Our experts pick all four girls state basketball champions
Tennessee high school sports writers from the USA Today Network have picked this year’s TSSAA Division I girls basketball state champions.
Girls basketball state tournaments from Class 1A-4A tip off this week at Middle Tennessee State’s Murphy Center to conclude their high school seasons.
All championship games are scheduled for Saturday.
Here are our predicted state championship games with the winner and score.
Class 1A
Toyloy Brown III, Knoxville News Sentinel: Wayne County 47 Mckenzie 44. Wayne County gets revenge from last year’s championship loss to Mckenzie. Sophomore and Miss Basketball Finalist Blair Baugus will lead her team to an undefeated season and a gold ball.
Cecil Joyce, The Daily News Journal: Wayne Co. 49, Mckenzie 38. Blair Baugus, Lady Wildcats finish unbeaten to win first title since 2011.
Tom Kreager, The Tennessean: Mckenzie 58, Wayne County 53. Mckenzie gets a second straight gold ball in a rematch of last year’s final and hands the Wildcats their lone loss in the process.
George Robinson, The Tennessean: Mckenzie 58, Wayne County 44. Mckenzie lost only one senior from last year’s state title team and repeats in a championship rematch.
Jacob Shames, The Leaf-chronicle: Mckenzie 55, Hampton 48. Hampton puts up a fight, but with 2022 Miss Basketball Savannah Davis healthy, the Rebels are just too much in the end.
Wynston Wilcox, The Commercial Appeal: Wayne Co. 57, Mckenzie 52. Wayne County hasn’t lost all year, despite some close calls. They complete the perfect season with a gold ball.
Class 2A
Brown: York Institute 62 Gatlinburg-pittman 54. The Dragonettes will continue their dominance into the state tournament. After a runner-up finish last year, they will win their first state championship since 1984.
Joyce: York Institute 52, Mcminn Central 48. Reese Beaty, Lady Dragons the most battle-tested team in the bracket, including state quarters showdown.
Kreager: York Institute 68, Mcminn Central 62. Reese and Gabby Beaty complete the mission a year after finishing state runner-up.
Robinson: York Institute 65, Gibson County 60. After barely getting past Westview in the quarterfinals, York rides the play of point guard Reese Beaty to end its 39-year championship drought.
Shames: Westview 49, Gatlinburgpittman 44. MTSU signee Jada Harrison puts on a show in the arena she’ll play in next season as Westview goes back-to-back.
Wilcox: Westview 55, Gatlinburgpittman 53. Westview just gets by Gatlinburg-pittman to repeat as state champions and get the program’s third title.
Class 3A
Brown: Upperman 55 Livingston
Academy 51. There will be an all District 7-3A matchup in the championship game. Upperman beat Livingston Academy three out of four times heading into the state tournament and will win for the fourth time to repeat as champions.
Joyce: Jackson South Side 61, Livingston Academy 48. Ti’mia Lawson, Lady Hawks complete dominant season, tournament.
Kreager: Upperman 71, Livingston Academy 66. Fifth meeting brings a fourth gold ball back to Baxter for the Lady Bees.
Robinson: Jackson South Side 59, Livingston Academy 49. The Lady Hawks endure a tough test against Upperman in the quarterfinal to break through to its first state title led by the triple threat of Ta’mia Lawson, Jaidynn Askins and Albany Collins
Shames: Jackson South Side 68, Livingston Academy 54. Ti’mia Lawson, Albany Collins and Jaidynn Askins shine as the Hawks cap off an undefeated season in style.
Wilcox: Jackson South Side 58, Livingston Academy 50. Jackson South Side has been dominant all year and finish the year undefeated as the best team in girls 3A basketball.
Class 4A
Brown: Bearden 46 Bartlett 43: Bearden will repeat as state champions behind one of the best two-way players in senior Avery Treadwell, a Florida State signee, and talented freshman guard Natalya Hodge.
Joyce: Blackman 60, Bartlett 54. Second title in three years, fourth since 2014 for the Lady Blaze.
Kreager: Bearden 55, Bartlett 50: A second straight gold ball travels back to Knoxville with the Lady Bulldogs, who survive the gauntlet of the Killer Bs — Bradley Central, Blackman and then Bartlett in the finals.
Robinson: Bearden 71, Bartlett 65: Top-ranked Bearden overcomes Bartlett duo Mallory Collier and Raven Sims to capture its second straight state title.
Shames: Bartlett 53, Bearden 51: North Carolina State signee Mallory Collier outduels Florida State signee Avery Treadwell to lead Bartlett to its first-ever title.
Wilcox: Bartlett 62, Bearden 60: Bartlett has had its eyes on a state title all year. Their defense is too much for Bearden and the Panthers hand Bearden its only loss of the season and raise the gold ball for the first time since 1928.