When Howard basketball coach James Talley talks about Kerrick Thorne's incredible growth he isn't referring to the senior post's 6-foot-6 height.
Talley praised the way his star big man has developed into a complete player after Monday's 67-51 District 6-AA home win over Red Bank.
"Coming out of middle school he was nowhere near one of the players everybody was trying to pull to their team," Talley said. "But he has come here and followed those who came before him and through hard work has become one of the best players and a future college talent on the court. There is no one who has grown more than he has in his game over the last four years."
Hustlin' Tigers junior point guard Xavier Fisher finished with a game-high 12 assists, including one pass to Thorne, who showed his speed by sprinting from the right sideline down the baseline for a one-handed dunk.
"I have known Kerrick since middle school when he couldn't make layups," Fisher said of Thorne who recently became the newest member of Howard's 1,000 point club. "Now, Kerrick is grown, becoming a man and is a leader on and off the court. He makes sure everyone is doing what they have to do in class and he makes sure everyone is happy in the locker room. And I love what he does on the court. He can pass, dribble, shoot, block shots and dunk on you. He can do it all."
Thorne's unselfish play also stands out, especially for a player who likes to get his teammates involved as much as possible. However, he can take over a game in a heartbeat as he has scored 30-plus points on numerous occasions. In Monday's win he also stepped back to drain a 3-pointer, joining teammate Markus Howard who added four 3-pointers and led Howard (8-3, 6-1) with 14 points.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Howard junior point guard Xavier Fisher had 12 assists in Monday's District 6-AA home victory over Red Bank.Thorne and fellow senior Cobi Dixon each finished with 13 points.
As a sophomore was part of a team that reached the Class AA state tournament, scoring 19 points in a quarterfinal.
"The atmosphere at state was something I have never felt before," Thorne said. "It was like you were playing at the next level in that gym. It was a special stage and we had a great leader on our team in Marquez Bush that I looked up to. He was a coach on and off the court and taught us everything we needed to do to be successful.
"I want to help get this team back to state and win the school's first championship."
Now it's Thorne's turn to become the team's steady leader.
"You watch him play and one thing you'll notice is he never gets upset," Talley said. "He never barks back at the coaches and he is just a great kid. He is a great leader who has worked really hard to get to where he is."
Red Bank (9-7, 7-5) was led by seniors Cam Bell, who had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Kel Eddins, who had 15 points and six steals.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Howard huddle together during Monday's District 6-AA home victory over Red Bank.
BOYS' BASKETBALL
Arts & Sciences 74, Sale Creek 29: The Patriots clinced the regular season District 4-A title as Chris McDonald led all scorers with 20 points. Five others scored at least six points for CSAS (7-5, 7-1).
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Sequatchie County 47, South Pittsburg 43: Ella Egmon scored 21 points while Addy Edgmon and Dylan Belk combined for 17 points and 19 rebounds in the Lady Indians' victory.
Sale Creek 60, Arts & Sciences 35: The Lady Panthers cleaned up the boards as Shelby Defore had 15 and Keilyn Morgan had 10, while Aesha Preston and Kayla Phillips each had eight. Defore led all with 14 points, while Morgan added five assists along with Molly Welch.
Marion County 75, Grundy County 41: The Lady Warriors blew the game open with a 17-6 run to begin the second half. Lorence Bradford's game-high 33 points, including five 3-pointers, led the Lady Warriors (14-7), while Sara Muir added 11.
WRESTLING
The GHSA Traditional Wrestling Championships begin a five-day run in Macon Tuesday with a schedule altered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tournament features a staggered schedule and reduced fields of 24-man brackets, beginning with Classes A and AA. That means two of Northwest Georgia's best title hopes begin competition with defending champion Trion in Class A and Area 7 champion Dade County in AA.
The Bulldogs are taking each of their 14 wrestlers to the Macon Centreplex, seven of them area champions, after falling short in the state duals on the ninth tiebreak criteria in the semifinal round to Commerce. Dade has 11 state wrestlers, including six area champions. The preliminary rounds in the two classes are Tuesday, with the final set for Wednesday at 7.
Wednesday also begins competition in Class AAA, where defending state champion Sonoraville has eight area champions among its 12 wrestlers, followed by Coahulla Creek and North Murray with 11 each. The AAA finals are set for Thursday at 7.
Classes AAAA and AAAAAA have preliminary rounds Thursday, with finals set for Friday, with Northwest Whitfield sending eight competitors, four of them area champs in AAAA, while Dalton sends five wrestlers, including defending state champion Hunter Noland at 145, into Class AAAAAA action.
Class AAAAA goes Friday and Saturday, with Calhoun advancing five in AAAAA.