Division I Girls' Basketball State Tournament Recaps
Class 1A Championship
Richland 34, Middleton 33 · Saturday 6:30 PM
In a defensive struggle where neither team led by more than five points, Richland’s final basket proved to be the difference. Dannie Galloway's clutch three-pointer with 1:26 remaining lifted Richland to a dramatic 34-33 victory over Middleton in the Class 1A girls state championship game. Tournament MVP Bailey Blair led all scorers with 16 points for Richland (28-3). Middleton (21-10) was paced by Harmony Bell's 13 points and a dominant 11-rebound performance from Kemora Buggs. After Galloway's go-ahead shot, the Richland defense forced a turnover in the final seconds to seal the win and end their season as champions.
Class 4A Championship
Sevier Co. 61, Cookeville 43 · Saturday 4:00 PM
Tournament MVP Kaliyah Burden posted 24 points and 13 rebounds to lead Sevier Co. to the Class 4A state championship with a 61-43 victory over Cookeville. After a 10-10 first quarter, Sevier Co. broke the game open with a 17-3 run in the second period, building a halftime lead that proved decisive. Sevier Co. controlled the game by dominating the boards with a 43-20 advantage and outscoring Cookeville 34-14 in the paint. A 24-point third quarter, fueled by four three-pointers, stretched the lead to as many as 28 points. Aubree Thompson contributed 12 points for the champions (29-5), while Allie Gillies led Cookeville (30-5) with 11 points and Charlie Roby tallied seven assists.
Class 3A Championship
Dyersburg 54, White Co. 45 · Saturday 1:30 PM
Tournament MVP Chelby Jordan scored a game-high 26 points and tallied a remarkable 8 steals to lead Dyersburg to a 54-45 victory over White Co. in the Class 3A state championship game. Dyersburg's aggressive defense was the defining factor, forcing 20 turnovers and creating a commanding 22-8 advantage in points-off-turnovers. After White Co. fought back from an early deficit to tie the game 28-28 late in the third quarter, Dyersburg answered with a decisive 9-2 run to reclaim the lead for good. The team sealed the championship in the fourth quarter by converting 13 of 15 free-throw attempts. Gracie Clark paced White Co. in the season-ending loss with a powerful performance, contributing 20 points and 8 rebounds.
Class 2A Championship
Huntingdon 43, York Institute 41 · Saturday 11:00 AM
Grier Bartholomew scored 12 points, including the game-tying three-pointer with less than a minute to play, as Huntingdon rallied in the final minutes to defeat York Institute 43-41 in the Class 2A girls state championship. Huntingdon overcame an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit by hitting three crucial three-pointers in the last three minutes of the game. The victory was powered by a significant long-range shooting advantage, as Huntingdon made eight three-pointers while holding York Institute to none. After Millie Luther's free throw gave Huntingdon a one-point lead with 46 seconds left, Wylie Kee added another to extend the margin. York Institute had opportunities to tie or take the lead in the final seconds but could not convert, with Knox Bennett blocking a potential game-tying shot at the buzzer to seal the title for Huntingdon. It is Huntingdon's first championship in girls basketball. York Institute finishes as runner-up for the third time in the last five years.
Class 1A Semifinals
Richland 46, Greenfield 37 OT · Friday 8:45 PM
Richland heads to the Class 1A state championship game after outlasting Greenfield 46-37 in a dramatic overtime semifinal. Bailey Blair scored seven of her team-co-leading 18 points from the free-throw line in the extra period, fueling a decisive 9-0 run that sealed the victory. The game went to overtime tied at 37 after a tense final four minutes of regulation where neither team could score a field goal. Greenfield, which trailed by nine in the second quarter, fought back behind a powerful third-quarter performance from Ella Porter, who finished with 17 points. Teammate Rayanna Fisher delivered a tremendous effort in the loss with 18 points, a game-high 11 rebounds, and a perfect 8-for-8 night at the foul line.
Middleton 44, Wayne Co. 39 · Friday 7:15 PM
Kemora Buggs scored a game-high 28 points to power Middleton to a 44-39 victory over Wayne Co. in a hard-fought state semifinal contest. Middleton punched its ticket to the championship game by turning relentless defensive pressure into points, forcing 21 turnovers which led to a decisive 25-9 advantage in points-off-turnovers. After falling behind early, Middleton seized control with a 16-7 second-quarter run to take a lead it would not surrender. Buggs was instrumental down the stretch, scoring seven consecutive points in the fourth quarter to build a 10-point lead with 4:38 left to play. Harmony Bell facilitated the offense with five assists and chipped in 13 points for Middleton. Presley Daniel led the effort for Wayne Co. with 18 points, while Ava Ashley contributed 15 points.
Class 4A Semifinals
Sevier Co. 34, Blackman 26 · Friday 5:30 PM
Kaliyah Burden scored a game-high 16 points to lead Sevier Co. past Blackman 34-26 in the Class 4A state semifinals at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro. After trailing early in the second quarter, Sevier Co. took the lead for good just before halftime and never looked back. Rebounding was decisive, with Sevier Co. holding a 16-7 advantage on the offensive glass and a corresponding 15-6 edge in second-chance points. While both teams started slow, Sevier Co. heated up to shoot 56% in the second half to pull away, weathering a late push from Blackman, who was led by Arrianna Llanes's 9 points off the bench.
Cookeville 74, Bartlett 68 · Friday 4:00 PM
Cookeville secured its spot in the state championship with a 74-68 win over Bartlett in a hard-fought Class 4A semifinal contest. Cookeville was powered by the phenomenal guard play of Cara Gilbert, who scored a game-high 24 points, and Allie Gillies, who added 23 points in an efficient performance. While Bartlett shot a blistering 51% from the field and received a 19-point effort from center Samiya Jones, they were ultimately undone by Cookeville's advantage in 3-point shooting and rebounding. Foul trouble hampered Bartlett throughout the game, while Cookeville executed decisively in the fourth quarter, shooting 75% from the field to close out the victory.
Class 3A Semifinals
White Co. 46, Cocke Co. 43 · Friday 2:15 PM
Gracie Clark scored 16 points and Ashlyn Selby added 13 as White Co. secured a spot in the Class 3A state championship with a nail-biting 46-43 victory over Cocke Co. The game remained tight throughout, with Cocke Co. taking a brief lead in the third quarter behind a heroic 23-point, 10-rebound performance from Karmine Carmichael. In a dramatic final minute, Bella Winningham’s layup extended White Co.'s lead to three with 57 seconds to play. After a series of clutch free throws from both teams, a last-second three-point attempt by Cocke Co. to force overtime missed, sending White Co. to the finals.
Dyersburg 61, Alcoa 53 · Friday 12:45 PM
Chelby Jordan delivered a commanding 30-point performance to lead Dyersburg past Alcoa 61-53 in the first Class 3A state semifinal game. Jordan was dominant on both ends, shooting 10 for 17 from the floor and a clutch 9 for 10 from the free-throw line while adding seven rebounds and two blocks. Alcoa kept the game close behind Harper Stinnett's 22 points and briefly took a three-point lead late in the third quarter. Dyersburg immediately answered with a 7-0 run to end the period and never trailed again. The primary difference came at the foul line, where Dyersburg outscored Alcoa 16-6, and in converting mistakes into opportunities, holding a 20-11 edge in points off turnovers. Dyersburg sealed the victory by making all eight of its free-throw attempts in the final 90 seconds to advance to the state championship.
Class 2A Semifinals
Huntingdon 65, Gatlinburg-Pittman 42 · Friday 11:00 AM
Huntingdon secured its place in the Class 2A state championship with a 65-42 semifinal win over Gatlinburg-Pittman. Wylie Kee powered Huntingdon with a dominant performance, posting a game-high 22 points and 15 rebounds while also dishing out five assists. Knox Bennett was a crucial contributor with 20 points on highly efficient 70% shooting. After a competitive first quarter, Huntingdon seized complete control of the game, leveraging a 38-19 scoring run across the second and third periods to build an insurmountable lead. Gatlinburg-Pittman was led by Chloe Mejias, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Maliyah Glasper, who added 14 points.
York Institute 43, Loretto 41 · Friday 9:30 AM
York Institute is advancing to the state championship game after a nail-biting 43-41 semifinal victory over Loretto. Emma Pile powered the York offense with a game-high 19 points, while Emma Cooper added 11 points and 7 rebounds. Loretto was propelled by superb outside shooting, making 53% of its three-point attempts, with Sophie Weathers scoring 14 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc. The game's pivotal moment came in the final four minutes. Trailing 41-37, York Institute went on a game-closing 6-0 run, featuring the go-ahead basket by Raylee Werner with 3:34 remaining. York's defense held Loretto scoreless for the final 4:14 of the game, forcing four turnovers in that span to secure the win.
Class 1A Quarterfinals
Greenfield 41, Van Buren 40 · Thursday 8:45 PM
Greenfield staged a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to defeat Van Buren 41-40 in a Class 1A state quarterfinal thriller. Trailing 40-34 with 1:19 remaining, Greenfield closed the game on a 7-0 run, culminating in Rayanna Fisher’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 22 seconds on the clock. Greenfield forced two critical turnovers in the final 30 seconds to set up the game-winning possession and seal the victory. Ella Porter led the winners with 18 points, while Skylar Arnold delivered a dominant performance with 11 points, a game-high 18 rebounds, and five blocks. Fisher, despite her shooting struggles, dished out a game-high seven assists to go with her decisive basket. Abigail Netherton paced all scorers with 20 points for Van Buren in the season-ending loss.
Richland 61, Coalfield 40 · Thursday 7:15 PM
Bailey Blair scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to power Richland to a 61-40 victory over Coalfield in a Class 1A state quarterfinal game Thursday night. Richland controlled the game from the outset and pulled away in the fourth quarter by capitalizing at the free-throw line, where they shot 81 percent in the period. The team dominated the glass with a 44-26 rebounding advantage, leading to 15 second-chance points. Mary Avery McNeese added 13 points and Alizabeth Gordon contributed 8 points and 10 rebounds for Richland, which shot 35 percent from the field. Coalfield was led by Lilly-Claire Lowe with 12 points and Lily Wright with 11.
Middleton 43, North Greene 33 · Thursday 5:30 PM
Harmony Bell scored a game-high 18 points, including eight clutch free throws in the final quarter, to lead Middleton to a 43-33 victory over North Greene in the Class 1A state quarterfinals. Middleton's defense was a decisive factor, forcing 19 turnovers and converting them into 20 points. After North Greene briefly took a two-point lead in the third quarter, Middleton responded with a 6-0 run to regain control. Bell sealed the win by going 6-for-6 from the foul line in the last minute and a half. North Greene was led by Tralyn Southerland, who posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss. Middleton shot 38% from the field while holding North Greene to 29% shooting to advance to the state semifinals.
Wayne Co. 37, Gordonsville 32 · Thursday 4:00 PM
Ava Ashley scored 22 points and pulled down 8 rebounds to lead Wayne Co. to a gritty 37-32 victory over Gordonsville in a Class 1A state quarterfinal matchup. In a defensive struggle where points were at a premium, Ashley’s scoring and defensive presence, which included 5 steals, were instrumental. After a hot start, Gordonsville battled through shooting woes but tied the game at 32-32 on a three-point play by Derionna Bell with 1:06 remaining. Wayne Co. sealed its trip to the semifinals from the free-throw line, finishing on a 5-0 run with clutch free throws from Presley Daniel, who finished with 11 points, and Ashley in the final minute. Molly Storie and Derionna Bell each scored 9 points for Gordonsville.
Class 4A Quarterfinals
Blackman 54, Collierville 30 · Thursday 2:15 PM
Layla Hall posted a dominant double-double with 22 points and 18 rebounds to lead Blackman to a 54-30 victory over Collierville in a Class 4A state quarterfinal matchup. Blackman controlled the game from the start, opening with a 9-0 run and never relinquishing the lead. The win was powered by a massive 53-27 rebounding advantage, with Mariah Okorie adding a double-double of her own with 12 points and 16 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive end. Blackman leveraged its size to outscore Collierville 28-8 in the paint and converted consistently at the free-throw line, making 78% of its attempts. While Jaliyah Kelly scored 15 points for Collierville, the team struggled with its shooting, converting just 20% from the field and 13% from three-point range.
Sevier Co. 52, Bradley Central 34 · Thursday 12:45 PM
Sevier Co. advanced to the state semifinals with a 52-34 victory over undefeated Bradley Central, powered by a suffocating defensive effort and a balanced offensive attack. Kaliyah Burden led the way with a strong all-around performance, posting 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. The game turned decisively in the second quarter when Sevier Co. went on an 11-2 run, holding Bradley Central without a field goal in the period to build a 12-point halftime lead from which they never looked back. Sevier Co., which shot 43% from the floor, also received double-digit scoring from Aubree Thompson with 11 points and Hannah Madison with 10, while controlling the glass with a 36-25 rebounding advantage. Kimora Fields paced Bradley Central with 12 points and 8 rebounds in the season-ending loss.
Bartlett 77, Bearden 73 · Thursday 11:00 AM
Bartlett survived a furious fourth-quarter rally from Bearden to hang on for a 77-73 victory in a thrilling state quarterfinal matchup. After building a lead as large as 15 points in the third quarter, Bartlett saw its advantage evaporate as Bearden's Natalya Hodge scored 18 of her game-high 31 points in the final period, capping the comeback with a three-pointer to tie the game 68-68 with under 90 seconds to play. Anniya Bailey responded immediately with a go-ahead jumper for Bartlett, which never trailed again. The difference came down to execution in key moments, as Bartlett capitalized on a significant advantage from the free-throw line, where they shot 87% compared to Bearden's 44%. Amare Boothe provided a crucial offensive lift off the bench for Bartlett, scoring a team-high 23 points to help her team advance.
Cookeville 55, Page 47 · Thursday 9:30 AM
Cookeville overcame a 10-point first-quarter deficit to defeat Page 55-47 in a Class 4A state quarterfinal game Thursday morning. After trailing the entire first half, Cookeville seized control with a 17-10 third-quarter run, during which Page did not score a field goal. Cookeville's Cara Gilbert led the charge with 17 points and 5 assists, but the difference came from the bench, where Callie Gilbert erupted for 16 points. Cookeville's superior shooting (39% FG) and clutch free-throw shooting in the second half, where they converted 83% of their attempts, proved decisive. Mia Hauptman matched the game-high with 17 points and added 8 rebounds for Page, who kept the game close by making 24 free throws but struggled from the floor, shooting just 24% as a team.
Class 3A Quarterfinals
White Co. 69, Covington 49 · Wednesday 8:45 PM
Gracie Clark delivered a dominant performance with 31 points and 11 rebounds, powering White Co. to a 69-49 victory over Covington in a Class 3A state quarterfinal game. After a competitive first half, White Co. seized control with a decisive 28-15 third quarter, highlighted by a 15-2 run that broke the game open. White Co.'s defense forced 25 turnovers, leading to a 23-12 advantage in points off turnovers, and they controlled the interior with a 42-28 margin in the paint. Bella Winningham complemented Clark's scoring by dishing out a game-high 7 assists and grabbing 13 rebounds. For Covington, Ta'kyra Boddie led a strong effort in the season-ending loss, posting a double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds.
Cocke Co. 59, Liberty Creek 44 · Wednesday 7:15 PM
Cocke Co. overcame a 13-point first-quarter deficit to defeat Liberty Creek 59-44 in a Class 3A state quarterfinal game, advancing to Friday's semifinal round. After Liberty Creek raced to a 20-7 lead, Cocke Co. seized control with a stunning 14-0 run in the second quarter, holding Liberty Creek scoreless to take a one-point lead into halftime. Ava Wheeler fueled the comeback, finishing with 19 points, including five 3-pointers, with most of her damage coming in the decisive second and third quarters. Karmine Carmichael added a stellar all-around performance for the victors with 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 steals. For Liberty Creek, Kaylor West had an outstanding game, leading all scorers with 20 points on highly efficient 9-for-11 shooting. Cocke Co. sealed the victory in the final period by shooting 93% from the free-throw line, a decisive factor in stopping any late-game rally.
Alcoa 48, Tullahoma 44 · Wednesday 5:30 PM
Alcoa erased a second-half deficit with a dramatic fourth-quarter rally to defeat Tullahoma 48-44 in a Class 3A state quarterfinal game. Despite trailing for over 24 minutes of game time, Alcoa outscored Tullahoma 14-7 in the final period to secure the win. Gwen Carroll powered the comeback, scoring a game-high 20 points, including the go-ahead basket with 3:26 remaining and pivotal free throws in the final seconds. After Tullahoma briefly retook the lead 44-43, Alcoa's Brylee Flatt hit a jumper with 13 seconds left for the decisive basket. Alcoa’s defense forced 16 turnovers, with Halle Bailey collecting eight steals, and its offense was buoyed by converting 13 of 19 free throws for the game. McLayne Bobo led Tullahoma with 16 points in the season-ending loss.
Dyersburg 46, Daniel Boone 34 · Wednesday 4:00 PM
Chelby Jordan posted a dominant double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Dyersburg to a 46-34 victory over Daniel Boone in a Class 3A state quarterfinal game. The game's turning point came in a lopsided second quarter where Dyersburg went on a 14-2 run, building a 14-point halftime lead from which Daniel Boone never recovered. Dyersburg capitalized on its opponent's offensive struggles, as Daniel Boone shot just 23 percent from the field for the game. Dyersburg also converted 22 turnovers into 17 points to help secure the win. Aaliyah Story paced Daniel Boone with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
Class 2A Quarterfinals
Gatlinburg-Pittman 60, Gibson Co. 55 · Wednesday 2:15 PM
Gatlinburg-Pittman overcame a disastrous start to defeat Gibson Co. 60-55 in a state tournament quarterfinal Wednesday at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, rallying from a 12-point first-quarter deficit to keep its season alive. After scoring just three points in the opening period while shooting 7 percent from the field, the Highlanders found their rhythm in the third quarter, erupting for 27 points on 56 percent shooting to erase a 26-16 halftime deficit and pull within three points heading into the final period. Addison Wear led Gatlinburg-Pittman with 17 points including 5 of 6 free throws in the closing minutes, while Chloe Mejias added 14 points and Maliyah Glasper scored 12. Cheyenne Byrd delivered the decisive blow with back-to-back three-pointers in the fourth quarter, giving the Highlanders their first lead at 52-51 with 2:23 remaining and extending it to 55-51 just over a minute later. Sania Reaves posted a double-double for Gibson Co. with 16 points and 15 rebounds, while A'kira Riding contributed 18 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists, but the Pioneers managed just nine points in the fourth quarter after leading most of the game. Gatlinburg-Pittman shot 37 percent from three-point range including a blistering 58 percent in the pivotal third quarter, while Gibson Co. shot 75 percent from beyond the arc but attempted just eight three-pointers compared to 30 for the Highlanders. The victory advances Gatlinburg-Pittman (31-3) to the state semifinals while ending Gibson Co.'s season at 25-10.
Huntingdon 60, Smith Co. 57 · Wednesday 12:45 PM
Wylie Kee dominated with 19 points, 19 rebounds and eight assists, and Ellie Wilson matched her with 19 points as Huntingdon survived a furious fourth-quarter rally to defeat Smith Co. 60-57 in a state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center. Smith County led 28-24 at halftime behind Kaylee Dixon's 18 points and 10 rebounds, but Huntingdon seized control with a dominant third quarter, outscoring the visitors 25-16 while shooting 57 percent from the floor and connecting on all three of their three-point attempts. The lead changed hands 10 times in the seesaw battle, with Smith Co. pulling within one point early in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by Dacey Claywell, but Huntingdon answered with back-to-back three-pointers from Wilson and Grier Bartholomew to push the advantage to 57-51. Sophomore Sophia Desimone provided late heroics for Smith Co., draining a three-pointer with 19 seconds remaining and adding two free throws with 14 seconds left to cut the deficit to 60-57, but Huntingdon held on despite missing several late free throws. Huntingdon's 43 percent three-point shooting (9-21) proved decisive against Smith Co.'s 27 percent from beyond the arc. Emry Jones added 16 points and six steals for Smith Co., which saw its season end at 22-13. Huntingdon improved to 29-3 and advanced to the state semifinals.
York Institute 44, Westview 36 · Wednesday 11:00 AM
York Institute advanced to the state tournament semifinals with a 44-36 victory over Westview in a defensive quarterfinal battle at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro. After trailing 13-8 following the first quarter, York Institute seized control with a devastating second-quarter performance, holding Westview to just one point while building an 18-14 halftime advantage. The Dragons never trailed again, extending their lead to 26-22 after three quarters before pulling away in the fourth. Emma Pile delivered her best work when it mattered most, scoring 11 of her game-high 13 points in the final period to help York Institute maintain its cushion. Raylee Werner also tallied 13 points and distributed five assists, while Emma Cooper added 11 points and four rebounds for the balanced Dragons attack. Westview, despite Ashlee Brent's team-high 14 points, struggled offensively throughout, managing just 38 percent shooting from the floor. The Lady Chargers made a late push, cutting the deficit to eight points in the final minute, but York Institute converted key free throws to preserve the victory.
Loretto 72, McMinn Central 46 · Wednesday 9:30 AM
Loretto advanced to the state tournament semifinals with a 72-46 victory over McMinn Central, using a dominant second-quarter surge to seize control and end McMinn Central's season. The game was tied 18-18 after the first quarter before Loretto exploded for 16 points in the second period while holding McMinn Central to just three points, building a 34-21 halftime advantage they would not relinquish. Kinlee Stutts led Loretto with 17 points on efficient 6-of-7 shooting, while Sophie Weathers contributed 16 points and a game-high 11 rebounds, and Ally Augustin added 15 points with five assists. The balanced Loretto attack saw five players reach double figures as they shot 54% from the field and dominated the paint 34-18. Malea Masingale paced McMinn Central with 16 points despite facing defensive pressure throughout, while both Millie Latham and Kytalin Davis scored 12 points each.