Division II-A State Championship Recap: Webb Bell Buckle Triumphs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE "tinnon30" FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past Saturday marked the 2024-25 Division II State Championships. At the home of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, the Hooper Eblen Center, the arena was rocking as we saw two great contests unfold for state titles. It was a battle of Middle Tennessee vs. East Tennessee teams as we saw four squads get down and after it for the opportunity to host the gold ball at the in. Here are the results from Saturday's game 1 matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Game 1</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Webb Bell Buckle 61</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The King's Academy 59</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was a great game in a winner-takes-all matchup from the start. It was a seesaw matchup where each team threw punches and then the other team counter-punched. It was shot making after shot making with Webb taking the biggest lead of the game (6 points) early in the 1st quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>TKA stayed in it and battled. They got scoring from their bench, fought in the paint, and tied the lead a time or two, but in the end, they came up just a little short. Webb had just too much firepower and received big-time contributions from multiple young up-and-coming stars. Both teams had a tremendous year, however, Webb Bell-Buckle will etch their names into the history books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some standout players from Game 1 of the Division II-A championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["631089"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cf18422a170"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the best players in the state, the Ohio State signee was red hot from the field. She was scorching the net from arc, hitting 4-6 three-pointers. She did work on the interior, as she got to favorable spots on the floor and finished. The mid-range game was on point, finishing through contact was also there, and DB was the MVP of this game for sure. She finished with a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds to go along with 2 assists and 3 steals. It's an awesome way to go out on top and finish a stellar career.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["792288"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cf18422a1e5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tough as always, this kid finished with 14 points, 4 boards, and 5 assist. She was solid on both ends of the floor, giving TKA fits in all she was doing. Defensively, she made it hard for them to operate, forcing them to counter what they normally would do. She knocked down her open shot attempts and was clutch from the free-throw line. She walks away from this game being a champion but also wanting to run it back again. Look for her to soak up this experience and get right back to the grind. A top-notch kid who is going to be a force to be reckoned with over the next couple of years.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1155097"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cf18422a22e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A solid kid who had a breakout game. She may not get the publicity as others, but her time is about to come. She finished the game with 10 points, playing solidly on both ends of the floor. She knocked down two huge three-point attempts and was able to get a couple of layups in as well. She got plenty off tick as coached trusted her being on the floor. Look for this young stud to use a game like this and catapult herself up the rankings. She is a heady ball player who is establishing herself as a solid option for this ball club.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["583370"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cf18422a274"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She did all she could for her ball club but came up short in the end. The outcome of this game may sting, however, this kid has proven she is one of the top ballplayers in her class. She finished the game with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. She played all 32 minutes, giving it her all on the floor. I was thoroughly impressed with her throughout the whole season in how she was able to be a leader on the floor, have poise with the basketball, and knew when to exploit a defense by either knocking down a shot herself or finding a teammate who had an advantageous opportunity. She is a selfless ballplayer who has a tremendous future. Not only is she one of the top PGs in her class but also one of the top kids in the state in her class. Keep your eyes on her as she continues to grow and get after it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1234124' first='Matazja' last='Goins']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Webb Bell-Buckle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67cf18422a31b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A three-sport athlete who is so very scrappy. She gets after it on the defensive end, making it tough for opponents to score. Has tremendous speed and quickness and can easily force opponents into turnovers. She finished the game with 11 points, coming up big in some crucial moments. She knocked down two threes from the arc and was in a lot of the action around the ball. This junior played solidly, and I look for her to bounce back from this defeat and have a strong senior season with a different outcome. A solid kid who is gaining more confidence each time she steps onto the floor.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->