Division I Boys' Basketball State Tournament Recaps
Class 1A Championship
Jackson Co. 52, Humboldt 39 · Saturday 6:30 PM
Tournament MVP Will McCrary posted a commanding double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds to power Jackson Co. to a 52-39 win against Humboldt for the Class 1A state championship. After a 22-22 halftime tie, Jackson Co. seized control with a decisive third-quarter run, fueled by making four three-pointers, to build a lead it would never surrender. Jackson Co.'s offense was a model of efficiency, shooting 50% from the field and demonstrating exceptional team play by assisting on 16 of their 17 field goals. While Humboldt was effective at creating takeaways, scoring 18 points off turnovers, it was not enough to overcome the significant shooting difference. Jackson Co. cemented the victory in the final period by making 9 of its 12 free throws. Humboldt was led by a game-high 23 points from Darion Taylor.
Class 4A Championship
Bartlett 69, Walker Valley 47 · Saturday 4:00 PM
Bartlett captured the Class 4A state title with a decisive 69-47 victory over Walker Valley, punctuating a dominant performance that began from the opening tip. Bartlett established control with a 23-4 run to start the game, fueled by suffocating defense and lethal transition offense, and never looked back. Axton Perry paced a balanced Bartlett offense with 15 points while adding a commanding defensive presence with four blocks and four steals. The champions demonstrated impressive depth, receiving a 22-0 scoring advantage from their bench, including key contributions from Malachi Hill and Jayden Mitchell. Tournament MVP Dylan Jones orchestrated the offense, finishing with nine points, a team-high seven rebounds, and a game-high five assists. For Walker Valley, Zach Davis led all scorers with an impressive 24 points in the effort. Bartlett's efficient shooting at 51% and a plus-12 advantage in points off turnovers proved insurmountable as they closed their season with a 35-4 record and the state championship.
Class 3A Championship
Alcoa 57, Knoxville Fulton 48 · Saturday 1:30 PM
Alcoa captured the state championship with a stunning fourth-quarter comeback, overcoming a nine-point deficit to defeat Knoxville Fulton 57-48. Trailing 41-32 to start the final period, Alcoa dominated the game's closing stretch, outscoring Fulton 25-7. The game was decided by a massive 20-2 run by Alcoa over the final 4:56 after Fulton hit its last field goal of the night. Condis Cherry led the charge with a game-high 20 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter, while tournament MVP Jay Kirk added 13 points, nine of which came in the final frame, including the go-ahead layup with 2:29 remaining. For Fulton, Nick Steen posted a powerful performance with 19 points and 15 rebounds, fueling a third-quarter surge that gave his team the lead, but Alcoa's defensive pressure and clutch shooting in the final minutes proved decisive.
Class 2A Championship
Chattanooga Prep 61, Westview 52 · Saturday 11:00 AM
A balanced and efficient offensive attack propelled Chattanooga Prep to a 61-52 victory over Westview to claim the state championship. Shooting a blistering 58% from the field, Chattanooga Prep overcame an early deficit by taking the lead late in the first quarter and never looking back. Reid Conley led the champions with 18 points to go with five blocks, while tournament MVP Derrick Roberson added 16 points and Joel Bulis controlled the glass with 10 rebounds. The team's interior defense was stifling, recording 10 blocks that consistently disrupted Westview's offense. After Westview cut the lead to four points midway through the final period, Chattanooga Prep answered with a decisive 8-0 run to build a 12-point advantage and sealed the win at the free-throw line in the final minutes. Miles Brown led all Westview scorers with 17 points in their runner-up effort.
Class 1A Semifinals
Jackson Co. 54, Memphis Middle College 49 · Friday 8:45 PM
Jackson Co. earned a spot in the Class 1A state championship game, rallying from a 13-point second-half deficit to defeat Memphis Middle College 54-49 in a thrilling Murphy Center semifinal. Trailing 26-16 at halftime, Jackson Co. erupted with a 26-10 third-quarter run, shooting 65% in the period to seize a lead they would not surrender. Will McCrary anchored the comeback with a dominant double-double, finishing with game-highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds. In a final quarter that saw the margin narrowed to a single point, Jackson County's Alex Meadows scored a critical layup with 10 seconds left to lift his team to victory. Jackson Co. also controlled the boards, finishing with a 31-19 rebounding advantage. Kason Thomas and Matthew Manuel paced Memphis Middle College with 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Humboldt 65, Eagleville 62 · Friday 7:15 PM
Jakevious Graves drilled a game-winning three-pointer with five seconds remaining to propel Humboldt to a thrilling 65-62 state semifinal win over a previously unbeaten Eagleville squad. Graves finished with a game-high 31 points, complemented by Darion Taylor's 21 points and 8 rebounds, as Humboldt shot a blistering 57% from the field. Eagleville, which saw its perfect season come to an end, was led by 24 points from Camden Cole. In a game that saw 10 ties, Eagleville erased a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and tied the score at 62-62 with 32 seconds left, setting the stage for Graves' heroic shot that sent Humboldt to the state championship.
Class 4A Semifinals
Bartlett 71, Bearden 61 · Friday 5:30 PM
Bartlett earned a trip to the Class 4A state championship game with a 71-61 semifinal victory over Bearden, fueled by a remarkable shooting performance. Bartlett shot an incredible 73% from the floor, including a perfect 6-for-6 effort in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Dylan Jones led all scorers with 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting, while Braylon Williams was nearly as efficient, scoring 20 points. Bearden took an early lead, but Bartlett rallied to take a two-point advantage at halftime and never trailed again. Axton Perry added 11 points and a game-high 6 rebounds for Bartlett. It was a valiant effort from Bearden, which shot 55% from three-point range and had four players score in double figures led by Justin Nordin's 17 points.
Walker Valley 52, Whitehaven 50 · Friday 4:00 PM
Zach Davis scored a game-high 18 points and Turner Clayton added 14, including four critical free throws in the final minute, as Walker Valley held off a furious rally to defeat Whitehaven 52-50 in a Class 4A state semifinal thriller. Walker Valley built a 17-point lead in the third quarter and withstood a late charge from Whitehaven, which was powered by Isaiah Grant's 15 points and a dominant 14-point, 15-rebound double-double from Aliyu Abubakar. Whitehaven shot a blistering 56% from behind the arc in the fourth quarter. Walker Valley started the game on a 5-0 run and sealed the victory by making 18 of its 26 free throws, advancing to the state championship game.
Class 3A Semifinals
Alcoa 66, Tullahoma 47 · Friday 2:15 PM
Jay Kirk scored a game-high 23 points and Alcoa used a dominant fourth quarter to power past Tullahoma 66-47 in a Class 3A state semifinal matchup Friday. Holding a narrow four-point lead entering the final period, Alcoa broke the game open with an explosive 12-2 run fueled by its defense. The decisive stretch was emblematic of the game, as Alcoa capitalized on 23 Tullahoma turnovers to build a 25-12 advantage in points off turnovers and a commanding 31-4 edge in fast-break points. Alcoa showcased a balanced attack with Jamir Dean, Condis Cherry, and Jibriel Koko all joining Kirk in double figures. Tullahoma was led by Jayden Thompson's 15 points and a 12-rebound performance from Austin Tinnon.
Knoxville Fulton 54, Upperman 51 · Friday 12:45 PM
Knoxville Fulton advanced to the state championship game with a hard-fought 54-51 semifinal victory over Upperman. Fulton overcame a spectacular 33-point performance from Upperman's Ty Cobb by leveraging its depth and capitalizing on opponent miscues. Fulton built a decisive 20-6 advantage in points off turnovers and received 15 crucial points from its bench. The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Upperman using a 24-point second quarter to take a halftime lead before Fulton responded to carry a 4-point advantage into the final period. Nick Steen was a standout for the winners with 8 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, and a game-high 6 assists. The game's pivotal moments came in the final minute. After Cobb hit a three-pointer to cut Fulton's lead to two, Fulton's Justin Burris calmly sank four consecutive free throws on two separate possessions to provide the necessary cushion. Upperman had two chances to tie the game with a three-pointer in the final seconds, but the shots did not fall, sending Fulton on to Saturday's Class 3A state championship game.
Class 2A Semifinals
Westview 47, Smith Co. 37 · Friday 11:00 AM
Westview overcame a halftime deficit with a dominant second-half performance to defeat Smith Co. 47-37 in a state semifinal, securing a spot in the championship game. While Smith County's Cooper Williams kept his team in the game with a game-high 21 points, Westview's depth and defense proved too much. Trailing for the entire first half, Westview took the lead late in the third quarter. They sealed the game in the fourth, using a 9-2 run, capped by a dunk from Arden Smith, to build an insurmountable lead. Smith's two free throws with 2:01 remaining pushed the lead to seven, and Westview's clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch preserved the win. Westview built a commanding rebounding advantage (36-19) with a suffocating interior defense. Smith finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and a game-altering 7 blocks, while Miles Brown posted a double-double with a team-high 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Chattanooga Prep 67, Loretto 44 · Friday 9:30 AM
Chattanooga Prep advanced to the state championship with a decisive 67-44 semifinal victory over Loretto, seizing control from the opening tip. The Sentinels started the game on a 7-0 run and never looked back, building a 16-3 lead after a first quarter in which Loretto was held without a field goal. Chattanooga Prep's offense was powered by a balanced attack, with Reid Conley and Derrick Roberson each scoring 19 points, while demonstrating excellent ball movement that produced 21 team assists on 49% shooting. Joel Bulis anchored the effort with a dominant performance on the glass, pulling down 15 rebounds, while Roberson added 10 rebounds and 4 blocks to control the paint. Mason Tidwell led Loretto with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds in a strong individual effort.
Class 1A Quarterfinals
Jackson Co. 53, Hampton 41 · Thursday 8:45 PM
Will McCrary scored 24 points on 75% shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Jackson Co. to a 53-41 victory over Hampton in Thursday's final Class 1A state quarterfinal game. After a tight first quarter, Jackson Co. seized control with an 18-10 second-quarter surge, taking a lead it would hold for the remainder of the contest. Jackson Co.'s offense was highly efficient, shooting 55% as a team, with Parker Patterson adding 12 points and Aden Netherton dishing out a game-high 6 assists. Hampton was paced by Colby Clark, who scored 16 points, but the team struggled to find a consistent rhythm, shooting 35% from the field for the game and just 21% in the final period as Jackson Co. pulled away to advance.
Memphis Middle College 49, Wayne Co. 42 · Thursday 7:15 PM
Memphis Middle College erased an 11-point halftime deficit to defeat Wayne Co. 49-42 in a dramatic state quarterfinal matchup. The game was a story of opposing momentum, as Wayne Co. started the game shooting 75% in the first quarter but finished making only 5 of their last 30 field goal attempts. Memphis Middle College rode a decisive 14-2 third-quarter run to take the lead for good. Miles Helton fueled the comeback, leading his team with 17 points on highly efficient 8-of-10 shooting while anchoring the defense with four blocks. After shooting just 14% in the opening frame, Memphis Middle College's offense surged to shoot 71% in the second half. Jaylon Pettigrew provided a critical spark off the bench with 7 points, scoring the final four points in the last 14 seconds to secure the victory and keep his team's season alive.
Humboldt 64, Unaka 53 · Thursday 5:30 PM
Humboldt pulled away in the final eight minutes to secure its spot in the state semifinals, defeating Unaka 64-53 in a hard-fought quarterfinal matchup. After heading into the fourth quarter tied 43-43, Humboldt unleashed a decisive 21-10 run to end Unaka's season. Darion Taylor powered the winning effort with a game-high 25 points, while guard Jakevious Graves scored nine of his 19 points in the final frame. For Unaka, Aiden Walsh led the team with 18 points, and John Hardin recorded a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out early in the fourth quarter. A key difference was Humboldt's ability to capitalize on mistakes, scoring 22 points off 18 Unaka turnovers to punch its ticket to the next round.
Eagleville 69, Pickett Co. 66 · Thursday 4:00 PM
James Bega and Camden Cole each scored 24 points to lead undefeated Eagleville to a thrilling 69-66 victory over Pickett Co. in a Class 1A state quarterfinal matchup. Eagleville built its lead on a significant advantage from three-point range, making eight shots from beyond the arc to Pickett Co.'s two, and a staunch defense that recorded 10 blocks. Pickett Co. battled back from a 10-point second-half deficit, staying in the game by controlling the boards and getting a heroic fourth-quarter performance from Cole Amonett, who scored 17 of his team-high 23 points in the final period. The final quarter was a back-and-forth duel, but Eagleville answered every charge, with Cole scoring 15 of his points in the frame and the team hitting crucial free throws down the stretch to seal the victory and end Pickett Co.'s season. Bega finished with five 3-pointers for Eagleville, while Pickett Co. was led on the glass by Nathaniel Cobb's 8 rebounds.
Class 4A Quarterfinals
Bearden 55, Beech 52 · Thursday 2:15 PM
Bearden held on for a dramatic 55-52 victory over Beech in a state quarterfinal matchup to keep its season alive. Justin Nordin guided a balanced Bearden offense with 17 points and 5 assists, while Cutter Sisk delivered a brilliant 33-point performance for Beech in the loss. The turning point came in the third quarter, when Bearden used a 17-7 run, fueled by aggressive drives and strong free-throw shooting, to turn a halftime deficit into a seven-point lead. Though Beech mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback, its struggles from the foul line, where the team shot just 50% for the game compared to Bearden's 67%, proved decisive in the three-point contest. Bearden sealed the win in the final seconds by converting key free throws amidst a flurry of fouls by both teams.
Bartlett 65, Brentwood 56 · Thursday 12:45 PM
Bartlett pulled away in the final period of a tie game to defeat Brentwood 65-56 in a state quarterfinal matchup. Dylan Jones scored 22 points, including a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range, to lead the charge for Bartlett. The game was knotted 49-49 midway through the fourth quarter before a 6-0 Bartlett run, capped by a Jones three-pointer, created crucial separation. Down the stretch, Bartlett secured the victory by converting 10 free throws in the final period, with floor general Braylon Williams finishing with a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 10 assists. Davis Cochran led all players with a valiant 28-point, 8-rebound performance for Brentwood.
Walker Valley 76, Farragut 58 · Thursday 11:00 AM
Walker Valley advanced in the state quarterfinals with a 76-58 victory over Farragut in the Class 4A state quarterfinals. Zach Davis powered the Mustangs with a game-high 21 points and 7 rebounds, leading an offense that shot an efficient 55% from the floor. After Farragut used a 24-point third quarter to cut a halftime deficit to just six, Walker Valley took complete control. The Mustangs sealed the game with a commanding 21-9 fourth quarter, fueled by a 50-28 advantage in points in the paint and capitalizing on turnovers. Daniel Lanning led Farragut with 13 points in the loss.
Whitehaven 71, Blackman 41 · Thursday 9:30 AM
Whitehaven advanced to the state semifinals with a commanding 71-41 victory over Blackman. Whitehaven put on a blistering shooting display, connecting on 63 percent of their field goals and an astounding 67 percent from three-point range. Ja'michael Mitchell led a balanced attack with 17 points, while Kiyan Mitchell orchestrated the offense with 8 assists to go with his 12 points. The game was decided in a dominant third quarter, where Whitehaven turned an eight-point halftime lead into an 18-point advantage, holding Blackman to just seven points in the period and securing their spot in the next round.
Class 3A Quarterfinals
Tullahoma 45, Tennessee 44 · Wednesday 8:45 PM
Austin Tinnon made one of two free throws with five seconds remaining to lift Tullahoma to a dramatic 45-44 victory over Tennessee in a state quarterfinal thriller. Tullahoma overcame a seven-point deficit to start the fourth quarter, outscoring Tennessee 15-7 in the final frame to advance. After trailing for the entire second half, Tullahoma took the lead on a Sam Bobo jumper with 5:42 left as part of a pivotal 8-0 run. Tennessee’s Russell Blevins, who led all scorers with 15 points, tied the game at 44 on a layup with 38 seconds left but could not convert the subsequent free throw. On the ensuing possession for Tullahoma, Tinnon drew a foul and delivered the game-winning point from the line, capping a performance that also included a game-high 11 rebounds. Tennessee was held to just 31% shooting for the game.
Alcoa 77, Fayette-Ware 33 · Wednesday 7:15 PM
Alcoa advanced to the state semifinals with a commanding 77-33 victory over Fayette-Ware in a quarterfinal matchup. Alcoa established control from the start and broke the game open by outscoring Fayette-Ware 22-7 in the second quarter to build a 23-point halftime lead. The win was a total team effort, as Alcoa shot an impressive 50 percent from the floor and distributed 18 assists on 29 made baskets. Their suffocating defense was the story of the game, holding Fayette-Ware to just 21 percent shooting while also dominating the interior with a 46-10 advantage in points in the paint and a 46-31 rebounding margin. Jamir Dean led a balanced Alcoa attack with 18 points and 9 rebounds, while Jay Kirk added 16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks for Fayette-Ware.
Knoxville Fulton 59, Portland 50 · Wednesday 5:30 PM
Knoxville Fulton advanced to the state semifinals with a 59-50 quarterfinal victory over Portland, powered by a dominant performance from Nick Steen. Steen recorded a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds, consistently controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. Fulton built its advantage by dominating the glass, finishing with a 33-21 rebounding edge, and by capitalizing on mistakes, scoring 21 points off 17 Portland turnovers. While Keilan Dalton kept Portland close with a team-high 21 points, Fulton pulled away for good late in the fourth quarter. After Portland cut the lead to three, Steen keyed a decisive 9-2 run with a crucial tip-in and a fast-break dunk that sealed the win and ended Portland's season.
Upperman 56, South Gibson 49 · Wednesday 4:00 PM
Upperman pulled away in the final period to defeat South Gibson 56-49 in a state quarterfinal matchup. The game was tied 34-34 entering the fourth quarter after Upperman's Ty Cobb, who finished with a game-high 25 points and 5 assists, drained a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer. Upperman dominated the final eight minutes, outscoring South Gibson 22-15, by making 15 of 18 free-throw attempts in the period. A key three-pointer by Collier Bush pushed the lead to six with under three minutes to play, and Upperman's clutch shooting from the line secured the victory and kept their season alive. Colton Johnson added 12 points and 7 rebounds for Upperman, which took advantage of 14 South Gibson turnovers while committing only 8. South Gibson was led by Kowen Thomas with 18 points and Jaxon Young with 16 points and 9 rebounds.
Class 2A Quarterfinals
Westview 61, Gatlinburg-Pittman 45 · Wednesday 2:15 PM
Arden Smith posted a dominant double-double with 21 points and 16 rebounds to lead Westview to a 61-45 victory over Gatlinburg-Pittman in a state quarterfinal game. After Gatlinburg-Pittman cut an 11-point halftime deficit to five entering the final period, Westview seized control with a decisive 16-5 fourth-quarter run. Smith scored 10 points in the final frame, part of a blistering 7-for-9 shooting effort for his team in the period. Westview's offensive efficiency was key, as they shot 50% from the floor for the game compared to Gatlinburg-Pittman's 29%. Miles Brown added 15 points and Graham Simpson scored 11 off the bench for Westview, while Asa Barnes directed the offense with six assists. Quinn Coykendall paced Gatlinburg-Pittman with 17 points in the season-ending loss.
Smith Co. 61, Lewis Co. 60 · Wednesday 12:45 PM
Smith Co. survived a furious fourth-quarter rally to defeat Lewis Co. 61-60 in a tense state quarterfinal game. Smith Co. built a 16-point lead behind efficient shooting from Cooper Williams, who finished with 20 points, and Morgan Sinclair, who added 17 points including five 3-pointers. Lewis Co. battled back from a nine-point deficit to start the final period, powered by 20-point efforts from both Dakota Hull and Maddox Tanner. Lewis Co. dominated the offensive glass to stay in the game and cut the lead to one point with under a minute to play. After a key fast-break layup by Williams gave Smith Co. a three-point cushion, Tanner electrified the crowd by hitting a three-pointer with four seconds left to again make it a one-point game. Smith Co. held on to advance after a missed free throw on the ensuing possession was rebounded by Lewis Co. as time expired.
Chattanooga Prep 83, Peabody 66 · Wednesday 11:00 AM
Chattanooga Prep advanced to the state semifinals, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Peabody 83-66. The game turned in the second quarter when Chattanooga Prep used a 21-11 run to take a halftime lead it would not surrender. The victory was built on overwhelming interior dominance, as they outrebounded Peabody 49-34 and scored 58 of their points in the paint. Joel Bulis was a force on the glass with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while teammate Derrick Roberson also posted a double-double with a game-high 20 points and 10 boards. Reid Conley directed the offense effectively with 15 points and 8 assists, and Tavion Foster was a factor on both ends with 15 points and 5 blocks. For Peabody, Jamarcus Haynes scored a team-high 16 points in the season-ending loss.
Loretto 44, East Nashville 38 · Wednesday 9:30 AM
Mason Tidwell scored 27 points and pulled down 19 rebounds to lead Loretto to a 44-38 victory over East Nashville in a rugged state quarterfinal game. Tidwell's dominant inside performance proved decisive in the low-scoring contest, as Loretto outrebounded East Nashville 44-31. East Nashville was paced by Alex Cheek, who had 15 points and a remarkable 8 steals. The game was tied at 27 entering the final period before Loretto pulled away, capitalizing on trips to the free-throw line where it scored nine of its 17 fourth-quarter points. A three-pointer by Daniel Dunlap brought East Nashville within one point at 38-37 with 2:08 remaining, but Loretto made its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory and advance in the tournament.