The Prep Players Spotlight is a weekly feature of the Times Free Press that highlights five area high school athletes whose performances since the previous Thursday stood out.
Quante Berry, Bradley Central
Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / Bradley Central’s Quante Berry shoots during a road game against Cleveland on Jan. 28.The 6-foot-3 sophomore has been a game-changing guard this basketball season for the Bears, with per-game averages of 17.5 points, 3.8 assists, 2.6 steals and one block. He scored 26 points in a region quarterfinal victory against Stone Memorial last Saturday, and the Bears (23-5) will need him again in Thursday’s title game against Cleveland.
Cadashia Collins, Baylor
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Baylor’s CaDashia Collins, shown during a Lady Red Raiders softball game in May 2019, has been a standout on the basketball court this winter.The Lady Red Raiders, who will play in a TSSAA Division II-AA basketball state semifinal Friday in Nashville, have won 25 games this season, including 14 straight since losing to Signal Mountain in the Times Free Press Best of Preps tournament final in early January. Collins has been an ace on 3-pointers, and she made four in last Friday’s 54-41 quarterfinal home win over Pope John Paul II.
Xavier Fisher, Howard
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Howard’s Xavier Fisher, right, shoots and is fouled by Brainerd’s Deaunte Crawford during a Region 3-AA semifinal Tuesday night at East Ridge High School.Fisher’s flashy assists are often highlight-reel worthy, but he turned heads with his scoring prowess to lead the Hustlin’ Tigers to a state sectional berth. The sophomore point guard had 26 points in Tuesday’s 69-57 win over Brainerd in a Region 3-AA semifinal.
JoVontay Ross, Tyner
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Howard’s Micheal Wilson dribbles past Tyner’s JoVontay Ross on Jan. 31 at Tyner.The Rams have made some signature shots from beyond the arc of late, with Melique Hambrick’s banked 3-pointer to beat Red Bank in Tuesday’s Region 3-AA semifinals providing an emotional finish. Ross had nine 3s while scoring 29 points in Saturday’s 76-46 region quarterfinal win over Polk County.
JaCobi Wood, Cleveland
Staff photo by Robin Rudd / Cleveland’s JaCobi Wood (10) drives to the basket between Bradley Central’s Tray Curry, left, and Saylor Clark on Jan. 28 at Cleveland High School.The future Belmont Bruin once again showcased why he is one of the top prep players in the state. After missing the District 5-AAA touranment, Wood had 42 points and 11 3-pointers in Saturday’s 94-50 region quarterfinal home win over Cookeville. The Mr. Basketball finalist has led the Blue Raiders to a 31-1 record.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.