Boys, girls basketball polls presented by CoachT.com - Feb. 18

February 18, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced rankings for boys and girls basketball for the 2024-25 season on Monday, with the poll presented by CoachT.com. Top 10 teams in each of the four Division I classifications and Top 5 in two Division II classes were selected by TSWA members with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

GIRLS
Class 1A
1. Pickett County (23-3) – 49 (4)
2. Wayne County (25-3) – 46 (1)
3. Moore County (23-3) – 40
4. Richland (23-3) – 33
5. Van Buren County (22-5) – 24
6. North Greene (25-3) – 23
7. Coalfield (24-5) – 19
8. McEwen (21-4) –16
9. Greenfield (22-5) – 10
10. Collinwood (16-6) – 4
Others receiving votes: East Robertson 3, Union City 3, Clarkrange 3, Dresden 2

Class 2A
1. Westview (24-1) – 48 (3)
2. McMinn Central (28-1) – 47 (2)
3. York Institute (22-5) – 39
4. Loretto (19-7) – 32
5. East Nashville (20-1) – 28
6. Alcoa (22-6) – 25
7. Gibson County (21-8) – 15
8. Cheatham County (23-4) – 12
t9. Huntingdon (22-6) – 7
t9. Smith County (21-7) – 7
Others receiving votes: Gatlinburg-Pittman 5, Summertown 5, Cannon County 5

Class 3A
1. Heritage (26-2) – 48 (3)
2. White County (26-3) – 45 (2)
3. Dyersburg (21-4) – 39
4. Jackson South Side (22-2) – 32
5. David Crockett (27-3) – 23
t6. Upperman (23-6) – 21
t6. Cocke County (24-6) – 21
8. Northview Academy (26-3) – 19
9. South Gibson (23-6) – 16
10. Crockett County (20-6) – 10
Others receiving votes: Livingston Academy 2, Valor Collegiate 2

Class 4A
1. Bradley Central (26-1) – 50 (5)
2. Coffee County (28-0) – 43
3. Bearden (27-4) – 40
4. Oak Ridge (24-3) – 36
t5. Blackman (20-3) – 24
t5. Sevier County (23-6) – 24
7. Brentwood (21-4) – 19
8. Morristown East (23-6) – 14
9. Clarksville (21-1) – 10
10. Lebanon (20-6) – 4
Others receiving votes: Nolensville 4, Lincoln County 4, Cleveland 2, Farragut 1

Division II-A
1. University School of Jackson (23-3) – 23 (4)
2. Providence Christian (20-5) – 15 (1)
3. Ezell-Harding (24-4) – 15
4. Webb School-Bell Buckle (23-6) – 9
5. Christian Academy of Knoxville (23-7) – 4
Others receiving votes: Nashville Christian 3, Providence Academy 2, The King's Academy 2, Goodpasture Christian 1, Notre Dame 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (24-3) – 25 (5)
2. Lipscomb Academy (24-3) – 20
3. Hutchison School (22-6) – 14
4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (20-5) – 11
5. Father Ryan (21-5) – 4
Others receiving votes: Knox Catholic 1

BOYS
Class 1A
1. Eagleville (22-2) – 48 (3)
2. Chattanooga Prep (17-7) – 46 (2)
3. Santa Fe (23-2) – 40
4. Humboldt (22-5) – 34
5. Pickett County (19-6) – 27
6. MASE (20-2) – 26
7. North Greene (24-4) – 24
8. University High-Johnson City (20-5) – 12
9. Wayne County (20-8) – 8
10. Clay County (17-6) – 3
Others receiving votes: Harriman 2, Richland 2, Jo Byrns 2, Union City 1

Class 2A
1. Loretto (26-0) – 49 (4)
2. Alcoa (23-5) – 46 (1)
3. Tyner Academy (22-6) – 40
4. Kingston (23-3) – 30
5. Tellico Plains (23-2) – 29
6. Jackson County (22-2) – 26
7. Fairley (22-5) – 24
8. Peabody (21-5) – 13
9. Liberty Creek (22-6) – 8
10. Gatlinburg-Pittman (21-8) – 6
Others receiving votes: White House Heritage 2, Hickman County 1, Westview 1

Class 3A
1. Upperman (23-2) – 50 (5)
2. Hume-Fogg (22-3) – 42
3. Fayette Ware (21-5) – 40
4. Jackson North Side (24-3) – 34
5. Jackson South Side (18-2) – 31
6. Stone Memorial (21-8) –18
7. Tennessee High (22-6) – 15
8. Greeneville (18-9) – 13
9. Tullahoma (24-4) – 12
10. Heritage (21-7) – 7
Others receiving votes: David Crockett 6, Red Bank 4, Station Camp 3

Class 4A
1. Whitehaven (24-3) – 50 (5)
t2. Bartlett (21-7) – 41
t2. Hillsboro (26-4) – 41
4. Bearden (26-4) – 32
5. Oak Ridge (23-3) – 27
6. Knox West (20-4) – 26
7. Germantown Houston (22-7) – 18
8. Walker Valley (24-3) – 14
t9. Franklin (20-5) – 9
t9. Sevier County (22-6) – 9
Others receiving votes: Brentwood 8

Division II-A
1. Goodpasture Christian (27-1) – 24 (4)
2. Providence Christian (22-2) – 17 (1)
3. Boyd Buchanan (24-5) – 9
4. Christian Academy of Knoxville (28-3) – 8
5. Trinity Christian (20-8) – 6
Others receiving votes: Ezell-Harding 5, Providence Academy 4, Battle Ground Academy 1, Webb School-Bell Buckle 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (23-2) – 25 (5)
2. Pope Prep (26-3) – 20
3. Briarcrest Christian (20-4) – 14
4. Montgomery Bell Academy (21-5) – 11
5. Father Ryan (18-8) – 4
Others receiving votes: Knox Catholic 1

TSWA honors college players of the week - Feb. 11

February 12, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont junior guard Tyler Lundblade was on fire from long-range as he helped lead the Bruins to a pair of big victories as well as this week’s Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

The Dallas native recorded career highs in back-to-back games as he scored 25 points at Bradley and 27 at home against Missouri State, but the impressive thing was the accuracy with the deep ball as he was 17-for-28 from 3-point range in the two contests.

He knocked down eight treys at Bradley, while he sank nine at home in the Curb Event Center – one short of Andy Wicke and Nick Smith’s single-game record of 10. The Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week ranks among the nation’s leaders in 3-point shooting.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Middle Tennessee junior guard Ta’Mia Scott earned the Women’s Player of the Week honor with two strong scoring performances this past week.

The Clarksville product opened the week with a career-high 30 points, a career-best 14 rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal as the Blue Raiders topped Jacksonville State 63-46. In the game, she was 11-for-16 from the field with two 3-pointers and was 6-for-6 at the line. Scott scored 14 of Middle Tennessee’s 20 points in the third quarter.

She followed that game up with 24 points, eight boards, an assist and a block in the 76-43 win over Kennesaw State.

SOFTBALL: Tusculum’s Danielle Jason and Belmont’s Maya Johnson earned the first Softball Players of the Week honors to add to their weekly accolades.

Jason, named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Player of the Week, shined at the plate as she batted .762 over six games, collecting 16 hits, 17 runs scored and 11 stolen bases, while also driving in four with four doubles, a triple, three walks and three sacrifice bunts. She has helped Tusculum improve to 8-0 for its best start in program history.

Johnson threw a perfect outing in her second game of the season as she blanked Eastern Kentucky with no walks and no hits over the complete-game effort. She struck out 13 batters in the contest for just the second perfect game in Belmont history.

She finished the week with a 0.00 ERA over two appearances as she allowed one hit and two walks over six scoreless frames against Georgia Tech, fanning 10 Yellow Jackets in the 1-0 loss.

Softball
2/11 | Player: Danielle Jason (Tusculum); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)

Boys, girls basketball polls presented by CoachT.com - Feb. 10

February 10, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced rankings for boys and girls basketball for the 2024-25 season on Monday, with the poll presented by CoachT.com. Top 10 teams in each of the four Division I classifications and Top 5 in two Division II classes were selected by TSWA members with first-place votes in parentheses and total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote.

GIRLS
Class 1A
1. Pickett County (22-3) – 40 (4)
2. Wayne County (22-3) – 35
3. Moore County (21-3) – 33
4. Richland (22-2) – 28
5. Van Buren County (20-4) – 22
t6. McEwen (19-4) –16
t6. North Greene (23-3) – 16
8. Coalfield (22-5) – 13
9. Union City (18-7) – 11
10. Greenfield (20-5) – 3
Others receiving votes: Dresden 2, East Robertson 1

Class 2A
1. Westview (22-1) – 38 (2)
2. McMinn Central (26-1) – 36 (1)
3. York Institute (19-5) – 33 (1)
4. Loretto (18-7) – 25
5. East Nashville (20-1) – 22
6. Smith County (20-6) – 17
7. Alcoa (21-6) – 16
8. Gibson County (20-8) – 11
9. Cheatham County (21-4) – 6
10. Gatlinburg-Pittman (17-9) – 5
Others receiving votes: Huntingdon 3, Summertown 3, Cannon County 3, Hampton 2

Class 3A
1. White County (24-3) – 37 (2)
2. Heritage (24-2) – 33 (1)
3. Dyersburg (20-4) – 31 (1)
4. Jackson South Side (21-2) – 28
5. Northview Academy (23-2) – 20
6. Upperman (22-5) – 19
7. David Crockett (24-3) – 17
8. Cocke County (22-6) – 15
9. South Gibson (21-5) – 13
10. Crockett County (19-6) – 3
Others receiving votes: Livingston Academy 2, Valor Collegiate 2

Class 4A
1. Bradley Central (24-1) – 40 (4)
2. Coffee County (26-0) – 36
3. Bearden (25-4) – 30
4. Blackman (19-2) – 27
5. Sevier County (21-4) – 24
6. Oak Ridge (21-3) – 22
7. Morristown East (21-5) – 9
8. Brentwood (19-4) – 7
9. Cleveland (18-4) – 4
t10. Cookeville (16-4) – 4
t10. Nolensville (20-6) – 4
Others receiving votes: Lebanon 3, Memphis East 3, Clarksville 3, Bartlett 2, Page 1, Lincoln County 1

Division II-A
1. University School of Jackson (21-3) – 20 (4)
2. Providence Christian (18-4) – 15
3. Ezell-Harding (22-3) – 13
4. Nashville Christian (21-4) – 5
5. Goodpasture Christian (17-6) – 2
Others receiving votes: The King’s Academy 4, Webb School-Bell Buckle 2, Christian Academy of Knoxville 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (23-3) – 20 (4)
2. Lipscomb Academy (22-3) – 16
3. Hutchison School (14-6) – 10
4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (18-5) – 10
5. Father Ryan (17-4) – 2
Others receiving votes: Chattanooga Christian 2

BOYS
Class 1A
1. Eagleville (21-2) – 38 (2)
2. Chattanooga Prep (16-7) – 37 (2)
3. Pickett County (19-5) – 31
4. Santa Fe (21-2) – 27
5. Humboldt (21-5) – 25
6. MASE (16-2) – 20
7. North Greene (2-4) – 18
8. Wayne County (18-7) – 11
9. Clay County (16-5) – 5
10. University High-Johnson City (17-5) – 3
Others receiving votes: Richland 3, Middle College 2

Class 2A
1. Loretto (24-0) – 49 (4)
2. Alcoa (21-5) – 46 (1)
3. Tyner Academy (20-6) – 40
4. Kingston (21-3) – 29
5. Tellico Plains (22-2) – 29
6. Jackson County (20-2) – 24
7. Fairley (19-5) – 17
8. Gatlinburg-Pittman (20-5) – 14
9. Peabody (20-5) – 12
10. Liberty Creek (19-6) – 9
Others receiving votes: White House Heritage 4, Austin-East 2

Class 3A
1. Upperman (21-2) – 49 (4)
2. Fayette Ware (19-5) – 42 (1)
3. Hume-Fogg (20-3) – 41
4. Jackson South Side (17-2) – 33
5. Jackson North Side (22-3) – 32
6. Tennessee High (22-5) – 23
7. Tullahoma (23-3) – 18
8. Red Bank (21-5) – 14
t9. Greeneville (16-9) – 9
t9. Stone Memorial (18-8) – 9
Others receiving votes: Knox Carter 4, Station Camp 2, Heritage 1

Class 4A
1. Whitehaven (22-3) – 48 (3)
2. Bartlett (19-7) – 44 (2)
3. Hillsboro (23-4) – 40
4. Bearden (24-4) – 37
5. Germantown Houston (21-6) – 29
6. Knox West (19-4) – 20
7. Oak Ridge (20-3) – 19
t8. Brentwood (18-6) – 10
t8. Franklin (18-5) – 10
10. Walker Valley (22-3) – 8
Others receiving votes: Maryville 5, Blackman 2, Sevier County 2, Beech 1

Division II-A
1. Goodpasture Christian (24-1) – 19 (3)
2. Providence Christian (19-2) – 13 (1)
3. Friendship Christian (20-5) – 7
t4. Christian Academy of Knoxville (25-2) – 6
t4. Boyd Buchanan (21-5) – 6
Others receiving votes: Providence Academy 4, Trinity Christian 3, Webb School-Bell Buckle 1, University School of Jackson 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (22-2) – 24 (4)
2. Pope Prep (24-3) – 21 (1)
3. Montgomery Bell Academy (21-4) – 14
4. Briarcrest Christian (17-4) – 11
5. Father Ryan (17-7) – 4
Others receiving votes: Ensworth School 1

College players of the week recognized by TSWA - Feb. 4

February 4, 2025 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb’s Jacob Ognacevic dominated in his two games this week to earn the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honor on Tuesday, averaging a double-double against Atlantic Sun competition.

The senior forward from Sheboygan, Wisc., won his fourth honor this season as he averaged a double-double with a 26.0-point and 10.5-rebound average as the Bisons went 1-1 on the week.

Ognacevic scored a season-high 32 points against Bellarmine as he was 9-for-12 from the field and 4-for-5 from 3-point range. He also was an efficient 10-for-14 at the free-throw line. In addition to his scoring, he also pulled down nine rebounds with an assist.

Earlier in the week, Ognacevic scored 20 points against Eastern Kentucky, shooting 7-for-13 from the field, 3-for-6 from long range and 3-for-5 at the line. He completed the double-double with 12 boards.

For the season, the senior is averaging 19.2 points and 8.1 rebounds.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Mikayla Blakes rewrote the record book last week as the Vanderbilt freshman broke the NCAA single-game scoring record for a true freshman and the Southeastern Conference women’s basketball single-game scoring record with a 53-point outburst last week against Florida.

Over the course of the week, the Somerset, N.J., native averaged 34.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 blocks and 2.0 steals. However, it was last Thursday’s performance that put the true freshman on the nation’s radar.

Blakes finished the game shooting 16-for-24 from the field, knocking down five 3-pointers and was 16-for-18 at the charity stripe. She also collected three rebounds, two assists and three steals in the 99-86 victory over the Gators. Blakes had 32 points in the second half and 18 in the fourth quarter alone.

She became the only Division I player – men’s or women’s – to score 50 points this season and surpassed LSU’s Jocelyn Penn – who scored 51 points against Stetson on Jan. 4, 2003 – for the SEC’s scoring record. It is the most points for a first-year player on the Division I level since USC’s JuJu Watkins scored 51 last season.

The performance also breaks the Vanderbilt single-game scoring record of 42 set by teammate Khamil Pierre recently on Dec. 17 against Evansville.

In the Commodores’ game against Ole Miss on Sunday, Blakes scored 16 points despite early foul trouble, scoring 13 of her total in the second half to extend her double-digit scoring streak to nine games.

Prep basketball polls announced by TSWA - Feb. 3

February 3, 2025 Forrest Freeman

GIRLS
Class 1A
1. Pickett County (19-3) – 50 (5)
2. Wayne County (20-3) – 44
3. Moore County (19-3) – 39
4. Richland (20-2) – 37
5. Van Buren County (17-3) – 23
6. McEwen (17-4) –18
7. Dresden (16-5) – 17
t8. Clarkrange (17-7) – 15
t8. North Greene (20-3) – 15
10. Coalfield (20-5) – 10
Others receiving votes: Union City 7

Class 2A
1. Westview (20-1) – 48 (3)
2. McMinn Central (24-1) – 45 (1)
3. York Institute (17-5) – 40 (1)
4. East Nashville (18-1) – 32
5. Loretto (16-7) – 30
6. Alcoa (20-5) – 24
7. Gibson County (20-6) – 22
8. Smith County (18-6) – 10
9. Summertown (18-2) – 9
10. Gatlinburg-Pittman (16-8) – 8
Others receiving votes: Cheatham County 4, Liberty Creek 2, Cannon County 1

Class 3A
1. Heritage (23-1) – 50 (5)
2. White County (22-3) – 40
3. Upperman (21-4) – 35
4. Dyersburg (18-4) – 34
5. Jackson South Side (19-2) – 33
6. Northview Academy (21-2) – 30
7. David Crockett (21-3) – 17
8. South Gibson (19-5) – 16
9. Cocke County (20-6) – 14
10. Crockett County (18-5) – 5
Others receiving votes: Livingston Academy 1

Class 4A
1. Bradley Central (22-1) – 50 (5)
2. Coffee County (24-0) – 45
3. Bearden (23-3) – 39
4. Blackman (17-2) – 31
5. Sevier County (20-3) – 27
6. Cookeville (16-4) – 21
7. Cleveland (18-4) – 18
8. Clarksville (18-0) –16
9. Oak Ridge (19-3) – 14
10. Morristown East (20-5) – 6
Others receiving votes: Page 5, Nolensville 2, Collierville 1

Division II-A
1. University School of Jackson (20-3) – 24 (4)
2. Providence Christian (17-3) – 21 (1)
3. Ezell-Harding (20-3) – 14
4. Goodpasture Christian (16-5) – 7
5. Nashville Christian (17-4) – 4
Others receiving votes: The King’s Academy 4, Christian Academy of Knoxville 1

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (21-3) – 25 (5)
2. Lipscomb Academy (20-3) – 20
3. Chattanooga Christian (13-5) – 11
4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (16-5) – 8
5. Hutchison School (14-6) – 6
Others receiving votes: Father Ryan 4, Ensworth School 1

BOYS
Class 1A
1. Eagleville (19-2) – 49 (4)
2. Chattanooga Prep (16-7) – 45 (1)
3. Pickett County (17-5) – 39
4. Santa Fe (19-2) – 35
5. Humboldt (19-5) – 29
6. North Greene (19-4) – 24
7. MASE (12-2) – 20
t8. Clay County (13-5) – 8
t8. Richland (15-6) – 8
t8. Wayne County (16-7) – 8
Others receiving votes: University High-Johnson City 5, Middle College 2, Jo Byrns 2, Bradford 1

Class 2A
1. Loretto (22-0) – 48 (3)
2. Alcoa (20-4) – 47 (2)
3. Tyner Academy (17-6) – 38
4. Kingston (20-2) – 29
5. Jackson County (17-2) – 26
6. Gatlinburg-Pittman (18-5) – 25
7. Fairley (14-5) – 24
8. Tellico Plains (20-2) – 14
9. Peabody (18-5) – 11
10. Liberty Creek (17-6) – 4
Others receiving votes: South Greene 4, White House Heritage 2, Eagleton Academy 2, Cannon County 1

Class 3A
1. Upperman (19-2) – 49 (4)
2. Jackson South Side (16-1) – 43 (1)
3. Hume-Fogg (18-3) – 39
4. Fayette Ware (17-5) – 38
5. Jackson North Side (20-3) – 28
6. Tennessee High (19-4) – 27
7. Stone Memorial (17-7) – 17
8. Tullahoma (21-3) – 15
9. Greeneville (13-9) – 9
10. Red Bank (19-5) – 5
Others receiving votes: Knox Carter 4, Obion County 1

Class 4A
1. Whitehaven (15-3) – 45 (2)
2. Hillsboro (20-4) – 44 (2)
3. Bartlett (11-7) – 42 (1)
4. Bearden (21-4) – 34
5. Germantown Houston (17-5) – 29
6. Walker Valley (21-2) – 22
7. Knox West (17-4) – 18
8. Oak Ridge (18-3) – 16
9. Brentwood (16-6) – 8
10. Franklin (16-5) – 6
Others receiving votes: Maryville 4, Blackman 2, Warren County 2, Science Hill 2, Nolensville 1

Division II-A
1. Goodpasture Christian (22-1) – 25 (5)
2. Providence Christian (17-2) – 20
3. Trinity Christian (16-7) – 7
t4. Christian Academy of Knoxville (22-2) – 6
t4. Friendship Christian (18-5) – 6
Others receiving votes: Boyd Buchanan 5, Ezell-Harding 4, Webb School-Bell Buckle 2

Division II-AA
1. Knox Webb (20-2) – 30 (6)
2. Pope Prep (22-3) – 22
3. Montgomery Bell Academy (19-3) – 18
4. Briarcrest Christian (17-4) – 11
5. Lipscomb Academy (15-7) – 4
Others receiving votes: Brentwood Academy 1, Ensworth School 1