By Tim Tackett
2021-2022 Girls State Basketball Predicted Champions
I came to Tennessee in 1970 from the land of Hoosiers, Charlestown Indiana to be more specific. I was raised on great basketball, in a basketball crazy state… boys basketball. I honestly did not know that the game was played by girls anywhere, and had been in Tennessee for at least 48 years prior to 1970. Little did I know that girls basketball would become a significant part of my life.
Before I make share my predictions for the ’21-’22 TSSAA state champions, let’s finish our history lesson.
1921-1922 The first recorded state championship team (Tennessean-Peabody State Girls Basketball Tournament) was crowned. Ten teams competed at the Peabody Gymnasium in Naashville. Memphis Central defeated Troy 31-18. This tournament existed through the 1927-1928 season.
March 22, 1958 No recorded state tournament champion had been crowned since 1928 until Loretto defeated Litton (Nashville) 57-45. Schools of all enrollment sizes played in the one classification system.
1972-1973 The move to two classifications was made that season. Jackson County was crowned the first Small Class champion. Bradley Central won the Large Class trophy.
1975-1976 TSSAA added a third classification. Gold Ball winners were Class A (smallest 1/3 enrollments) Trezevant, AA Marshall County, and AAA Bradley Central.
March 17, 1979 Warren County defeated Riverdale (Murfreesboro) 40-35 for the AAA state championship in the last Tennessee HS 6 on 6 game ever played. Since that game the girls adopted the 5 on 5 game as we know it today. AA Humboldt and A Pickett County won state championships earlier that day in the MTSU Murphy Center.
**Side Note – The weekend prior MTSU had hosted rounds 1 & 2 of the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament. Teams included Univ of Tennessee, Notre Dame (Coach Digger Phelps), and Michigan St (Magic Johnson). Michigan St went on to win the NCAA title.
1997-1998 Division II is created, with most private schools making up this division. First DII champion – Briarcrest. Division II was divided into two classifications, based on enrollment, before the 2007-2008 season. The DII A and DII AA classifications currently remain. Lausanne and Ensworth were the first win championships in this new format.
March 12, 2020 Gibson County defeats Pickett County in the 6 Class A state quarterfinal game, the final game of the day. The Friday semi-finals and Saturday finals were never held, and the boys state tournament also fell victim to the COVID pandemic. The DI 2019-2020 state tournament line remains empty. DII tournament had been completed prior to 3/12/20.
2021-2022 DI moves to four classifications. New districts and regions. Some old foes move up, others change districts, sectional opponents likely changed. And now 6 TSSAA State Champions will celebrate victory in their final game.
My predictions: Past state championship years shown
DII A Webb School (Bell Buckle) 2021
DII AA Ensworth 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2020
DI A McKenzie
DI AA Loretto 1958, 2021
DI AAA Page
DI AAAA Bearden
Credits: Tim Lownsdale, Tn Prep Weekly on-air contributor
tssaasports.com
Editors note: Tim is a lifetime educator, girls basketball coach, administrator, fan and long time voice of the MTSU Lady Raiders as well as being the host of TN prep Weekly.