East Hamilton faces champ Memphis East in state

The East Hamilton boys’ basketball team certainly didn’t catch a break when the TSSAA released the state-tournament brackets Tuesday evening. The Hurricanes, who rallied late to knock off Blackman in the sectionals to earn their first state appearance, will open the Class AAA quarterfinals against defending champion Memphis East.

That game will tip off Wednesday, March 15, at 2:15 p.m. EDT at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center.

While the Hurricanes (25-10) are making their state-tournament debut, the Mustangs (30-3) are making their third straight trip to the state tournament and haven’t lost to a TSSAA opponent in more than a year. The winner of that matchup will face the winner between Oak Ridge (30-3) and Brentwood (26-8) in the semifinals.

Memphis East and Oak Ridge were considered the AAA favorites prior to the bracket drawing.

In Class AAA, Brainerd (295) will open against Haywood (26-7) on March 16 at 11 a.m. EDT. Brainerd’s Panthers, who finished runners-up last season, are making their third straight trip to the state tourney.

In Class A, Van Buren County, which also is making its third trip to the state tourney, will face Columbia Academy in Thursday’s 5:30 quarterfinal.

The TSSAA also announced the state’s Mr. and Miss Basketball award winners Tuesday evening, but none of the three finalists from the Chattanooga area won those awards. McCallie junior point guard Jr. Clay was a finalist for the Division II-AA Mr. Basketball award, but the winner in that classification was Brentwood Academy’s Darius Garland.

Bradley Central junior Rhyne Howard was a finalist for the Class AAA Miss Basketball award, which went to Riverdale’s Anastasia Hayes, and McMinn Central senior Jacobi Lynn was a finalist for the AA Miss Basketball award won by Upperman’s Akira Levy.