0
0
Postseason play is in full swing officially as teams from all around the state dreaming of raising gold come March.
Who are the true state title contenders though?
Looking at the state as a whole I decided to take a shot at predicting this year’s eventualy state champions. While we cover the Midstate as a whole, I tried to stay as unbias as possible when it came to making these picks.
Here’s a look at the six girls teams I have winning gold next month.
Class 4A: Bradley Central Bearettes
This is about as easy as a pick to make.
The Bearettes have dominated 4A the last three years and are the clear favorites to make it a three-peat. Unlike the Kansas City Chiefs, I see them actually gettng the job done.
Coffee County is a solid choice to potentially pull the upset but I just don’t see a world where Bradley Central isn’t raising gold again.
Class 3A: Dyersburg Lady Trojans
Class 3A seems to a bit of a mixed bag this year so why not go with the reigining champs?
Dyersburg has had its issues at times this year but this is the time of year where they start to click and no one seems to have an answer for them.
Led by Miss Basketball finalist Joya Crawford, I think the Lady Trojans get the job done in what promises to be a fun 3A tournament field.
Class 2A: York Institute Dragonettes
My pick going into the year was Westview after hearing about Reese Beaty’s offseason ACL injury. However, Beaty is back and the Dragonettes are rolling.
A Westview/York Institute championship matchup could be one of the better championship games we’ve seen in the last few years if they end up on opposite sides of the bracket.
Beaty’s return is the difference here for me. They’ve come up short the last few years but I think she finally gets York over the top.
Class 1A: Wayne County Lady Wildcats
At some point it’s going to be Wayne County’s year again. I think it’ll be this year.
I was shocked to see how last year ended with a loss to eventual state champion Pickett County in the semis. Blair Baugus and co have been simmering on that loss since then.
Baugus ends a storybook high school career winning Miss Basketball and the Lady Wildcats’ first state title since 2011.
Division II-AA: Knox Webb Lady Spartans
Webb came up just a game short last season of winning its first state title since 2018. This year it seems like the Lady Spartans are destined to get back to the top.
DII-AA as a whole is down a bit this year and there looks to be maybe 3-4 teams that are true title contenders. I just don’t think the other three teams matchup quite as well with Webb.
The team that lost to Pickett County in December is no more. I think Webb rolls to its 7th state title.
Division II-A: USJ Lady Bruins
Until Haylen Ayers graduates, I’m not picking against the Lady Bruins.
I get that basketball is a team sport but I single-handily watched her carry USJ in an overtime thriller last year for their first state title. She’s the best player in the state and to me it’s not close.
With a solid supporting case around here, Ayers leads USJ to its second title in a row.
