CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville High boys basketball competed against Rossview High in the Region 7-4A championship on Thursday, March 3. The game would mark the fourth time the teams have played one another during the 2021-22 season. Clarksville was victorious in all the prior meetings, and Thursday’s contest was no different. However, similarly to the last two matchups, the Hawks made the Wildcats earn the victory up until the final buzzer.

Right from the opening tip, Clarksville dominated on both sides of the court through four minutes of action in the region championship. Their play led the team to go on a 11-1 run. The slaughter continued until Rossview put together a string of baskets late in the first quarter. After one, the Wildcats led 16-5 over the Hawks.

Landon Hankemeier, left, Joseph Schreiber-Rivera, right, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat free throw as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Joseph Schreiber-Rivera, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Landon Hankemeier, right, Arnett Hines, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Joseph Schreiber-Rivera free throw as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Arnett Hines shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ty Butler, right, JJ wheat, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat, right, Cam Ward, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat, right, commits charging foul as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jahiem Berry shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jacob Edwards, right, JJ Wheat, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

While the first quarter was all Clarksville, Rossview owned the second. The Hawks would come out of their huddle with a spark of energy, scoring 8 points to cut the Wildcats’ lead down to 3. After the teams exchanged a number of baskets, Rossview was still down by one possession with 2 minutes to go before half. This was the case until the Hawks buried a deep three to tie the game at 20 points each. The two sides would go scoreless until Rossview hit a pair of free throws to earn a 22-20 lead going into halftime.

Second half

As the third quarter began, it proved to be a tale of two halves for each side. The overall scoring production would pick up right out of the gate. The fact that each team tightened up their ball security proved to help each sides offensive flow. As the production picked up, the teams exchanged leads like heavyweight boxers exchanging punches. Clarksville gained the edge as the team led by two going into the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats and Hawks continued to trade buckets in the fourth, but defensively each team clamped down. Clarksville would build on a lead after a clutch shot from behind the arch by JJ Wheat. The team would go on an 8-2 run, and the team did not lose the lead after the three point field goal. Rossview hung around, in part due to Cam Ward hitting back to back trifectas, but fell short in the end. The Wildcats win the Region 7-4A championship 58-52.

RHS Cam Ward as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jacob Edwards, right, Joseph Schreiber-Rivera, left, rebound as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Messiah Ward shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS student section as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ty Butler shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Ted Young as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Julian Hatfield shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Johnny Jackson as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Houston Hebert, right, Arnett Hines, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Landon Hankemeier, right, Kellen Howard, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Seneca Bradley free throw as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Joseph Schreiber-Rivera, left, blocking shot by Cam Ward as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

Post game

After the game, Clarksville coach Ted Young spoke on what his coaching staff told the team at halftime saying, “The team felt as though on the offensive end we were getting quality shots that just weren’t falling in the second quarter. With that being said, Rossview was able to flip the score around. Each team made good runs in the half, but we never want to allow 17 points in a single quarter. The coaching staff encouraged the team to keep shooting when they find quality shots and move forward.”

A key takeaway for the Clarksville head coach was the team earning home-court advantage with the win. His enthusiasm was on full display as he discussed the topic with Clarksville Now. Young looks forward for one last opportunity for his seniors to play at home, while having the Wildcat community in attendance to support the team.

Clarksville will host Memphis East at home on Monday, March 7 as the team looks to extend their perfect record in 2022. As for Rossview High, they travel to Bartlett, TN to take on Bartlett High School.

Region tourney MVP Jahiem Berry as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The All-Region Tourney Team as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS region champs as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS with the plaque as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS region runner up as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS celebrates 4th win over RHS this season as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat, left, Jahiem Berry, right, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat celebration as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS fans as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ty Butler, right, Jamar Carnell, left, as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ty Butler shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Cam Ward free throw as Clarksville High plays Rossview High in the Region 7-4A boys basketball championship on March 3, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

Clarksville scoring leaders: JJ Wheat – 24 points; Arnett Hines – 15 points; Jahiem Berry – 13 points; Joseph Schreiber-Rivera – 6 points

Rossview scoring leaders: Cam Ward – 12 points; Ty Butler – 9 points; Messiah Ward – 8 points; Seneca Bradley – 8 points; Jacob Edwards – 7 points; Julian Hatfield- 4 points; Houston Hebert – 2 points; Landon Hankemeier – 2 points

Boys Region All-Tournament selections: Clarksville – JJ Wheat, Jahiem Berry and Arnett Hines; Rossview – Jacob Edwards and Cam Ward; Kenwood – Jaylen Washington; Henry County – Jackson Hayes

Region Tournament MVP: Clarksville – Jahiem Berry