Stone Memorial senior guard Briggs Lowe said he does not measure his impact by points alone, and that mindset is helping drive the Panthers through a demanding early-season schedule.
Standing 6-foot-6, Lowe said he brings a rare blend of size and guard skills that allows him to thrive in nearly any matchup. Lowe said he believes his versatility gives Stone Memorial an edge as it navigates a tough slate against some of the state’s best teams, including some they faced last season.
“We were very successful last year,” Lowe said. “We had a great team, good leaders, we lost a lot of guys, but this year we just got to come in with a spark and just play our game and [play] we know how to do like we did last year.”
That adaptability has been crucial for a Panthers team that entered the season with high expectations after last year’s success, even after graduating key contributors. Lowe said despite losing a few key players, he still feels comfortable with any matchup thrown his way.
“If they put a smaller guy on me, I can go to the post,” Lowe said. “But if they have a big guy on me, I can handle the ball and get up the floor, so it’s nice to be able to do that.”
So far, that spark has been evident. Stone Memorial sits at 4-4, but the record tells only part of the story. All four losses have come against teams ranked in the top five in Tennessee, each by fewer than ten points. Lowe said the narrow margins and level of competition have reinforced his belief that the Panthers are ahead of schedule.
Lowe said he credits the coaching staff for preparing the team to compete at that level, emphasizing ball movement and chemistry over individual numbers.
“We like to move the ball,” Lowe said. “We like to back cut. We like to screen, take curls, so it’s very important that we have that chemistry so we can get those open looks.”
That system suits Lowe perfectly. Lowe said rather than chasing a scoring total each night, he focuses on filling the stat sheet in quieter but equally impactful ways: In rebounds, assists, steals and blocks, and whatever else the team needs to stay competitive.
