1

TSWA honors college players of the week - Feb. 11

February 12, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont junior guard Tyler Lundblade was on fire from long-range as he helped lead the Bruins to a pair of big victories as well as this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

The Dallas native recorded career highs in back-to-back games as he scored 25 points at Bradley and 27 at home against Missouri State, but the impressive thing was the accuracy with the deep ball as he was 17-for-28 from 3-point range in the two contests.

He knocked down eight treys at Bradley, while he sank nine at home in the Curb Event Center – one short of Andy Wicke and Nick Smith’s single-game record of 10. The Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week ranks among the nation’s leaders in 3-point shooting.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Middle Tennessee junior guard Ta’Mia Scott earned the Women’s Player of the Week honor with two strong scoring performances this past week.

The Clarksville product opened the week with a career-high 30 points, a career-best 14 rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal as the Blue Raiders topped Jacksonville State 63-46. In the game, she was 11-for-16 from the field with two 3-pointers and was 6-for-6 at the line. Scott scored 14 of Middle Tennessee’s 20 points in the third quarter.

She followed that game up with 24 points, eight boards, an assist and a block in the 76-43 win over Kennesaw State.

SOFTBALL: Tusculum’s Danielle Jason and Belmont’s Maya Johnson earned the first Softball Players of the Week honors to add to their weekly accolades.

Jason, named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Player of the Week, shined at the plate as she batted .762 over six games, collecting 16 hits, 17 runs scored and 11 stolen bases, while also driving in four with four doubles, a triple, three walks and three sacrifice bunts. She has helped Tusculum improve to 8-0 for its best start in program history.

Johnson threw a perfect outing in her second game of the season as she blanked Eastern Kentucky with no walks and no hits over the complete-game effort. She struck out 13 batters in the contest for just the second perfect game in Belmont history.

She finished the week with a 0.00 ERA over two appearances as she allowed one hit and two walks over six scoreless frames against Georgia Tech, fanning 10 Yellow Jackets in the 1-0 loss.

Softball
2/11 | Player: Danielle Jason (Tusculum); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)