As we enter the Thanksgiving Holiday, Creek Woods’ boys and girls basketball teams sit about where we thought they would be.
The Lady Red Hawks sit at 3-1. A slight surprise after picking up an impromptu game with Lexington last Saturday and getting a big win over Goodpasture on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Red Hawks have just two games under their belt after their tournament game Tuesday was canceled when their opponent backed out.
Still, though, close wins over Cheatham County and Station Camp are wins and that is what counts.
Both teams certainly show a need to progress in certain aspects as the season goes on.
The Lady Red Hawks, in their sole loss this season to Brentwood, out rebounded the Lady Bruins.
Unfortunately, the Lady Bruins double and even triple-teamed Brianna Burgess at times, and Laura Nichols 16 points weren’t enough on a night shots weren’t falling.
Burgess will need to get used to being the center of attention.
No longer can she rely on teams not being able to put two or more people on her because of talents like Autumn and Allie Burgess or Reagan Taylor.
Brianna has to find a way to either beat the double or get her teammates more involved.
In that same vain, her teammates have to get involved themselves.
You cannot out rebound a team like Brentwood and fail to win the game.
The boards are Brentwoods strength, if you take that away, you should win.
Especially with the talent, Creek Wood possesses.
As well, the Lady Red Hawks will have to find ways to win games when shots aren’t falling.
This is not the first time and it won’t be the last that happens.
On the flip side, the Red Hawks have some growth of their own.
Jamison Ford and Jace Herrell are giving 110 percent and through two games have willed their teams to victory.
Carter Thomason has done his part to aid in the scoring and creation of opportunities.
However, with games, the likes of Page and Greenbrier coming up, more guys have to step to the plate.
This Creek Wood team is undersized and young.
Therefore, they have to see athletes like Tanner Lampley, Clint Morgan, and Braden Dawson step up when they get mismatches with albeit bigger, more physical, but less athletic ability.
Bryson Harding could be the key to it all, however.
A young man with promise on both ends, coaches have been excited about it for a while now.
Stuck behind older more mature players for a few seasons now it is his time to shine.
He may not be the athlete some others are, but he is a pure shooter.
If he can get more consistent, it would be a game-shifting boost.
Cole Adams last season alongside Kaden Austin were able to stretch a defense which gave their athletic advantage at the other positions space to thrive in.
That is what Harding has to do offensively.
Not even make shots, but carve himself out to a threat to make threes anytime from anywhere.
Perception is the reality in this case.
Again, both teams look poised for great years yet again and are very much where we expected them to be here early in the year.
Next up is a showdown with Page that should be a good test for both teams.
