CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Clarksville boys basketball’s dominant second-half of play Friday propelled them to a 70-43 win over Rossview, sweeping their rival in the regular season for just the second time since 2011.
Entering their road matchup against the Hawks, the Wildcats came in averaging 90 points per game over their last two contests.
Clarksville boys basketball coach Ted Young gave his thoughts on why his team had a decline in offensive production early on.
“Rossview’s defense what tremendous tonight,” Young said. “Normally they’re a 3-2 zone team who dares you to shoot the ball outside, but tonight they said we’re going to go nose-to-nose and man-to-man. They said we’re going to make you share the ball and we didn’t do that in the first half.”
Clarksville’s Wesley Booth paid major dividends off of the bench at both ends of the court on Friday.
“You know I’m not a starter, but I got the opportunity,” Booth said. “I just tried to live up to the expectations.”
In a crowded Wildcat backcourt, Booth plays a six-man type of role for the team. The junior shared his thoughts on the depth CHS has at the guard position and how they all benefit off each other.
“I have a lot of great teammates surrounding me especially my guards,” Booth said. “It just makes the flow of the game easier for us.”
The Wildcats controlled the second half, closing the third quarter on an 11-1 run before outscoring the Hawks 27-10 in the fourth quarter.
“We had about five possessions in a row there where our defensive pressure really picked up,” Young said. “We were able to get deflections and our hands on the ball. We ended up with about five easy baskets that gave us a 10-point cushion and Rossview had to come down and shoot a lot quicker at that point.”
JJ Wheat made some highlight-reel plays against Rossview, as the scintillating sophomore continues to make his case as of the best players in the area.
After heaping praise on Wheat’s performance, Young said there is one step he needs to take in order to join the likes of Tyrone Caldwell, Greg Bronson and Quinn Bradley on the list of the all-time great Wildcat guards.
“When he has the ball, he’s a tremendous player,” Young said. “He can make one-on-one moves to the hoop, finish with both hands and shoot the three-pointer both off the dribble and off of a catch and shoot. What we work with him on every day and what he’s improving upon is moving without the ball. The last five games that we’ve played he’s been face guarded…He’s one of the top three open-floor players that I’ve gotten to coach.”
Booth shared the current mindset of the team as the regular season winds down and the postseason draws near.
“Every practice we just keep going hard,” Booth said. “We’re looking forward to finishing strong.”
Wheat had a game-high 26 points followed by Jamarco Mimms in double figures with 11. Booth and Mason Spurbeck finished with eight points each for the Wildcats.
Spencer Mimms led the Hawks with 14 points while Ronald Jessemy scored eight points and Bryant Rippy added seven points for Rossview.
Clarksville hosts Springfield on Tuesday.
Rossview welcomes in Northeast on Tuesday.