Macon Junior High Wins Two State Championships

Macon County Junior High has won two state championships in basketball this past week.

The boys and girls programs were both competing in the 2015 James C. Haile State Championship in Murfreesboro.

The Junior Tigerettes competed in a 9 team AAA large school division. They were able to win 1st and 2nd round wins over Lewisburg (26-7) and West Middle (47-24), before facing DeKalb Middle in the finals. Macon jumped out to a lead early that they would never give up. These young ladies captured the win by a final score of 45-28 over the Saints. Keeley Carter, Marah King, and Morgan Carter were all named to the All-Tournament team for Macon County.

The Junior Tigers also competed in the AAA large school division with 11 other teams. Macon got a quarterfinal win over West Middle (36-24) a semi-final win over Winfree Bryant (45-32) before facing Cornerstone Middle in the championship game. Despite jumping out to an 11-4 lead after one quarter, Macon held Cornerstone scoreless in the entire second period to lead 23-4 at half. The Junior Tigers would coast on for the win by a final score of 44-26. Trent Cook, Cameron Welch, and Clay West were all named to the All-Tournament team and this marks the second season in a row for the Junior Tigers to win this tournament.

There is currently a small move afoot within the TSSAA to create a unified state championship for junior high school basketball in Tennessee. With many regional state championships like the James C Haile Tournament, this winter the TSSAA is discussing trying to create the structure for an overall middle school basketball state tournament, much like the Blue Cross High School State Tournament.

(Girls photos provided by Barry Kirby. Boys photos provided by Wes Claiborne.)