Jackson area best players, storylines, hot takes entering TSSAA girls basketball playoffs

The TSSAA basketball playoffs tip off this week for Jackson area high school girls basketball programs in Division I.

Here is a look at what you need to know for the playoffs for West Tennessee high school basketball girls programs.

Storylines to follow

Gibson County, USJ rolling

USJ freshman guard Haylen Ayers and Gibson County senior guard Micah Hart have their teams rolling heading into the postseason.

Ayers and the Bruins (18-5) have won 12 games in a row and cruised to a district championship and are still in search of their first state title in school history.

Gibson County (29-1) has just one blemish, a six-point loss to Crockett County. Since that loss, the Pioneers have dominated every game, winning each of them by double digits.

McKenzie, Westview seek 3-peat

McKenzie and Westview enter the TSSAA basketball playoffs seeking third consecutive titles. McKenzie has won back-to-back titles in Class 1A while Westview has won two straight Class 2A titles.

McKenzie (15-5) and MTSU signee Savannah Davis have found a way to play their best basketball heading into the playoffs. Davis is in search of her second Miss Basketball award in three years.

Westview (18-4) has lost three times during the 2024 calendar year, including twice against Gibson County. The Chargers have played in tight games through district play and have plenty of experience on the road.

More: 2024 TSSAA basketball district tournament brackets for Jackson high schools

Chester County, South Side rising

Senior point guard Jariyah Williamson led Chester County to its best regular season since the 2015-16 season, when the Eagles went to the regional semifinals. The Eagles (22-3) have won their first regular season district title since 2005-06.

South Side (20-6) is defending its Class 3A title from last season, and has two of the three influential players from last season in junior forward Jaidynn Askins and senior guard Kimora Currie leading a powerful one-two punch and have plenty of depth.

Players to watch

Kaylee Alexander, Westview, Sr.: Alexander is averaging 13.7 points per game in the regular season and can knock down a variety of jump shots.

Jaidynn Askins, South Side, Jr.: Askins is the leader for the Hawks – and she has another year to keep being that force in the frontcourt.

Haylen Ayers, USJ, Fr.: Ayers, one of the nation’s top recruits in the Class of 2027, has been playing at a high level in her freshman season – earning Division II-A Miss Basketball finalist honors.

Joya Crawford, Dyersburg, Jr.: Crawford averaged 17.3 points per game in the regular season while pulling down almost five rebounds per contest as a guard.

Savannah Davis, McKenzie, Sr.: The MTSU signee is aiming to win her second Miss Basketball award in three seasons. She’s shooting the ball at a high rate, especially her 42% from 3-point range.

Julie Hampton, Scotts Hill, Jr.: Hampton has been a prolific 3-point shooter for the Lions this season. She broke the single season school record on Saturday, hitting three of her 72 3-pointers this season – breaking Crystal Eason’s record of 71 in 2004.

Micah Hart, Gibson County, Sr.: Hart is a Miss Basketball finalist in Class 2A, averaging 21 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals during the regular season.

Mikaela Reynolds, McKenzie, Sr.: Reynolds is a sneaky forward for the Rebels. She works hard in the post to score the difficult points by scoring through contact and ripping down the tough rebounds.

McCall Sims, Westview, Jr.: Sims, a junior and Tennessee softball commit, reached the 1,000-point mark on Jan. 31 and has continued to impress with her 14.3 point-per-game average in the regular season.

Jariyah Williamson, Chester County, Sr.: Williamson is averaging around 20 points per game and over three steals per game.

Hot takes for TSSAA girls basketball playoffs

Gibson County wins state title

The Pioneers have been a staple in Murfreesboro each of the last five seasons, including the 2019 state championship. Last year, Gibson County advanced to the semifinals before dropping out of the tournament.

This year, however, will be different. Gibson County has depth, excellent guard play and can wear teams out defensively.

McKenzie, USJ come up just short

The Rebels are solid on the offensive end of the floor, but the defense can be susceptible to big runs at times. McKenzie should make it to Murfreesboro for the third year in a row — but winning a third state title in a row, that’s an even more difficult task.

USJ, playing in Division II-A, should make it to the semifinals in Cookeville, but the depth may come into question for the Bruins. Haylen Ayers leads the way, fellow freshman Lilly Teague helps out in a big way, too. But the Bruins may just run out of gas and get beat late.

More: How Savannah Davis leads McKenzie girls basketball with screws, metal plate in her shooting hand

Big teams miss Murfreesboro

Westview has dominated teams it should beat, but has struggled in games against teams just above their level. Being the two-time defending champs, the Chargers are going to get every team’s best shot this postseason.

South Side is a balanced team, similar to what it was last season — but Class 3A teams are wanting to take down the defending champion and prevent the Hawks from even having a shot at doing so.

Despite its hot streak, Chester County may fall into its history again as getting so close to making it to Murfreesboro but just coming up short late in the playoff run.

This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: TSSAA girls basketball: Jackson area top players, storylines in playoffs