The TSSAA Division I girls basketball state tournaments begin Wednesday at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

First-round pairings for the 2016 Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association boys state basketball championships were revealed at Tuesday night’s blind draw.

Here’s a look at the first-round matchups for the upcoming BlueCross Basketball Championships, which will be held March 16-19 at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center:

Boys state tournament Pairings

Class AAA

Wednesday, March 16

10 a.m.: Cordova (28-3) vs. Walker Valley (23-9)

11:30 a.m.: Station Camp (35-1) vs. David Crockett (30-5)

1:15 p.m.: Blackman (32-0) vs. Science Hill (25-10)

2:45 p.m.: Memphis East (29-2) vs. Hillsboro (21-7)

Friday, March 18

10 a.m.: Semifinals, Cordova/Walker Valley winner vs. Station Camp/David Crockett winner

11:30 a.m.: Semifinals, Blackman/Science Hill winner vs. East/Hillsboro winner

Saturday, March 19

1 p.m.: Championship game

Class AA

Thursday, March 17

1:15 p.m.: Fayette Ware (24-8) vs. Marshall Co. (16-14)

2:45 p.m.: Fulton (29-2) vs. Chattanooga Central (20-6)

4:30 p.m.: Brainerd (27-5) vs. CAK (23-10)

6 p.m.: Westview (27-3) vs. Whites Creek (21-11)

Friday, March 18

4:30 p.m.: Semifinals, Fayette Ware/Marshall Co. winner vs. Fulton/Chatt. Central winner

6 p.m.: Semifinals, Brainerd/CAK winner vs. Westview/Whites Creek winner

Saturday, March 19

6 p.m.: Championship game.

ClassA

Wednesday, March 16

4:30 p.m.: Booker T. Washington (30-5) vs. Nashville Christian (22-9)

6 p.m.: Knoxville Grace (22-11) vs. Van Buren Co. (27-5)

Thursday, March 17

10 a.m.: Memphis Mitchell (30-7) vs. Middle Tennessee Christian (21-9)

11:30 a.m.: Hampton (28-6) vs. Clay Co. (31-2)

Friday, March 18

1:15 p.m: Semifinals, BT Washington/Nashville Christian winner vs. Grace/Van Buren Co. winner

2:45 p.m.: Semifinals, Mitchell/MTCS winner vs. Hampton/Clay Co. winner

Saturday, March 19

3:30 p.m.: Championship game

Winners of Mr and Miss Basketball for 2016. (Front row, l-r) Crystal Dangerfield (Blackman), Kayla Marosites (Elizabethton), Lakelyn Bouldin (Van Buren County), Kaleigh Clemons (Baylor) and Micah Scheetz (Knox Webb). In the back row (l-r): Alex Lomax (Memphis East), Bo Hodges (Maplewood), Nick Hopkins (Fayetteville), Darius Garland (Brentwood Academy) and Chase Hayden (St. George’s).

Five high school basketball players from Middle Tennessee took home the state’s top individual honor at the 2016 Mr. and Miss Basketball awards presentation on Tuesday at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center.

Brentwood Academy’s Darius Garland (DII-AA), Fayetteville’s Nicholas Hopkins (Class A) and Maplewood’s Bo Hodges (AA) each received Mr. Basketball honors. Van Buren County’s Lakelyn Bouldin (A) and Blackman’s Crystal Dangerfield (AAA) claimed Miss Basketball awards.

“It’s a great honor, being up here with all these great athletes from Tennessee and coming out with the award,” said Garland, just days removed from Brentwood Academy’s Division II-AA championship win. “This season was unbelieveable. We came up with the state championship, and then coming back and winning Mr. Basketball feels wonderful.”

Garland, a five-star prospect in the Class of 2018, averaged 18.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists as a sophomore this season, garnering offers from several Division I programs, including Indiana, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Louisville.

“I really thought Jordan (Bone) was going to win it,” Garland said of his fellow finalist from Ensworth, who averaged 20 points, four rebounds and five assists for the Division II-A runner-up Tigers. “He had a phenomenal year. I was pretty surprised.”

Hodges, whose season didn’t turn out quite as perfect as Garland’s, beat out Cheatham County’s Austin Douglas and Westview’s Garrett Sams for Class AA Mr. Basketball honors.

“This makes it a lot better,” said Hodges, whose Panthers suffered a 56-54 sectional defeat to Marshall County on Monday. “The loss last night hurt, but coming up here and receiving this award makes it a whole lot better.”

Hodges, a junior who holds offers in from Eastern Kentucky and East Tennessee State, averaged 22.4 points, 13.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 4.3 blocks for the Region 5-AA champion Panthers.

Hopkins, the state’s leading scorer after averaging 34.3 points, topped a pair of Midstate finalists for the Class A Mr. Basketball award, as the senior Belmont signee edged Huntland’s Kobe Foster and Clay County’s Tyreke Key.

“It’s just a blessing,” said Hopkins, who also had 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.3 steals per game for the 13-15 Tigers. “I just tried to play my best and work out hard in the offseason because I knew I was going to have to fill up the stat book for us to win.”

Dangerfield, whose two-time defending champion Lady Blaze suffered a season-ending regional semifinal loss to Riverdale, averaged 23.9 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field.

“It’s just closing out my high school career strong,” said Dangerfield, a Connecticut signee who also received the award in 2015. “It’s just an honor being up there with the other two finalists (Wilson Central’s Kendall Spray and Riverdale’s Anastasia Hayes) actually.

“It’s great to be honored for this award because that means the coaches around the state think highly of me. It shows that hard work is paying off.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

2016 Mr. Basketball award recipients

Division II-A: Chase Hayden, St. George’s

Division II-AA: Darius Garland, Brentwood Academy

Class A: Nicholas Hopkins, Fayetteville

Class AA: Bo Hodges, Maplewood

Class AAA: Alex Lomax, Memphis East

2016 Miss Basketball award recipients

Division II-A: Micah Scheetz, Webb School of Knoxville 

Division II-AA: Kaleigh Clemons, Baylor

Class A: Lakelyn Bouldin, Van Buren County

Class AA: Kayla Marosites, Elizabethton

Class AAA: Crystal Dangerfield, Blackman

Boys state tournament pairings

Class AAA

Wednesday, March 16

10 a.m.: Cordova (28-3) vs. Walker Valley (23-9)

11:30 a.m.: Station Camp (35-1) vs. David Crockett (30-5)

1:15 p.m.: Blackman (32-0) vs. Science Hill (25-10)

2:45 p.m.: Memphis East (29-2) vs. Hillsboro (21-7)

Friday, March 18

10 a.m.: Semifinals, Cordova/Walker Valley winner vs. Station Camp/David Crockett winner

11:30 a.m.: Semifinals, Blackman/Science Hill winner vs. East/Hillsboro winner

Saturday, March 19

1 p.m.: Championship game

Class AA

Thursday, March 17

1:15 p.m.: Fayette Ware (24-8) vs. Marshall Co. (16-14)

2:45 p.m.: Fulton (29-2) vs. Chattanooga Central (20-6)

4:30 p.m.: Brainerd (27-5) vs. CAK (23-10)

6 p.m.: Westview (27-3) vs. Whites Creek (21-11)

Friday, March 18

4:30 p.m.: Semifinals, Fayette Ware/Marshall Co. winner vs. Fulton/Chatt. Central winner

6 p.m.: Semifinals, Brainerd/CAK winner vs. Westview/Whites Creek winner

Saturday, March 19

6 p.m.: Championship game.

Class  A

Wednesday, March 16

4:30 p.m.: Booker T. Washington (30-5) vs. Nashville Christian (22-9)

6 p.m.: Knoxville Grace (22-11) vs. Van Buren Co. (27-5)

Thursday, March 17

10 a.m.: Memphis Mitchell (30-7) vs. Middle Tennessee Christian (21-9)

11:30 a.m.: Hampton (28-6) vs. Clay Co. (31-2)

Friday, March 18

1:15 p.m: Semifinals, BT Washington/Nashville Christian winner vs. Grace/Van Buren Co. winner

2:45 p.m.: Semifinals, Mitchell/MTCS winner vs. Hampton/Clay Co. winner

Saturday, March 19

3:30 p.m.: Championship game

Wilson Central’s Lexie Wimberly, left, Macey McClure, and Connor Coward react after losing to Memphis Central 48-43 in the Tennessee Division I AAA girls high school basketball quarterfinals game Wednesday at MTSU.

Wilson Central guard Kendall Spray (21) drives past Memphis Central guard Miyah Barnes (0) during the second half of the Tennessee Division I AAA girls high school basketball quarterfinals game Wednesday at MTSU. Memphis Central won 48-43.

Wilson Central guard Kendall Spray (21) is defended by Memphis Central guard Kynadi Kuykendoll (23) during the first half of the Tennessee Division I AAA girls high school basketball quarterfinals game Wednesday at MTSU.

MURFREESBORO — Despite leading for much of the first three quarters in Wednesday’s Class AAA quarterfinal game against Memphis Central, the Wilson Central girls couldn’t close things out.

After a sluggish first quarter, senior Miss Basketball finalist Kendall Spray helped Wilson Central build a six-point halftime advantage.

And while teammate Piper Elrod followed Spray’s lead in the third quarter, the previously unbeaten Lady Wildcats were unable to withstand Memphis Central’s defensive pressure down the stretch, resulting in a 48-43 defeat at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

“When you play any game you have to try and do two things,” Wilson Central coach John Wild said. “You have to value possession and you’ve got to rebound it. Now I thought we rebounded well all game, and we took care of the ball for about 27 minutes.

Memphis Central guard Jireh Washington (1) steals the ball away from Wilson Central guard Piper Elrod (11) during the first half of the Tennessee Division I AAA girls high school basketball quarterfinals game Wednesday at MTSU.

“Against someone as athletic as they were, you’ve got to take care of it for a full 32 minutes.”

Spray, who closed out her high school career with a TSSAA-record 393 made 3-pointers, scored 17 of her game-high 21 points in the first half, including a a six-minute second-quarter stretch that featured five 3-pointers.

“We turned the defensive intensity up in the second half because we had to make adjustments on (Spray),” Memphis Central coach Rashad Haynes said. “She had 17 of 19 (first-half points), and we had to have a little fortitude about ourselves to stop one player from dominating offensively.”

Spray, a UT Martin signee, had a tougher time finding open looks after the break, but Elrod was there to pick up the slack.

The 5-foot-5 junior knocked down a pair of third quarter 3-pointers for Wilson Central (33-1), and her triple to start the fourth spotted the Lady Wildcats a 33-29 advantage.

“Coach Wild always tells us to keep shooting,” said Elrod, who finished with 11 points and four rebounds. “I’ve been working on my shot a lot from the offseason through this season because we knew teams were going to be guarding Kendall pretty tightly.”

That’s about the time things went off the rails for Wilson Central, though, as the Lady Warriors strung together an 11-2 run over the next 3:03. And while the Lady Wildcats briefly reclaimed the lead in the final minutes, they couldn’t hold it.

“I thought that was the difference — our inability to keep possession of the ball in certain circumstances, and that gave them their run,” said Wild, whose Lady Wildcats committed 22 turnovers — 13 in the second half. “When you’ve got five kids with length and athletic ability like they have, it’s tough to try to get through at times.

“You can simulate it all you want it practice, but you’re not going to get that in practice.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Memphis Central center Tijuana Griggs (5), Wilson Central forward Taylor Tucker (42) and guard Anna Altman (14) reach for a rebound during the first half of the Tennessee Division I AAA girls high school basketball quarterfinals game Wednesday at MTSU.

Memphis Central guard Jireh Washington, left, steals the ball away from Wilson Central guard Piper Elrod, right, during the first half of the Tennessee Division I AAA girls high school basketball quarterfinals game Wednesday at MTSU.

Pickett County’s Courtney Pritchett finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds in Wednesday’s Class A quarterfinal loss to South Greene.

MURFREESBORO — The Pickett County girls’ trip to the Class A tournament was a short one.as the Lady Bobcats suffered a 76-65 quarterfinal defeat to South Greene on Wednesday at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

“We just did some uncharacteristic things that we’re not used to doing,” Pickett County coach Brent Smith said.  “Everybody wants to win at the end, and unfortunately we didn’t. We’re disappointed — our sights were on a gold ball — and we fell short of that.”

After a fast-paced, back-and-forth first half, South Greene (33-4), which shot 60.5 percent from the field, claimed a 45-33 advantage following back-to-back 3-pointers from Braelyn Wykle with six minutes left in the third quarter.

And while the Lady Bobcats eventually countered, pulling to within 48-45 on an Alahna Bilbrey’s 3-pointer, that was as closed as they’d come.

“We got it to three, but they just made some big shots,” Smith said. “I knew they could shoot it really good. I didn’t know they could shoot it that good.”

South Greene’s Taylor Lamb, who pulled down a team-leading 12 rebounds, finished with a game-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting, while Wykle added 20 points, four rebounds and six assists.

“We’ve got such a solid team that we don’t just rely on one,” said South Greene coach Stephen Gregg, who captured his 150th career win. “We have a bevy of players that can come out and lead us in different categories, but it’s special when Taylor (Lamb) is playing the way she is.”

Pickett County (29-3), which shot 44.6 percent from the field while being outrebounded 31-25, was led by Courtney Pritchett’s 21-point, 11-rebound, seven-assist effort. Jayna Ferrell  added 19 points.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Upperman senior Brooke Farris (4) dribbles around Haywood junior Rashadda Dancy during Thursday’s Class AA quarterfinal against Haywood at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

MURFREESBORO — Upperman’s Akira Levy had three of her most uneventful quarters of the season in Wednesday’s Class AA quarterfinal against Haywood.

Upperman sophomore Akira Levy (2) dribbles through traffic during Thursday’s Class AA quarterfinal against Haywood at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

Fortunately for the Lady Bees, the sophomore Miss Basketball finalist followed them up with probably her most productive, piling up 20 fourth-quarter points to help erase her team’s double-digit deficit and eventually capture a 41-35 victory at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

“I got onto her and challenged her a little bit,” Upperman coach Dana McWilliams said of Levy, who battled foul trouble throughout Wednesday’s come-from-behind win. “I told her my game plan didn’t have anything to do with her sitting over here.”

Upperman (34-2) will face McMinn Central in Friday’s 4:30 p.m. Class AA semifinal.

TSSAA state girls basketball tournament pairings

Levy, a 5-foot-6 guard, was whistled twice in the first quarter, picked up a third foul midway through the second and, by the three-minute mark of the third, she had been tagged with No. 4.

“Brooke (Farris) came off the bench and did a pretty good job of handling our team,” said Levy, who saw just 17 minutes of action on Wednesday. “I wasn’t really worried; I was more mad at myself for getting four fouls, but I knew my team could handle it.”

Her teammates did their best to keep things close, but Levy’s absence, along with the Lady Bees’ poor shooting performance (32.5 percent), made things difficult.

“Haywood is a good defensive team and they put a lot of pressure on you,” McWilliams said. “We had a lot of open looks that we normally make — we’ve shot over 40 percent from the 3-point line this season — and I don’t know. It was just bad.”

By the time Levy finally returned to start the fourth, Haywood, which outrebounded Upperman 31-19 through the first three quarters, had stretched its lead to 12.

Levy tallied six points in the opening 1:31 of the fourth, and, following a basket from Haywood’s Tamia Tharpe, she converted a difficult three-point play to pull the Lady Bees to within five with 6:29 remaining.

“I just felt like in the fourth quarter we hesitated when we shouldn’t have in certain situations,” Lady Tomcats coach Whitney Bird said. “I had to burn three timeouts in the fourth quarter to calm us down, and they threw a press at us and we weren’t ready for it at the time.

“There for a second I think we just freaked out.”

Minutes later, Levy, who finished with a game-high 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting, added a layup to spot Upperman a 36-35 advantage — its first lead since the game’s opening minute — and Levy knocked down 5 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to seal the win.

“She stepped up to the challenge,” McWilliams said. “She’s young, but she showed a lot of maturity and exactly why she’s a Miss Basketball finalist.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Upperman’s Gracie Maynord (11), Abby Greenwood (23) and Ashlyn Medley (22) hug on the bench as Upperman High School wins 76-54 over McMinn Central High School in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball semi-finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 11, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Upperman celebrates as they win 76-54 over McMinn Central High School in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball semi-finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 11, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Upperman’s Akira Levy (2) shoots for two of her 22 points as Upperman High School wins 76-54 over McMinn Central High School in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball semi-finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 11, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Upper man fans cheer as Upperman High School wins 76-54 over McMinn Central High School in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball semi-finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 11, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Upperman’s Akira Levy (2) scores during the Class AA semifinals against McMinn Central Friday at MTSU.

MURFREESBORO — For the second straight game, Upperman’s Akira Levy found herself battling first-half foul trouble.

Unlike in Thursday’s thrilling come-from-behind quarterfinal win over Haywood, however, the sophomore Miss Basketball finalist didn’t have to bail the Lady Bees out with another heroic fourth-quarter effort.

Instead, fourth-ranked Upperman used its defense to stymie Class AA Miss Basketball finalist Jacobi Lynn and state’s fifth-ranked scoring offense Friday, securing a 76-54 semifinal triumph over McMinn Central, as well as a spot in Saturday’s 6 p.m. championship at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

Upperman’s Akira Levy (2) drives between McMinn Central’s Jordan Wright (23) and Hannah Cherry (21) during the Class AA semifinals Friday at MTSU.

“That’s not an easy task,” Lady Bees coach Dana McWilliams said of containing Lynn. “I see she had 22 (points), but it seemed like she had to work for all of them. She got a 3-pointer late and then another three-point play, but before those I thought she was working really hard.”

“It wasn’t easy,” added junior Abby Greenwood, who guarded Lynn for most of the game. “She’s a great player.”

As good as Upperman’s defense was on Friday, though, its offense was equally as impressive.

Levy, who played just six minutes in the first half, finished with a team-high 22 points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Lady Bees (35-2), who shot 59.6 percent from the field. Greenwood added 19 points, six boards and a pair of assists.

“We knew we shot the ball so poorly (Thursday), and that’s not typical of this team,” McWilliams said. “We thought things would look up for us today, and it’s such a balanced act for us offensively and defensively.

Grace Maynord and Brooke Farris combined to score 15 points on 6 of 7 shooting.

McMinn Central (31-3), which struggled to its second-lowest scoring total of the season, used a 6-0 first-quarter run, followed by an early second-quarter bucket from Savannah Atkins, to establish an 18-13 advantage.

Moments later, however, Upperman’s Sarah Eldridge buried a 3-pointer — her first of three second-quarter triples — and by the end of the half, the Lady Bees had reclaimed a 34-30 advantage.

“I think the biggest thing was that from the very get-go I don’t think we were in the game mentally,” said McMinn Central coach Johnny Morgan, who has piled up more than 800 career wins in 38 seasons at the school. “We didn’t execute as well as they did, and I felt like they were a lot more ready to play than we were — from the coaches down.”

Upperman, which outscored McMinn Central 42-24 in the final two quarters, limited the Chargerettes to just 29.6 percent shooting on the squad’s 27 second-half field-goal attempts.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Upper man’s Brooke Farris (4) charges over Central’s Jacobi Lynn (10) during the Class AA semifinals Friday at MTSU.

East’s Kyra Trice (5) battles Upperman’s Akira Levy (2) as East Nashville leads Upperman 29-23 at the half in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

East’s Le’Jzae Davidson (10) and Upperman’s Abby Greenwood (23) go after the ball as East Nashville leads Upperman 29-23 at the half in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

East’s Erica Haynes-Overton (20) moves through the lane with Upperman’s Ashlyn Medley (22) as East Nashville wins over Upperman 70-56 in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Upperman fall 70-56 to East Nashville in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

East’s Kyra Trice (5) shoots against Gracie Maynord (11) as East Nashville wins over Upperman 70-56 in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

East Nashville celebrates as they win over Upperman 70-56 in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Upperman’s Akira Levy (2) drives the baseline as East Nashville wins over Upperman 70-56 in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

East Nashville celebrates as they win over Upperman 70-56 in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

East’s Le’Jzae Davidson (10) and Upperman’s Abby Greenwood (23) go after the ball as East Nashville leads Upperman 29-23 at the half in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

East’s Kyra Trice (5) battles Upperman’s Akira Levy (2) as East Nashville leads Upperman 29-23 at the half in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

MURFREESBORO — The East Nashville girls basketball team captured the school’s first team state title on Saturday, soaring to a 70-56 Class AA championship triumph over Upperman at Murphy Center.

East Nashville celebrates as they win over Upperman 70-56 in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The Lady Eagles, who suffered a sectional loss to eventual state champion Martin Luther King a season ago, used a sizable first-quarter run to seize control early, and while the Lady Bees staged several smaller rallies, they never quite recovered.

“Today was a little bit more the way we like to play,” said East Nashville coach Lois Donaldson, whose team piled up 18 fast-break points in the convincing victory. “And it was great to see my kids still have the energy to get up and down the floor and make great stuff happen for us.”

East Nashville (32-2), which concluded the season with 26 consecutive victories, was led by tournament MVP Kaia Upton’s 20-point, five-rebound performance. Three other Lady Eagles also scored in double-figures — freshman Quentarra Mitchell (15), junior Erica Haynes-Overton (14) and senior Le’Jzae Davidson (12).

“They have a lot of good scorers,” said Upperman coach Dana McWilliams, whose team committed a season-high 17 turnovers. “We had a hard time keeping them off the boards and off the foul line.”

Sophomore Miss Basketball finalist Akira Levy finished with a team-high 19 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists to lead the Lady Bees (35-3), who surrendered 40 points in the paint.

East Nashville’s Kaia Upton (14) strips the ball in the paint from Abby Greenwood (23) in the Division I Class AA Girl’s basketball finals at the Murphy Center on MTSU’s campus March 12, 2016 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

“I just went out there and played hard against her,” said Upton, who guarded Levy for much of the game. “She was just another player of the court.

“No fear”

East Nashville took a 15-6 advantage on a Kyra Trice layup

“Basically we just did was we always do,” said Davidson, a Furman signee. “We kept playing our defense got our momentum and adrenaline flowing.

Upperman junior Abby Greenwood, who finished with 18 points on 8 of 10 shooting, almost single-handedly brought the Lady Bees back late in the first quarter, scoring seven straight points to pull her team to within 17-13.

East Nashville, which held a 29-23 halftime advantage, staged another lopsided run to start the second half — this time a 9-2 spurt lasting 2:23 — to claim a 38-25 advantage.

Upperman charged back once more, pulling to within two on Levy’s layup midway through the fourth quarter, but the Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Bees 20-8 the rest of the way.

“It was a tough game for us and we knew we’d have to play really well to win,” McWilliams added. “We just had some uncharacteristic mistakes, and the ball didn’t go our way it seemed like tonight.”

Class A: MVP Taylor Lamb scored 25 points in leading South Greene to its fifth state title, but first since 1992 with a 61-55 win over previously unbeaten Gibson County.

The sophomore Miss Basketball finalist also grabbed nine rebounds.

Lyndsey Cutshaw added 11 points, and Kinsley Wykle had 10 points and seven assists for the Lady Rebels (35-4) who shot 55 percent in winning their 11th straight game.

Erin Lannom led Gibson County (37-1) with 26 points, including six 3-pointers.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. Contributing: Associated Press

The CPA baseball team celebrates last season’s Class AA championship win.

Monday marks the first day of competition for Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association spring sports.

Here are some of the top athletes to keep an eye on as Midstate squads strive to reach Spring Fling in Murfreesboro.

Pope John Paul II High junior Mason Hickman

BASEBALL

PITCHERS

Zach King, Sr., Spring Hill: Left-handed Vanderbilt signee has compiled a 14-2 record with 179 strikeouts and a 1.19 ERA over the past two seasons.

Korey Bell, Sr., Brentwood: Right-handed Ole Miss signee went 2-3 with a 3.73 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 20⅓ innings a season ago.

Mason Hickman, Jr., Pope John Paul II: Right-handed Vanderbilt commitment posted a 6-2 record with 99 strikeouts and a 1.09 ERA for the Knights last season.

Sam Folks, Sr., BGA: Left-handed UT Martin signee posted a 1.29 ERA while striking out 57 batters in 43 innings for the Division II-A East/Middle Region Wildcats.

David Bates, Jr., Christ Presbyterian Academy: Junior right-hander went 7-2 with a 1.68 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 67 innings for the Class AA champion Lions a season ago.

Tommy Morren, Sr., Independence: Left-handed Memphis signee posted a 1.30 ERA with 72 strikeouts for the Eagles last season.

Jacob Key, Sr., Siegel: Right-handed Illinois-Chicago signee posted a 5-2 record with a 1.17 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 47⅔ innings.

Winston Cannon, Upperman: Right-handed UT Martin signee went 8-1 with a 0.25 ERA, 106 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 59 innings last season.

Peyton Warren, FRA: Right-handed West Alabama signee went 8-1 with a 1.11 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 63 innings for the Division II-A runner-up Panthers.

POSITION PLAYERS

3B Alex Brewer,Sr., Forrest: Vanderbilt signee finished as a TBCA Mr. Baseball finalist a season ago, batting .444 with a .556 on-base percentage and 36 runs.

SS Bryce Giles, Sr., Summertown: Columbia State signee hit .461 with 23 extra-base hits and 35 RBIs last season for the Class A runner-up Eagles.

C Philip Clarke, Jr.,Christ Presbyterian Academy: Vanderbilt commitment hit .390 with 12 doubles and 34 RBIs for the Class AA champion Lions a season ago.

SS Darek Sargent, Sr., Central Magnet: Reigning District 8-AA MVP and Delta State signee hit .421 with a .497 on-base percentage, 46 RBIs, 43 runs, four home runs and 35 stolen bases a season ago.

SS Zell Walker, Sr., Nashville Christian: Tennessee Tech signee carries a career batting average of .350, including a an impressive .473 a season ago.

OF Isaac Robertson, Sr., Beech: Reigning District 9-AAA Co-MVP hit .430 with three homers, eight doubles and 29 RBIs as a junior for the Buccaneers.

SS Jackson Curb, Sr., Franklin: Curb, a Belmont signee, sat out last season due to transfer rules after hitting .352 with 41 runs and seven extra base-hits as a sophomore at BGA.

SS Seth Price, Jr., Watertown: Three-sport standout hit .471 with 20 RBIs and 17 stolen bases while going 6-2 with a 2.0 ERA and 49 strikeouts.

OF Logan Jarvis, Franklin: Belmont signee and the son of Bruins coach Dave Jarvis batted .348 with three home runs for the Rebels last season.

1B Ryan Hatten, Sr., Pope John Paul II: Virginia Military Institute signee hit .337 with four home runs and 26 RBIs for the Knights last season.

Dickson County’s Brooklin Lee

Softball

PITCHERS

Brooklin Lee, Sr., Dickson County: The reigning Midstate Softball Player of the Year went 34-4 with a 0.87 ERA and 331 strikeouts in 242.1 innings a season ago.

Courtney Petty, Sr., Friendship: Compiled a 20-3 record with a 1.62 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 135 innings last season.

Katie Eakes, Sr., Wilson Central: North Alabama signee hit .546 with four home runs and 57 RBIs a season ago.

Veronica Westfall, Sr., Siegel: Compiled a 30-6 record with a 1.37 ERA and 324 strikeouts last season.

Kaylee Caplinger, Jr., DeKalb County: Posted a 27-6 record with a 1.35 ERA a season ago.

POSITION PLAYERS

Katie Eakes, Sr., Wilson Central: North Alabama signee hit .546 with four home runs and 57 RBIs last season.

Courtney Miles, Sr., Friendship: Hit .537 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs a season ago.

Samantha King, Jr., Forrest: Hit .467 with a .517 on-base percentage, a .879 slugging percentage and 10 home runs a season ago.

Alicia Veltri, Jr., Northeast: Reigning District 10-AAA MVP batted .511 with 34 RBIs and 30 runs last season.

Anna Grace Fox, Soph., Zion Christian: Batted .521 with a .557 on-base percentage, 38 hits and 32 runs a season ago.

Station Camp’s Elmer Cardoza

SOCCER

Elmer Cardoza, Sr., Station Camp: Defending District 11-AAA MVP scored 34 goals and 14 assists last season.

Zavior Phillips, Sr., Central Magnet: Reigning District 8 A/AA MVP tallied 39 goals and 12 assists a season ago.

Chip Omer, Sr., CPA: Last year’s District 12 A/AA tournament MVP notched 13 goals and 15 assists for the state champion Lions last season.

Nathan Djona, Jr., Antioch: 12-AAA MVP finished with 25 goals last season for the district runner-up Bears.

Thang Toe, Sr., Overton: 2015 All-Midstate second-team selection tallied a team-high 11 goals and five assists for the Bobcats last season.

Ensworth’s Tyra Gittens

TRACK & FIELD

BOYS

George Patrick, Sr., Brentwood Academy: Reigning Tennessean Midstate Boys Track Athlete of the Year and Texas signee won five DII state championships a season ago, claiming first-place finishes in the decathlon (6,882 points), the 110-meter hurdles (14.24), the 300-meter hurdles (39.24), the long jump (23-8¾) and the triple jump (42-3¼).

Brodey Hasty, Soph., Brentwood: Finished runner-up in the Class AAA 3,200-meter run (9:16.19) at last year’s state meet.

Jack Crouch, Sr., Centennial: Finished second in the Class AAA pole vault (14-6) at last year’s state meet.

Rontavius Groves, Jr., Pearl-Cohn: Two-sport standout posted a second-place finish in the Class A/AA 200-meter dash (21.84) at last year’s state meet.

Adam Neelly, Sr., Gallatin: Finished second to his brother in Class AAA discuss (166-5), while posting a sixth-place finish in the shot put (51-6¼).

GIRLS

Tyra Gittens, Jr., Ensworth: Reigning Tennessean Midstate Girls Track Athlete of the Year Tyra Gittens won five DII state championships a season ago, capturing first-place finishes in the pentathlon (3,681), the 100-meter hurdles (15.01), the 200-meter dash (25.33), the high jump (5-7) and the long jump (19-5½).

Taylor Cuneo, Soph., Central Magnet: Swept the distance events at last year’s state meet, winning the 800-meter run (2:18.17), the 1,600-meter run (5:10.87) and the 3,200-meter run (11:01.51).

Hailey Hendry, Sr., Brentwood: Won the AAA 1,600 (5:03.61) and 3,200 (10:55.11) while finishing second in the 800 (14.84).

Amber Tanner, Sr., Ravenwood: Won the Class AAA 300-meter hurdles (42.90) while finishing second in the 110-meter hurdles (14.84).

Maya Perry-Grimes, Sr., Cane Ridge: Finished runner-up in the Class AAA triple jump with a leap of 39-5¼.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

The top 10 high school boys basketball teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

Station Camp coach Seth Massey

10. Maplewood (23-6) — The District 5-AA champion Panthers suffered a surprising sectional loss to Marshall County, however, junior Bo Hodges became the first player in school history to receive Mr. Basketball honors. Last week: No. 9. Streak: Lost 1. 

9. Whites Creek (21-11) — The Cobras, who knocked off CPA in last week’s sectional, will make their first state tournament appearance since 2007 when they face Westview in Thursday’s Class AA quarterfinals. Last week: NR. Streak: Won 1. 

8. Cane Ridge (24-4) — The District 12-AAA runner-up Ravens, led by seniors Kyree Elder and Jimmy Greer, reached the Region 6-AAA semifinals for just the second time in school history. Last week: No. 8. Streak: Lost 1. 

7. White County (29-1) — The Warriors, who set a TSSAA record for the most 3-pointers in a season, suffered a disappointing 78-66 defeat to Bradley Central in last week’s Region 3-AAA semifinals. Last week: No. 7. Streak: Lost 1. 

6. Ensworth (24-6) — The Division II-AA runner-up Tigers, led by Mr. Basketball finalist and Tennessee signee Jordan Bone, proved to be no match for two-time defending champion Brentwood Academy in last week’s title game, suffering an 82-49 defeat. Last week: No. 5. Streak: Lost 1. 

5. Independence (27-4) — The District 11-AAA champion and Region 6-AAA runner-up Eagles advanced to sectionals for the first time in program history before being edged by Station Camp 63-61. Last week: No. 4. Streak: Lost 2. 

4. Hillsboro (21-7) — The District 12-AAA and Region 6-AAA champion Burros, making their second straight state tournament appearance, will take on Dyer County in Wednesday’s Class AAA quarterfinals. Last week: No. 6. Streak: Won 7. 

3. Station Camp (35-1) — The District 9-AAA and Region 5-AAA champion Bison, making their first state tournament appearance in program history, will square off with David Crockett in Wednesday’s Class AAA quarterfinals. Last week: No. 3. Streak: Won 7.

2. Brentwood Academy (29-3) — Standout sophomore Darius Garland helped lead the Eagles to a second straight state title while also receiving Division II-AA Mr. Basketball honors. Last week: No. 2. Streak: Won 9.

1. Blackman (32-0) — The Blaze, the state’s only remaining unbeaten team, will make their fifth consecutive Class AAA state tournament appearance when they take on Science Hill in Wednesday’s quarterfinals. Last week: No. 1. Streak: Won 32. 

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Here are the top 10 high school girls basketball teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

Riverdale’s Anastasia Hayes (right) and teammate Caroline Patrick celebrate after Saturday’s Class AAA champion victory.

10. Rossview (30-3) — The District 10-AAA champion and Region 5-AAA runner-up Lady Red Hawks, who suffered a March 5 sectional loss to Dickson County, reached the 30-win mark for the first time in school history. Last week: No. 10. Streak: Lost 2. 

9. Oakland (23-7) — The reigning Class AAA runner-up Lady Patriots came within three points of capturing a district championship before eventually suffering a season-ending defeat to Stewarts Creek in the region semifinals. Last week: No. 7. Streak: Lost 1. 

8. Stewarts Creek (24-9) — The Lady Red Hawks, who suffered a 68-58 season-ending defeat to Bradley Central on Saturday, advanced to the Class AAA sectionals for the first time in school history. Last week: No. 6. Streak: Lost 2.

7. Upperman (35-3) — The Class AA runner-up Lady Bees, led by sophomore Miss Basketball finalist Akira Levy, managed their best postseason finish since 2001. Last week: No. 9. Streak Lost 1.

6. East Nashville (32-2) — The District 10-AA and Region 5-AA champion Lady Eagles captured the school’s first-ever team state championship with Saturday’s 70-56 triumph over Upperman. Last week: No. 9. Streak: Won 26. 

5. Dickson County (29-4) — The District 11-AAA and Region 6-AAA champion Lady Cougars made a second-half push but ultimately came up short in the state quarterfinals, suffering a 57-43 defeat to Bradley Central. Last week: No. 5. Streak: Lost 1. 

4. Wilson Central (33-1) — The Kendall Spray-led Lady Wildcats, who suffered a 48-43 Class AAA quarterfinal loss to Memphis Central, reached the 30-win mark for the first time since winning it all in 2008-09. Last week: No. 4. Streak: Lost 1.  

3. Blackman (27-4) — The two-time defending champion Lady Blaze, led by Class AAA Miss Basketball Crystal Dangerfield, finished the season ranked 21st in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings. Last week: No. 3. Streak: Lost 1. 

2. Brentwood Acad. (26-5) — Standout sophomore Sydni Harvey helped lead the Lady Eagles to a third straight state title while also receiving DII-AA Miss Basketball honors. Last week: No. 1. Streak: Won 7. 

1. Riverdale (32-4) — The Lady Warriors faced little resistance en route to their fifth Class AAA state title, trouncing Oak Ridge 68-36 behind Miss Basketball finalist Anastasia Hayes’ 27-point performance. Last week: No. 2. Streak: Won 8. 

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.

MTCS’s Barr Ellenburg

The TSSAA Division I girls basketball state tournaments begin Wednesday at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

The 2016 BlueCross Basketball Championships get underway Wednesday morning at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center, where nine area teams will be vying for TSSAA state championships.

Here’s a look at what to expect over the next four days.

Class AAA

Three Midstate squads — Blackman, Hillsboro and Station Camp — have advanced to this week’s eight-team Class AAA field, and each will bring different degrees of state tournament experience with them.

For Blackman, the state’s lone remaining unbeaten team, closing out a season at Murphy Center has become business as usual.

Blackman coach Barry Wortman

The top-ranked Blaze, coming off a 69-39 sectional win over Bradley Central, will be making their fifth straight state quarterfinal appearance when they square off with District 1-AAA and Region 1-AAA champion Science Hill on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m.

“One of the things we’re most proud of is it’s been five straight years with three totally different teams,” Blackman coach Barry Wortman said. “Most of the guys from last year are back this year. I feel like that’s helped us in terms of the unknown. We’ve got a routine that we’ve stuck with over the years. But that sure doesn’t help us when we tee it up with Science Hill.”

“It means a lot,” added junior Donovan Sims, an MTSU commitment. “It gives us a lot of confidence and a boost going into there. We play there a lot during the summer too. So we know the gym well.”

Blackman, which suffered a 58-43 semifinal defeat to eventual champion Hamilton last season, is led by District 7-AAA MVP Christian DeWitt, a versatile 6-foot-4 forward who is averaging 10 points and seven rebounds per game.

The Midstate boys basketball top 10

Between DeWitt, seniors Cedriontis Wilson (14.2 ppg), Jarrell Reeves (7.7) and Deonte’ Alley (7.3), along with Sims (5.8), the District 7-AAA and Region 4-AAA champion Blaze can score from all over the floor.

Hillsboro (21-7), which won both District 12-AAA and Region 6-AAA tournament titles, doesn’t have quite as much state tournament experience on its roster, but having reached Murphy Center three of the last four seasons, don’t expect the Burros to be unprepared in Wednesday’s 2:35 p.m. quarterfinal against Memphis East (29-2).

Senior forward Thomas Smith, who knocked down a 35-foot buzzer beater to take down Independence in the Region 6-AAA championship, averages a team-leading 16.7 points and 8.8 rebounds for the Burros, while Darius Ferguson (10.8) and Kobe Reeves (10.0) are also scoring in double-figures.

“This year most of the kids that are going to be playing played a lot last year,” Hillsboro coach Rodney Thweatt said. “They experienced it and understand the venue, the schedule and all the things that make the state tournament what it is.

“It gives us a little bit more calmness and understanding going in this time.”

Hillsboro’s Thomas Smith, Blackman’s Christian DeWitt and Station Camp’s Yalen Reed

Station Camp, on the other hand, will make its first state tournament appearance when the District 9-AAA and Region 5-AAA champion Bison (35-1) take on David Crockett in Wednesday’s 11:30 a.m. quarterfinal.

“Last year was a pretty good year,” said Station Camp coach Seth Massey, whose 30-5 squad suffered a sectional defeat to eventual runner-up Brentwood last season. “But the thing that we have this year is a lot of unselfish kids that don’t care who gets the credit, and they have the experiences gained over the last couple of years.”

Junior forward Kody Eden averages a team-high 11.6 points for Station Camp, while senior guard Keaton Dotson (11.2), senior forward Yalen Reed (10.5) and junior guard Chase Freeman (10.4) also help lead a balanced Bison attack.

Class AA

A pair of area schools — Marshall County and Whites Creek — will also gun for a gold ball in Murfreesboro, but both teams are a bit under the radar.

Whites Creek junior Ruot Monnyong

Whites Creek, which is making its first state tournament appearance since 2007, suffered 10 regular-season losses before reeling off five of six en route to a District 10-AA championship, a Region 5-AA runner-up finish and a thrilling sectional victory over state-tournament mainstay CPA in last week’s sectional.

Marshall County, meanwhile, which has suffered a tournament-high 14 losses this season, punched its state tournament ticket with a surprising 56-54 sectional win over Maplewood and Class AA Mr. Basketball Bo Hodges.

Marshall County (17-14) will take on Fayette-Ware (24-8) in Thursday’s 1:15 p.m. quarterfinal, while Whites Creek (21-11) plays Westview (27-3) at 6 p.m.

Class A

In Class A action, Nashville Christian (22-9), which snapped a 35-year state-tournament drought with last week’s 68-40 sectional win over Loretto, will square off with Van Buren County (27-5) in Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. quarterfinal.

Middle Tennessee Christian (21-9), making its first state tournament appearance in school history, will play Mitchell (30-7) on Thursday at 10 a.m., while Clay County (31-2), led by Class A Mr. Basketball finalist Tyreke Key, takes on Hampton (28-6) at 11:30.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.

TSSAA

As a result of a continuing decline in the number of the state’s high school athletic officials, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s Board of Control voted Tuesday to form a committee to counter that trend.

The goal of the committee, which will be chaired by Hillwood principal and TSSAA board member Steve Chauncey, is to look at better ways to recruit, train and retain athletic officials.

“So far this year we’re down about 200 from where we were last year,” TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress said, noting that around 4,500 registered. “As older officials retire and come off the floor and the field, we’re just not getting younger officials like we used to.

“That trend can not continue.”

TSSAA assistant executive directors Gene Menees and Mark Reeves, basketball officials supervisor Brandon Pipkin, wrestling officials assigning officer Mike Parker, softball officials regional coordinator Sam Kerr, soccer officials supervisor Chip Fuller and Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association executive director Pat Swallows will also serve on the committee.

“The ultimate goal will be to come up with ways that we can better recruit, train and retain officials,” said Childress, who referred to the trend as a national problem. “We felt like we put administrators and officials on the committee that have been in it a long time, and we feel like they can give us some better ideas on how to recruit.”

And while Childress said that the state’s declining number of officials predates the November’s decision by the TSSAA to begin performing background checks on officials, the new procedure isn’t expected to help.

“What the other states that have implemented (background checks) have said is that there has been about a three percent drop in officials registering,” Childress said. “We haven’t even gotten to that point yet, but what we’re saying is this is the drop prior to us implementing them.”

The board voted to implement background check for officials after former football official Kyle Gill was suspended by the TSSAA for not fully disclosing his criminal history when being hired.

New members: Nashville’s STEM Academy was approved to become a TSSAA member beginning in 2016-17. The school, which has an enrollment of 260 in grades 9-10, plans to participate in cross country, track, soccer and junior varsity basketball during the 2016-17 school year. The school will be placed in District 10-A in basketball, A-AA (Middle Section) in track and 10 A-AA in cross country and soccer.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Booker T. Washington’s Chauncey Blakey (10) tries to steal the ball from Nashville Christian’s Jay Walker (22) during the Boys Class A State quarterfinal game at MTSU’s Murphy Center on Wednesday.

Nashville Christian’s Daniel Bituli (35) scores against Booker T. Washington’s Tyrone Sumlin (15) during the Boys Class A State quarterfinal game at MTSU’s Murphy Center on Wednesday.

MURFREESBORO —The Nashville Christian School boys basketball team hung tough for much of Wednesday’s Class A state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center.

However, Booker T. Washington’s second-half pressure was simply too much for the Eagles, who suffered a 63-51 season-ending defeat to the Warriors (31-5)

“Our guys were not afraid at all,” second-year Nashville Christian coach Mike McPherson said. “I mean they’ve humiliated a lot of teams this year, and if a few more post shots had fallen we might still be out there playing in overtime.”

The Eagles (22-10), who shot just 38 percent from the field, stayed within striking distance despite committing 11 first-half turnovers, pulling to within 26-22 at halftime.

TSSAA state boys basketball tournament pairings

After the break, however, Booker T. Washington staged a 15-5 run to claim a 49-33 advantage — the Warriors’ largest lead of the game — with 5:48 left.

Nashville Christian never quite recovered.

“We were pressuring the ball, we were getting hands in the passing lanes and a lot of times they just had a lot of miscues on their passes,” Booker T. Washington coach Gregory Williams said. “We didn’t fold despite the many runs that Nashville Christian made.”

Bituli, a Tennessee football signee, finished with a team-high 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Eagles, who were making their first state tournament appearance since 1981, while teammate Zell Walker, a Tennessee Tech baseball signee, added 19 points on 7-of-19 shooting.

“Obviously I’m hurt because the coaches had a great game plan,” said Bituli, who received Class 1A Mr. Football honors in the fall. “It was perfect for this game and the only thing you can blame it on is the players.

“We should have made more shots. We shouldn’t have had as many turnovers. We should have run the plays correctly. We should have made our free throws.”

The Warriors, who will face the Van Buren County vs. Knoxville Grace winner in Friday’s 1:15 p.m. Class A quarterfinal, were led by senior guards Decorian McDaniel and Chauncey Blakely, who combined to score 37 points on 14-of-31 shooting.

“Even though it’s great making it to state we really planned on winning it,” McPherson said. “And we figured if we could get past this game we might be able to do it. It’s a tough draw in the first round, but somebody has got to face them so why not us.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Nashville Christian’s Daniel Bituli (35) scores against Booker T. Washington’s Tyrone Sumlin (15) during the Class A State quarterfinals at MTSU’s Murphy Center on Wednesday.

Station Camp boys advance to Class AAA semifinals
Hillsboro’s 3-pointers not enough against Memphis East

Station Camp’s Chase Freeman (11) rushes toward the basket as David Crockett"s Darian Delapp (14) tries to steal the ball during the State Tournament Quarterfinal game Wednesday at MTSU.

MURFREESBORO — The Station Camp High School boys basketball team might have been making its first BlueCross Basketball Championships appearance, but the Bison felt right at home inside MTSU’s Murphy Center.

A large portion of Station Camp’s student body made the trek here to show support.

“Not really (surprised),” senior Sawyer Taylor said after Station Camp’s 78-68 quarterfinal win over David Crockett. “Coach (Seth) Massey kept telling us that like 700 students were going to be there. Plus, it’s during the school day, so a lot of them were ready just to get out of school.”

Station Camp, which has an enrollment of approximately 1,500, had just 270 students show up to school on Thursday.

“Maybe some of them just didn’t go to school,” junior Chase Freeman added. “But that’s still crazy.”

TSSAA state boys basketball tournament pairings

Family tradition: Fans familiar with last year’s BlueCross Basketball Championships will probably remember the name Lawson — as in brothers Dedric and K.J. Lawson, who helped lead Hamilton High School to a Class AAA state title.

And while Dedric and K.J. have moved on to play at the University of Memphis, their little brother, Memphis East’s Chandler Lawson, made his presence felt Wednesday.

Chandler Lawson scored 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting in the Mustangs’ 70-61 win over Hillsboro. The 6-foot-9 freshman also tallied four rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots in his state tournament debut.

Breaking through: Wednesday marked Nashville Christian’s second trip to the state tournament in program history. Just like the school’s first trip, though, it ended with an opening-round loss.

Although the Eagles were ousted by Booker T. Washington, this season was the first time they advanced to the state tournament since 1981.

The second-longest state tournament drought ended this year when Cordova advanced to the Class AAA quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.

Middle Tennessee Christian, meanwhile, will make its first-ever state tournament appearance when the Cougars take on Mitchell in Thursday’s 10 a.m. quarterfinal.

Mr. Basketball: Only one Mr. Basketball winner — Memphis East’s Alex Lomax — will play in the BlueCross Basketball Championships.

Lomax, who beat out Oak Ridge’s Tee Higgins and Arlington’s Nathan Hoover for Class AAA Mr. Basketball honors, scored 12 points in Wednesday’s quarterfinal win.

Class A Mr. Basketball finalist Clay County’s Tyreke Key of Clay County will be on display at 11:30 a.m. Thursday when the Bulldogs take on Hampton.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Clay County junior and Mr. Basketball finalist Tyreke Key goes up for a first-quarter floater during Thursday’s Class A quarterfinal against Hampton at MTSU’s Murphy Center.

MURFREESBORO — The Clay County boys have had no problem getting to the Class A basketball tournament.

It’s taking that next step that has presented the Bulldogs with problems recently.

“One of these days we’re going to win one of these first-round games,” Clay County coach Rob Edwards said after his squad’s 80-70 overtime loss to Hampton in Thursday’s Class A quarterfinals. “I don’t know when, but we’re going to get one.”

Junior Peyton Smith buried back-to-back late 3-pointers to put Clay County in front 65-62 with 10.3 seconds remaining in regulation, but he was outdone by Hampton’s Adam McClain, who knocked down a corner trey at the horn to force overtime.

“I knew we had to have a 3, and when Nathan (Norris) went to the basket I was wide open in the corner because they helped off,” said McClain, who also buried a buzzer-beating jumper to conclude the third quarter. “It was amazing.”

From there, Hampton (29-6) connected on 11 of its 12 overtime free throw attempts, coasting to a comfortable double-digit win while also dealing Clay County its fourth quarterfinal defeat of the last decade.

“We thought maybe St. Patrick’s Day, but I guess not,” Edwards said. “I guess I didn’t wear green.”

Despite battling cramps for much of the second half, junior Class A Mr. Basketball finalist Tyreke Key tallied a game-high 25 points and seven rebounds to lead the Bulldogs (31-3), who fell to 0-3 on the year in overtime contests.

“I don’t really know how to explain it,” Edwards said of his team’s overtime struggles. “The shot that the kid made at the end regulation was just such a momentum swing. We talked there in the huddle about staying calm and finishing the game … I just don’t know.”

Senior Jonathan Browning added 18 points and seven assists for Clay County, while senior Wyatt Mabry added 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the losing effort.

And despite Clay County losing both Browning and Mabry, along with fellow senior Max Mayfield, to graduation, Key, who scored 11 points in last year’s 54-42 quarterfinal defeat to Knoxville Grace, is confident his team can find its way back to Murfreesboro next season.

“It’s been amazing journey with (the seniors),” Key said. “We’ve got to step it up next year and maybe get back.”

Hampton, led by a trio of double-digit scorers in Coby Jones (22), Jose Velasquez (17), Norris (12) and McClain (11), advanced to Friday’s 2:45 p.m. semifinal matchup with Mitchell.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Whites Creek players begin to celebrate on the bench during a game against Westview during TSSAA class AA state quarterfinals at MTSU’s Murphy Center on Thursday March 17, 2016. Whites Creek won 100-76.

Whites Creek players begin to celebrate on the bench during a game against Westview during TSSAA Class AA state quarterfinals at MTSU’s Murphy Center on Thursday March 17, 2016. Whites Creek won 100-76.

MURFREESBORO — The Whites Creek boys eclipsed the century mark for the first time this season on Thursday night, throttling Westview 100-76 in a Class AA quarterfinal win at Murphy Center.

Whites Creek, making its first state tournament appearance since 2007, used a 20-2 third-quarter run to seize control. The Cobras, led by Jacob Frazier’s team-high 25 points, really blew things open with a 43-point fourth-quarter outburst.

“It’s exciting,” said Frazier, who knocked down 12 of 15 shots from the field. “My teammates worked the ball around, and I was just in the right place at the right time to hit shots.”

Sophomore Isaiah Bowers finished with 20 points and seven assists for Whites Creek (22-11), which piled up 21 assists. Senior Kenneth Holmes (19) and junior Ruot Monyyong (13) also scored in double figures.

“We knew that they work the 2-3 zone as good as anybody, so we just tried to get into the gaps,” second-year Whites Creek coach Carlton Battle said. “We shot a lot of 3s in the first half and we wanted to tone that down in the second half. I think that helped.

“It was just team basketball, realizing that not one person could do it all.”

Whites Creek’s Ruot Monyyong (40) shoots a jumper and scores against Westview during a Class AA state quarterfinals game at MTSU’s Murphy Center on Thursday March 17, 2016.

The Chargers (27-4), who were assessed three technical fouls in the final minute, were led by senior forward Justin Johnson’s game-high 28-points. Class AA Mr. Basketball finalist Garrett Sams contributed 21 points and 10 boards.

“He was strong,” the 6-foot-9 Monyyong said of Johnson, a UT Martin signee who also pulled down a team-leading 11 rebounds for Westview. “He was very strong.”

The Cobras, just two years removed from suffering through an 0-23 campaign, will square off with District 6-AA and Region 3-AA champion Brainerd in Friday’s 6 p.m. Class AA semifinal.

“It feels great,” said Holmes, who witnessed just six wins in his first two seasons at Whites Creek. “Like we’ve never had this before.”

“We’ve had our ups and downs,” added Battle. “We’ve had some bad losses and we’ve had some great wins, and I think going through all of that helped prepare us for the state tournament.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

MURFREESBORO — The Whites Creek boys used team basketball to get on a roll late in the season and secure their first state tournament appearance in nearly a decade.

According to second-year coach Carlton Battle, the Cobras’ unselfish play might have actually worked against them in the waning moments of Friday’s Class AA semifinal showdown with Brainerd at Murphy Center.

“We were a little bit timid down the stretch, and I wish the guys would have trusted themselves and taken the open shots,” Battle said after Whites Creek’s 66-62 season-ending loss to the Panthers.

“Sometimes you ask your kids to play unselfish for so long, and then it gets to the time in a basketball game when a kid may need to be a little selfish. We got here by playing team basketball, and we’re leaving playing team ball.”

Whites Creek (22-12), coming off an impressive 100-76 quarterfinal win over Westview, fell behind late in the third quarter. The District 10-AA champion and Region 5-AA runner-up Cobras caught fire early in the fourth, stringing together a 10-0 run to claim a 53-47 advantage with 4:48 remaining.

However, they were unable to close things out.

“Whites Creek played their butts off and they deserved to be here,” said Brainerd coach LeVar Brown, whose Panthers will play Fulton in Saturday’s 6 p.m. Class AA championship. “They’re a well-coached team, and I didn’t know that until tonight.

“They were everything that we heard they were.”

Junior Ruot Monyyong finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocked shots to lead the Cobras, who committed sixth fourth-quarter turnovers and four in the final 1:50, while junior Jaquan Brooks contributed seven points and 13 boards.

The Panthers (30-5), led by sophomore Jesse Walker’s 23-point, 15-rebound effort, battled back to tie things up on a pair of Walker free throws with 2:24 left, and moments later, Malik Beavers buried a floater to put Brainerd in front 59-58.

“We just gave it up at the end,” said Whites Creek senior Jonathan Richardson, who tallied nine points, four rebounds and three assists.

“It still seems unreal,” added Battle. “It was another roller coaster — back and forth, back and forth. We’d seen them play and we knew what they were capable of. We knew what was coming and it was our jobs to try and execute regardless.

“Hats off to Coach (Brown) and their program moving on.”

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Whites Creek’s Ruot Monyyong (40) tries to dunk the ball but is stopped by Brainerd’s Dajuonta Rodd (5) during a Class AA state semifinal game at MTSU’s Murphy Center on Friday March 18, 2016.

Whites Creek players sported new shoes donated by Brooklyn Nets standout Thaddeus Young during the state tournament.

For the first time since 2009, there was no Midstate representation at the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Division I boys basketball tournament finals.

Four Middle Tennessee teams — Blackman, Station Camp, Van Buren County and Whites Creek — advanced to Friday’s semifinal round at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center, but none managed to reach the finals.

Station Camp, making its first state tournament appearance, suffered a 77-59 loss to Cordova. Previously unbeaten Blackman, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A, was dealt its first loss — 46-41 to Memphis East.

Van Buren County, also making its first trip to the state tournament, was knocked out with a 54-40 loss to Booker T. Washington. Whites Creek, which advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2007, was edged by Brainerd 66-62.

West Tennessee/Memphis area had four teams playing in the finals, while Knoxville and Chattanooga each had one in the championship.

Memphis East edges Cordova in boys AAA final

Look good, play good: Whites Creek caught people’s attention with its play, including an impressive 100-point performance in a dominant quarterfinal win over Westview on Thursday.

The Cobras’ game wasn’t the only thing that caught fans’ eyes, though.

They were also sporting brand new Nike Zoom HyperRev shoes, courtesy of NBA power forward and Mitchell High School product Thaddeus Young.

“Hats off to Thaddeus Young of the Brooklyn Nets, he sent us those shoes and made sure they got here in time for the state tournament,” Whites Creek coach Carlton Battle sad. “We’re very happy he looked out for us.”

Familiar foes: Mitchell and Booker T. Washington squared off for the fourth time this season in Saturday’s Class A state title contest.

The two teams played once in the regular season and three times in the postseason.

Booker T. Washington defeated Mitchell during the regular-season meeting on Feb. 13, bringing an end to the Tigers’ 2 1/2-year unbeaten streak against Class A schools.

The Warriors also claimed a 46-44 District 16-A title win over Mitchell before suffering a 63-58 defeat to the two-time defending Class A champion Tigers in the Region 8-A championship.

Seeing spots: Mitchell played its semifinal contest as marked men. Literally.

The Tigers were forced to sew circular black patches on their jerseys to cover up the word “family,” which had been stitched on the back of their jersey above the numbers.

“The (National Federation of State High School Associations) basketball rulebook does not allow anything like that on the back,” TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress said. “You can only put your mascot name on the back.”

“When we realized it was on there they were told those were illegal jerseys. I’m sure they had someone around here sew those on to make sure it wasn’t there.”

Record holder: Station Camp’s Seth Massey made his first state tournament appearance this week as a coach. He already held a legacy as a player.

Massey helped lead Adamsville to quarterfinal berths in 1993 and 1994, and the Bison coach set state records for the most consecutive made 3-pointers (6) — which still stands — and the most made 3-pointers in a game (8).

“I loved playing (at MTSU’s Murphy Center),” said Massey. “I loved shooting in that gym.”

And while Massey suffered a pair of quarterfinal losses while playing for Adamsville, his Station Camp squad managed to secure the school’s first state tournament win with Wednesday’s 78-68 triumph over David Crockett.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

Blackman junior Donovan Sims elevates for a shot during Friday’s semifinal loss to Memphis East.

Here are the top 10 high school basketball teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

10. Maplewood (23-6) — The Panthers, led by Class AA Mr. Basketball Bo Hodges, reached the 23-win mark for the first time since advancing to the state semifinals in 2009-10. Last week: No. 10. Streak: Lost 1. 

9. Whites Creek (22-12) — The Cobras reached the 100-point mark in a comfortable quarterfinal win over Westview before being edged by eventual state runner-up Brainerd in Friday’s semifinals. Last week: No. 9. Streak: Lost 1. 

8. White County (29-1) — The Warriors, who set a TSSAA record for the most 3-pointers in a season, suffered their first and only loss of 2015-16 in the Class AAA sectionals — a surprising 78-66 defeat to Bradley Central. Last week: No. 7. Streak: Lost 1. 

7. Cane Ridge (24-4) — The District 12-AAA runner-up Ravens, led by seniors Kyree Elder and Jimmy Greer, advanced to the Region 6-AAA semifinals for just the second time in program history. Last week: No. 8. Streak: Lost 1. 

6. Ensworth (24-6) — The Tigers reached the DII-AA title game for the fourth time in five seasons but proved no match for two-time defending state champion Brentwood Academy, ultimately suffering an 82-49 defeat. Last week: No. 6. Streak: Lost 1. 

5. Independence (24-7) — The District 11-AAA champion and Region 6-AAA runner-up Eagles reached sectionals for the first time in program history before suffering a two-point defeat to eventual state semifinalist Station Camp. Last week: No. 5. Streak: Lost 2. 

4. Hillsboro (21-8) — The District 12-AAA and Region 6-AAA champion Burros, who were knocked off by the eventual Class AAA champion for the second year in a row, hit 14 3-pointers in last week’s 70-61 quarterfinal loss to Memphis East. Last week: No. 4. Streak: Lost 1. 

3. Station Camp (36-2) — The District 9-AAA and Region 5-AAA champion Bison suffered a semifinal defeat to Cordova, but not before capturing their first state-tournament win in program history — a 78-68 quarterfinal triumph over David Crockett. Last week: No. 3. Streak: Lost 1. 

2. Brentwood Academy (29-3) — Sophomore sensation Darius Garland helped lead the Eagles to a second consecutive state title before also bringing home DII-AA Mr. Basketball honors. Last week: No. 2. Streak: Won 9. 

1. Blackman (33-1) — The Blaze, playing in their fifth state tournament in as many seasons, limited Memphis East to a season-low 46 points in Friday’s semifinals but still suffered a season-ending defeat to the eventual Class AAA champion Mustangs. Last week: No. 1. Streak: Lost 1. 

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-269-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports . 

Here are the top 10 high school girls basketball teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

Riverdale’s Anastasia Hayes (right) and teammate Caroline Patrick celebrate after Saturday’s Class AAA champion victory.

10. Rossview (30-3) — The District 10-AAA champion and Region 5-AAA runner-up Lady Red Hawks, who suffered a March 5 sectional loss to Dickson County, reached the 30-win mark for the first time in school history. Last week: No. 10. Streak: Lost 2. 

9. Oakland (23-7) — The reigning Class AAA runner-up Lady Patriots came within three points of capturing a district championship before eventually suffering a season-ending defeat to Stewarts Creek in the region semifinals. Last week: No. 7. Streak: Lost 1. 

8. Stewarts Creek (24-9) — The Lady Red Hawks, who suffered a 68-58 season-ending defeat to Bradley Central on Saturday, advanced to the Class AAA sectionals for the first time in school history. Last week: No. 6. Streak: Lost 2.

7. Upperman (35-3) — The Class AA runner-up Lady Bees, led by sophomore Miss Basketball finalist Akira Levy, managed their best postseason finish since 2001. Last week: No. 9. Streak Lost 1.

6. East Nashville (32-2) — The District 10-AA and Region 5-AA champion Lady Eagles captured the school’s first-ever team state championship with Saturday’s 70-56 triumph over Upperman. Last week: No. 9. Streak: Won 26. 

5. Dickson County (29-4) — The District 11-AAA and Region 6-AAA champion Lady Cougars made a second-half push but ultimately came up short in the state quarterfinals, suffering a 57-43 defeat to Bradley Central. Last week: No. 5. Streak: Lost 1. 

4. Wilson Central (33-1) — The Kendall Spray-led Lady Wildcats, who suffered a 48-43 Class AAA quarterfinal loss to Memphis Central, reached the 30-win mark for the first time since winning it all in 2008-09. Last week: No. 4. Streak: Lost 1.  

3. Blackman (27-4) — The two-time defending champion Lady Blaze, led by Class AAA Miss Basketball Crystal Dangerfield, finished the season ranked 21st in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings. Last week: No. 3. Streak: Lost 1. 

2. Brentwood Acad. (26-5) — Standout sophomore Sydni Harvey helped lead the Lady Eagles to a third straight state title while also receiving DII-AA Miss Basketball honors. Last week: No. 1. Streak: Won 7. 

1. Riverdale (32-4) — The Lady Warriors faced little resistance en route to their fifth Class AAA state title, trouncing Oak Ridge 68-36 behind Miss Basketball finalist Anastasia Hayes’ 27-point performance. Last week: No. 2. Streak: Won 8. 

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.