Championship Saturday From The Glass House

<!-- 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>We have reached the peak of the 2025-26 season, and here we are, on championship Saturday. This season has been a humdinger filled with so many different feats. So many players eclipsed different milestones along the way. Teams from various places and classes took significant steps to either fortify who they are or break through and have gotten better than they were before. And here we are, the final day of the season, where we will be crowning some new champions in the TSSAA public school sector.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season has been truly amazing for growth in the game. Across the sport's landscape, you are witnessing an uptick in how the game is played and in its quality. Competition is at an all-time high, and on championship Saturday, you were able to see just that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a recap of all the games from Saturday's championship finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>1A Championship</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richland vs. Middleton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talk about a tight contest; it was truly a back-and-forth matchup between these two clubs. Both teams came into the contest with some impressive wins along the way. This game was truly about grit and determination as each club got after it. This was a low-scoring affair, but Richland broke out in the second quarter, outscoring Middleton 11-6. At halftime, it was 19-15 Richland, holding a 4-point lead. Truly, this game was about converting, and Richland converted when they had to. This game went down to the wire, and Richland holds on to take the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Richland 34- Middleton 33</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>2A Championship</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Huntingdon vs. York Institute</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Talk about a true knockdown, drag-out matchup. These teams both came into this contest on a mission. York, a club that has been to the pinnacle before, were the vets on the stage and had the senior leadership to back it up. Huntingdon, the newbies, the young pups led by talented freshmen, were ready to battle and prove to everyone that this year wasn't a fluke. Right from the start, the pace of play was slowed as each team got to know the others. Then, in the second quarter, even more shots started to fall, but the defense remained solid on both ends. Huntingdon took a slight lead at the half, up 22-20. York, coming back with vengeance, led the 3rd quarter in scoring, dominated the paint, and hit timely shots. With York leading 30-28 going into the 4th, it was Huntingdon who settled down and went back to their strengths. They closed out the game with shots inside and prevailed in the 4th quarter. Huntingdon holds on and is the new 2A champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Huntingdon 43 - York Institute 41</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>3A Championship</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White Co. vs. Dyersburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two teams that are no strangers to the big stage. Talented. Play with a sense of urgency and determination. Well coached. This game was a good matchup right from the start. Both teams got after it right from the jump, displaying pure grit and athleticism. They went back and forth early and often. In the second quarter, confidence began to build within the Dyersburg squad, as they hit some clutch buckets off turnovers. Dyersburg was up 23-15 at the half, but White Co. came out of the half strong. Though White Co. gave some haymakers, it was Dyersburg that withstood their run and capitalized on turnovers to hold the league. This game was dominated by senior guards, and the club that featured a Miss Tennessee finalist ultimately prevailed. Dyersburg goes on to win the 3A state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Dyersburg 54- White Co. 45</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>4A Championship</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sevier Co. vs. Cookeville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Battle-tested.” This particular phrase comes to mind when talking about these two clubs. This year would be a new state champ in this class, and both teams were hungry and ready to take the next steps to rewrite history. Both teams came into the contest with impressive wins down the stretch that brought them to this point. As the ball tipped off, it was on and poppin as these two went at each other, giving it their all.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This first quarter was tight, super tight, 10-10 at the end of the quarter. Then, Sevier Co. turned it up a notch on the defensive end, displaying their calling card that led them to this point in the tournament.&nbsp; They held Cookeville to 3 points in the second quarter and scored 17 to take a 27-13 lead into the half. If you know Cookeville at all, this program doesn't quit and wouldn't go away easily. They roared back in the coming out of the half; however, Sevier Co. themselves had another gear to hit as they too weren't backing down. It came down to the 4th, and Sevier just put the clamps on any Cookeville run. Sevier Co. wins it to become the 4A State Champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Sevier Co. 61- Cookeville-45</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some standouts from each championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["748461"],"_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-69bc105937782"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"> Had an exceptional tournament, leading her club with 16 points and shooting 50% from 3. She got to the rim with ease, but it was her senior leadership that was really on display. Playing with poise, she knew when to push the ball and when to slow it down. A heady floor general who is truly one of the top PGs in her class. She will go down as one of the best players in school history. Winning a championship is the icing on the cake for an impressive high school career.<br><br></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":"Grier Bartholomew","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_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":"Huntingdon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69bc10593789e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">She stepped up when her number was called. Finishing with 12 points and 2 rebounds, she had an impressive performance where she was the X factor. She gained her opponent's respect and attention, but it was a little too late. She made some key buckets for her club, and her shots were truly the difference makers for them. Her club goes on to be the new 2A champions, and she played a magnificent part in capping off their state title run.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["593347"],"_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-69bc105937900"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the top guards in the state, her fingerprints were all on this victory, literally. Playing solid on both ends of the floor, her defense led the show as she had 8 steals in the contest. I have always said this young lady had a sweet jumper, and it wouldn't be denied as she finished with 26 points. A true MVP caliber player, she hoists the gold ball once again and brings it back to the Dyersburg community.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["821733"],"_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-69bc10593797d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Someone whose stock is going to go through the roof, this young lady has arrived. A gritty player who just plays hard and with a sense of urgency, she just gets after it and leaves everything she has on the floor. Her defense is what sets her apart from others, as she is a menace on that end. Finishing this game with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 steals, she was impressive as all get out as she continued to showcase her exceptional talents. Fearless and competitive, if there was an all-around MVP for the tournament, this young lady would get it because she didn't back down from anyone. Make sure to keep tabs on this young lady as she becomes a name mentioned among collegiate coaches.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->