All-Memphis match-ups highlight D2 state tourney
Harding coach Kevin Starks has his finger on the pulse of Division 2-A basketball around the state. So when he says it means a lot for Shelby County to have three of the four semifinalists in this week's boys state tournament, you can be sure he's not just being a cheerleader.
"You look at the Middle/East teams like FRA with (coach) John Pierce and Webb with Ricky Norris, they always play well," he said. "But (to have three of the four) says it all really. That's huge.
"And you look at Rossville, they gave FRA all they could handle (in last Saturday's sub-state round). Then you look at FACS, which was maybe the best, most consistent team throughout the season ... and they're at home. We're fortunate to be here."
Harding along with Lausanne and St. George's will comprise 75 percent of the field when the boys tournament gets underway Friday at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena. The Lions and Lynx will meet in an 11:30 a.m. semi, guaranteeing at least one Memphis team in Saturday's 3 p.m. championship game.
Lausanne and Harding have met three times this year, splitting in the regular season before the Lynx won 55-44 in the West Region semifinals. The Lions didn't play particularly well in that one and Starks is hoping for a better result this time around.
"They are really talented," he said. "From top to bottom, they're probably the No. 1 team in our conference. But we've beaten them before.
"More than anything, I'm concerned about what our team is going to do. That's the main focus; if we do what we've been coached to do, we have a chance."
Harding is the defending champion following a memorable victory over FRA in 2016, a game that saw the Lions trail by 31 early in the third quarter before rallying to win in overtime.
But the Lynx present a different challenge altogether. With sophomore Schyler Forest leading the way, Lausanne has a tremendously talented group of under-
classmen complemented by what head coach Marvis Davis said has been great senior leadership from James Babb and Jesse Neloms in a season that could have easily been derailed by injuries.
"One of the things I've learned is that no matter how good we are and bad they are or how bad we are and good they are, this is the biggest rivalry," said Davis. "Speedy (Starks) does a great job and he's got really good kids.
"We lost four players, two starters, to season-ending knee injuries. And James, first he had a problem with his thumb and then he was on (football) recruiting trips ... he's missed at least eight games. But the senior leadership has really spilled over to guys like Sky and (fellow 10th-graders) Ashton Smith and Cameron Sims."
St. George's has a Mr. Basketball finalist of its own in Chase Hayden, who is looking to win his second straight. He'll be on display as the Gryphons open against FRA at 2:45 p.m. on Friday.
There will only be one team taking part when D2-AA gets underway Thursday and it's an old reliable. Briarcrest is in the semis for the 14th season in a row and will put its 14-game winning streak on the line against Brentwood Academy at 1:15 p.m.
Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas