The Cedar Shoals (Athens, GA) varsity basketball team will face Craigmont (Memphis, TN) in a neutral-site tournament game on Friday, December 13, 2024, at 5:30 PM as part of the Carbondale Illinois Get Down Showcase.

Here’s what you need to know Basketball:

What: Tennessee High School Basketball
Who: Cedar Shoals vs Craigmont
When: Friday, December 13, 2024
Time: 5:30. p.m. ET
Live stream: Watch Here

Craigmont vs. Cedar Shoals: A Comparative Breakdown for the 2024-2025 Season

As the 2024-2025 basketball season progresses, two teams in focus are Craigmont and Cedar Shoals, each with its distinct strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we compare their records, team performance, and scoring averages to understand how they’ve fared so far and what to expect moving forward.

Overall Record

• Craigmont: The Craigmont team has had a mixed start to the season, with a record of 2-2. Their performance has been split evenly between home and away games, as they are 1-0 at home and 1-2 away. However, their total points scored (157) versus their points allowed (207) indicates they’ve struggled to outpace their opponents on the scoreboard, holding a .500 win percentage.
• Cedar Shoals: Cedar Shoals has enjoyed a more successful start, finishing with a 6-4 overall record. Their performance is notably stronger at home, where they have a 4-1 record. Cedar Shoals has a .600 win percentage and has managed to score more overall points (605) than they’ve allowed (570), showing their offensive potency. Furthermore, their .667 region win percentage reflects their competitive edge in regional matchups.

Scoring Trends

• Craigmont: The team has displayed an interesting pattern across the four quarters. They start strong, with an average of 17 points in Q1 and a substantial increase to 25 points in Q2, indicating they’re a team that builds momentum early. However, in the second half, they drop off, scoring 26 points in Q3 but only 8 points in Q4. This dramatic fall-off in the final quarter suggests fatigue or adjustments from opponents may be impacting their performance late in games.
• Cedar Shoals: Cedar Shoals, in contrast, has a more balanced scoring distribution across the quarters. They score 7.3 points in Q1, but their output increases gradually as the game progresses—11.0 in Q2, 9.7 in Q3, and 8.7 in Q4. Interestingly, their overtime performance stands out, with an average of 65.0 points in OT1, which could be indicative of their ability to close out tight games when it matters most.

Home vs. Away Performance

• Craigmont: Craigmont has a solid 1-0 record at home but has struggled on the road, with a 1-2 away record. Their challenges on the road could be a result of hostile environments or travel fatigue, impacting their ability to maintain consistency in away games.
• Cedar Shoals: Cedar Shoals has been much more successful away from home, holding a 1-2 away record but dominating at home with a 4-1 record. This suggests they perform significantly better in familiar surroundings but have the potential to challenge opponents on the road as well.

Key Matchups and Head-to-Head

Both teams have yet to face off against one another this season, leaving fans eager to see how they match up when they finally meet on the court. The head-to-head record between the two teams is still 0-0, making the upcoming matchup all the more intriguing. Their relative strengths—Craigmont’s early-game performance and Cedar Shoals’ balanced offense—will be crucial factors in determining the outcome of this game.

Record Breakdown

• Craigmont:
  • 2-2 overall record shows a team in search of consistency.
  • They’ve been competitive in non-league games (2-2), but their overall performance shows that they need to improve defensively to keep games close.
  • Their home performance at 1-0 is positive, but their struggles away (1-2) indicate a need for improvement when facing tough opponents on the road.
• Cedar Shoals:
  • With a 6-4 record, Cedar Shoals has been consistently competitive.
  • Their 3-2 non-league record is a strong showing, suggesting they can handle teams outside their region.
  • Cedar Shoals has been dominant at home (4-1), and with a 1-1 neutral record, they seem capable of handling both hostile and neutral environments effectively.

Conclusion

As we move deeper into the 2024-2025 season, both Craigmont and Cedar Shoals have their distinct advantages. Craigmont’s strength lies in its strong first half, but its inability to close games will need addressing if they’re to contend with tougher opponents. On the other hand, Cedar Shoals has shown the ability to maintain steady scoring throughout the game and seems more capable of adapting to different environments, with a strong home court advantage.

The upcoming games between these two teams will be crucial in determining their respective fates for the remainder of the season. Fans can expect a highly competitive matchup when these teams meet, as both squads look to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses in the chase for regional and state supremacy.