4 questions for Clarksville-area basketball teams in second half of TSSAA season

After an unplanned, week-long break from the action due to inclement weather, high school basketball in Tennessee is set to resume.

Here are four questions on Clarksville-area teams for the remainder of the TSSAA regular season and postseason.

Will the Clarksville girls finish the regular season unbeaten?

No. 4 Clarksville (17-0, 2-0 District 13-4A) has only started this good once before — 2012. That was when Bashaara Graves, Tiasha Gray, Jessy Ward and Chandler Cooper led a star-studded Wildcats team to 37 wins and the state semifinals, where they suffered their first loss at the hands of unbeaten Science Hill.

Imari Berry is averaging 25.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.8 steals and 3.2 assists, but Clarksville is a more experienced team than it was when it lost to Green Hill in the state quarterfinals last season. Only one senior from that team graduated, and Malon Smith has become a double-digit scorer as a junior.

The Wildcats have two games remaining against Rossview (12-6), which might be their toughest test not just in district play, but in Region 7-4A too. Should Clarksville come out unscathed from Monday's road test against the Hawks, it will have a good shot at taking its undefeated record not just past the end of the regular season, but into the sectional.

Can Trae Rideau and Cam Phillips guide Clarksville Academy back to the state tournament?

If the Cougars, who graduated Eddie Ricks III, Jacques Wyatt III and Tyler Moss, were supposed to be rebuilding, nobody told them. At 15-4, and 6-2 in DII-A District 4, they actually have a better record at this time than they did last season, which ended with a state semifinal loss to Goodpasture.

Trae Rideau and Cam Phillips have stepped up to become one of the state's best backcourts. Rideau, a junior, averages 20 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Phillips, a senior, averages 19.5 points and shoots 44% from 3-point distance. CA has also gotten consistent scoring from sophomore Tahj Davie and inside play from sophomore JaRohn Johnson.

The Cougars will get a good idea of where they stand Tuesday when they get a second crack at defending state champion Goodpasture, which beat CA 80-50 on Dec. 15. They'll also have to contend with Friendship Christian (11-5), BGA (17-2), Providence Christian (14-3) and Columbia Academy (14-4) in a challenging Middle Region if they want to get back to Cookeville.

Which boys team is the best in Division I?

The honor of best Clarksville-area public school boys team is still up for grabs. Despite an 11-8 record, Rossview has a solid claim. The Hawks beat Class 4A No. 1 Bartlett and have played a difficult schedule thus far, and Landon Hankemeier, Jacob Edwards and Cam Ward all average at least 13 points per game.

Rossview has gotten tough tests from Kenwood, Kirkwood and Northwest, though, beating those teams by a combined 11 points. The Knights (7-6) have eight players averaging at least five points per game; the Cobras (11-7) have the city's best freshman in forward Armani Smith (17 points per game) and the Vikings (11-5) have three double-digit scorers with Ta'Carey Monday, Ahmad Harvey and Quez Scott.

Additionally, don't be surprised if West Creek (7-8), which gave Clarksville Academy a scare in November, makes a run behind sophomore Kameron Bowers (17 points per game).

How good are the Houston County boys?

The Irish were senior-heavy in 2022-23, going 14-15 and reaching the Region 6-1A semifinals. This season's team is much younger, yet has almost reached last season's win total anyway. Houston County (13-4, 2-0 District 12-1A) is ranked No. 10 and has won 13 of its last 15.

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Jed Baggett, Carson Conwell, Casen Clark and Hagan Honeycutt all average between 10 and 13 points, and Mac Baggett has given the Irish's balanced offense a lift. After seeing sporadic playing time over the first 11 games of the season, he's led Houston County with 87 points over the last six, scoring in double figures in each.

Houston County got a big win over district rival McEwen (11-5) on Jan. 13. It can make another statement down the stretch with two games against McKenzie (9-6), which went to the state tournament last season.

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: TSSAA basketball: 4 questions for Clarksville-area teams