CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Wildcats boys basketball team traveled to take on the Rossview Hawks as they came face to face for the second time this season. In their first matchup, Clarksville came out on top over Hawks 65-47 behind 40 combined points between JJ Wheat and Jaheim Berry.

The Wildcats have not lost a game since December, and they rode into Wednesday on a eight-game winning-streak – six of those wins by double digits. However, Clarksville was not the only one on a hot streak.

Ty Butler shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ty Butler takes a deep breath before a free throw as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Seneca Bradley shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jamar Carnell shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Arnett Hines as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Arnett Hines, left, blocking Seneca Bradley’s shot as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS coach Ted Young talks to the team as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Cam Ward shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS coach Johnny Jackson talks to the team as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Julian Hatfield rebounds as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Julian Hatfield snags the rebound as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS students celebrate as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Joseph Schreiber Rivera shoots as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Joseph Schreiber Rivera shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Bryce Prairie, left, and Blake Deterding cheering teammates as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jahiem Berry shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jacob Edwards shoots a 3 as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Julian Hatfield, right, and Arnett Hines, left, as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS cheers as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
J.J. Wheat shooting over the block as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
J.J. Wheat takes the floor as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Prophet Basden shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Messiah Ward shoots a 3 as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Messiah Ward shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in boys basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

The Hawks had not lost a game since Jan. 22, putting together a four-win streak. Rossview won three of those by double digits.

First half

Right from the tip, it looked as though each team seemed determined to keep their streaks alive. Rossview jumped out to an early lead, but it didn’t last. After a slow start, Clarksville tied the game early on. During the first quarter, neither team put any significant distance between the other. The quarter came to a close tie at 16 . This trend continued throughout the second quarter.

When the second quarter began, Clarksville and Rossview repeatedly traded leads. This is where JJ Wheat began to heat up. Out of the Wildcats’ 16 points in the second quarter, Wheat had 9.

The Hawks made it a group effort and spread the ball around in the quarter. Before the half was up, the teams traded the lead four times. Entering halftime, CHS had a 31-29 lead.

Second half

Clarksville started the second half with a bang, going on a 6-0 run in under two minutes, forcing Rossview to call an early timeout. After the stoppage, the Hawks settled down and got their offense flowing once again. Nevertheless, when RHS would put together a successful drive, CHS would quickly respond.

This was until Rossview hit a pair of threes to go on their own 6-0 run. Momentum shifted in the Hawks favor, and the gym was rocking as they cut the deficit. This was until Clarksville drained a three as the third quarter expired, shifting the score to 49-42 lead for the Wildcats before the fourth quarter.

Intense ending

The teams matched one another shot for shot to start the fourth quarter. RHS was able to get a number of defensive stops and cut the deficit to a three-point game. After frustration mounted for CHS, the team was issued a technical foul, putting Rossview at the line. Not only would the Hawks get two free throws, making only one of them.

Only down two now, RHS drew a foul and went to the line again. After missing the first, Rossview made the second, but the referee called a lane violation, barring the point from counting.

Wheat then extended Clarksville’s lead by four more points after a successful drive to the lane and a steal that led to a basket on the other end in transition. At this point it was a 61-55 ballgame.

After this collapse, the Hawks pulled themselves out of the hole, managing to tie the game by hitting a free throw, a three pointer, and then stealing the ball for a layup.

The Wildcats got the ball with 24.9 seconds on the clock. Wheat brought the ball up, used some clock, drove to the basket and drew a foul. The guard hit two clutch free throws. RHS brought the ball up the court quickly, but ended up leaving only 1.8 seconds on the clock. In the final play, Messiah Ward got a clean look for three, but the ball hit the right side of the rim and fell short.

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Clarksville High held off Rossview to capture a 63-61 victory. Clarksville sweeps the regular season series, and officially became 2022 District 13-AAAA Regular Season Champions.

Girls game

Torri James shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Sydney DesRoches shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Sydney DesRoches, right, rebounding as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS coach Justin Woods talks to the team as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The RHS cheer team lines up as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Laci Edwards shoots as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Laci Edwards drives as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jana Darnell shoots a 3 as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Imari Berry enters as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Imari Berry shooting over Aubrey Padgett as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Imari Berry, right, blocking Aubrey Padgett as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Evie Darnell, right, and Ella Moore, left, rebounding as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Evie Darnell, right, defending Imari Berry as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Emani Collier shooting as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Emani Collier makes a bounce pass as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ella Moore, left, and Aubrey Padgett, right, rebounding as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Ella Moore goes for a layup as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS coach Brian Rush talks to the team as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
The CHS cheer team lines up as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Angel Martin take a free throw as Clarksville High faces Rossview High in girls basketball on Feb. 9, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

Defense dominated during the first quarter of the girls game between Clarksville and Rossview. Each team struggled getting their offenses moving efficiently, and the quarter ended with the Hawks leading the Wildcats 9-5.

Things quickly turned around during the second quarter for each squad as they exploded to combine for 40 total points. Eighteen of those points came from 6 three-point shots between the two teams. Sydney DeRoches led the offensive production for RHS with 8 points, while Kate Howard led the way for CHS. The half came to a close with Rossview leading 29-25.

Second half

The third quarter remained a tight contest. Clarkville’s Imari Berry flourished, scoring every way imaginable. The guard scored 9 out of the team’s 11 points to start the second half.

Meanwhile, Rossview struggled to make field goals. Their ability to make free throws played to their advantage though, only allowing the Wildcats to outscore the team by one point in the quarter.

Things really opened up for the Hawks in the fourth quarter. RHS held CHS scoreless for the first six minutes, and were able to put some distance between the two schools.

The game ended on a 18-4 run thanks to Rossview making all but one of their free throw attempts. For reference, the team shot around 90% on their free throw attempts in the fourth.

With the win, the Rossview girls basketball program sweeps the Wildcats in the regular season series.