CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville Wildcats defeated the Rossview Hawks for TSSAA district tournament on Tuesday.

During the rivals’ last showdown, the game came down to the Hawks being unable to hit a game winner at the end of regulation. Throughout the first couple of minutes of play, viewers could sense the contest would go down to the wire once again.

CHS JJ Wheat driving past RHS Cam Ward as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS JJ Wheat shoots as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS JJ Wheat shooting over RHS Landon Hankemeier as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Ty Butler shoots as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Ty Butler, right, as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Trea Dasher as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat prepares for a free throw as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Joseph Schreiber Rivera shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Joseph Schreiber Rivera shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Seneca Bradley as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Seneca Bradley shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Messiah Ward shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Messiah Ward shooting with CHS Joseph Schreiber Rivera defending as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Jamar Carnell shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Jamar Carnell driving as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Jamar Carnell driving as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Jahiem Berry as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Landon Hankemeier shooting over CHS Joseph Schreiber Rivera as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Julian Hatfield shoots as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Julian Hatfield shooting as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Julian Hatfield blocking CHS Joseph Schreiber Rivera as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Houston Hebert takes a free throw as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS coach Johnny Jackson as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS Cam Ward dunks as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Arnett Hines takes a free throw as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Arnett Hines shoots as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS Jahiem Berry goes for a layup as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS students celebrate as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS girls players Imari Berry and Malon Smith support the boys as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
CHS students celebrate as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat celebrates as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Jahiem Berry, left, and JJ Wheat, right, celebrate as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
JJ Wheat right hugs Jahiem Berry as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High defeated Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
Clarksville High defeated Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
RHS finished as the runner-up as Clarksville High played Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
District MVP JJ Wheat as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)
District Coach of the Year CHS’s Ted Young as Clarksville High plays Rossview for the TSSAA boys basketball district championship on Feb. 22, 2022. (Ryan Vinson)

The physical tone of play set the intensity for the matchup. Each team’s defensive play was stellar as neither managed to get their offenses flowing. This was the case until the Wildcats and Hawks traded four consecutive three-point field goals to end the quarter. Rossview had a 15-14 lead over Clarksville as the buzzer sounded.

Each team’s effective defensive play carried over to the second quarter. It was a dog fight as each tried to gain the upper hand going into halftime. As the Wildcats and Hawks headed into the locker rooms, Rossview still led by one point. The team’s ability to spread the ball around was a difference maker in the first half. Six different players scored for the team, while only three players were in the scoring column for the Wildcats.

Second half

Coming out of halftime, each team’s offense found their rhythm. Rossview was able to find ways to penetrate the interior defense of Clarksville and get to the rim. This trend carried on throughout the third quarter, but the Wildcats were able to manage. Clarksville responded to the Hawks’ new offensive approach by knocking down 5 shots behind the arc. As the game headed into the final quarter of play, Rossview led 45-44.

The rivals continued trading buckets in the fourth quarter; neither could gain a distinct advantage over the other. Clarksville began attacking the rim just as Rossview had done the quarter prior. The last two minutes of the fourth was a nail bitter as the game was tied.

The Wildcats had possession of the ball and were taking their time as the clock continued to wind down. As the team drove to the rim, the Hawks were able to reject the shot attempt. However, Clarksville collected the offensive rebound and called timeout to draw up a play. Ultimately, nothing came of the offensive position, and the team left minimal time on the clock. Time expired and the district championship headed into overtime.

The additional four minutes of play came down to Rossview’s Messiah Ward knocking down an acrobatic layup attempt with only 20 seconds to go. With the team down by one, the Wildcats pushed the ball up the court and drove to the rim. The first attempt was unsuccessful, but Wheat would follow up the miss with a game winning put back. Clarksville would go on to win the TSSAA district championship 65-64.

After the game

Clarksville head coach Ted Young said the win will give the team momentum headed into regional play.

“Our point of emphasis was on the semi-final game so that the team could enter the championship, as well as gain home court advantage going into the next matchup. It was nice to see the team handle and understand the moment in closing out games as they did tonight,” Young said.

Clarksville scoring leaders: JJ Wheat – 32 points; Jaheim Berry – 19 points; Joseph Schreiber-Rivera – 7 points; Arnett Hines – 6 points; Jamar Carnell – 1 point

Rossview scoring leaders: Messiah Ward – 21 points; Ty Butler – 14 points; Julian Hatfield – 9 points; Landon Hankemeier – 8 points; Cam Ward – 7 points; Seneca Bradley – 2 points; Jacob Edwards – 2 points; Houston Hebert – 1 point

All Tournament: Clarksville – Jaheim Berry, Jamar Carnell, Arnett Hines and JJ Wheat; Rossview – Ty Butler, Landon Hankemeier and Messiah Ward; Springfield – Kemarian Flair and Keyshawn Robinson; Northeast – Nazier Leonard and Jayden Young; West Creek – Kayden Pace

All-District: Clarksville – JJ Wheat, Jaheim Berry, Arnett Hines and Joseph Schreiver-Rivera; Rossview – Seneca Bradley, Ty Butler and Julian Hatfield; Northeast – Dion Carney and Nazier Leonard; West Creek – Sean LaFortune and Kayden Pace; Springfield – Kemarian Flair

Player of the Year: Clarksville – JJ Wheat

Coach of the Year: Clarksville – Ted Young