0
0
The Division II basketball season has come to an end and we’re one day away from knowing what boys public schools will be headed to Murfreesboro.
This year has flown by but now we’re in the final stages of the 2024-2025 high school basketball season. Last week’s region tournaments have set up matchups for Monday night with the few remaining teams left alive.
As for DII, one team in our area reigned over all. All of those changes have forced some changes in this week’s area boys basketball rankings.
Large Class teams include 4A, 3A, and Division II-AA. Small Class teams include 4A, 3A, and Division II-AA.
Here’s a look at the top 20 teams in our area entering the fifth week of the season.
Large Class
1. Hillsboro (31-5): The wins just keep piling up for the Burros and they’re doing it in an impressive way. They crushed Cane Ridge 67-41 in the region semifinals before dispatching Beech 51-38 in the region championship game.
2. Hume-Fogg (27-3): It’s been a historic year for the Blue Knights who have now won 17 games in a row. After beating White House by 29, they met MLK for the fourth time holding on late for the 75-64 win and another region title.
3. MBA (23-7): A chance to play for a gold ball seemed very much alive after a back-and-forth first half in the Big Red’s semifinal matchup with Briarcrest Christian. However the Saints scored in the final 10 seconds and got one last stop to hand MBA a 44-42 loss.
4. Pope John Paul II (27-5): JPII’s season ended in the quarterfinals with an 80-78 double overtime loss to MBA.
5. Independence (21-12): All Mark Wilkins’-coached teams do in March is win. His squad clinched a region title by beating Nolensville 36-23 and then Centennial 47-33.
The rest of the top 10
6. La Vergne (22-7)
7. Ensworth (20-11)
8. Beech (24-8)
9. Father Ryan (21-9)
10. Dickson County (26-6)
Small Class
1. Providence Christian (30-2): In the matchup everyone was waiting to see at some point, the Lions earned their return ticket to the DII-A title game by holding off Goodpasture 76-60. In the championship game the Lions overcame a rough second quarter and sealed their first gold ball at the free throw line beating BGA 78-68.
2. BGA (24-13): Arnett Hayes shows up in the big moments whether it’s on the football field or basketball court. He scored 24 points in the Wildcats’ 66-47 semifinal win over St. George’s and a game-high 32 points against PCA.
3. Goodpasture (31-3): Josh Huggins scored 22 points and Jayden Jones added on 19 but a rough start to the second half doomed the Cougars in their loss to PCA.
4. Eagleville (25-3): The dream season for the Eagles came to a screeching halt thanks to Santa Fe Mr. Basketball finalist Auden Slaughter. Slaughter went off to the tune of 41 points to beat the Eagles 58-55.
5. LEAD Academy (23-11): The Panthers are suddenly just one win away from their first state tournament appearance since 2014. They’ll get to host Liberty Creek after beating Whites Creek 53-47 and East Nashville 62-55.
The rest of the top 10
6. Cannon County (23-9)
7. Liberty Creek (25-8)
8. Jo Byrns (20-7)
9. White House Heritage (24-7)
10. East Nashville (16-11)
