How Loretto girls basketball inched closer to returning to first TSSAA title game since 2021

MURFREESBORO – It's been three years since Loretto last won a TSSAA girls basketball state championship.

The Lady Mustangs are one win from a chance to play for a gold ball.

But to reach the TSSAA Class 2A semifinals on Thursday, Loretto had to take care of the two-time defending state champions. Loretto beat Westview 54-49 at MTSU's Murphy Center to advance to the Class 2A semifinals.

Loretto (28-3) is set for a semifinal matchup with Gatlinburg-Pittman (35-3) at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Westview closed out its season at 22-6.

“I'm going to be honest, I just felt this calm feeling like I knew that we had it. I mean, we've planned and prepared for this, so I felt ready,” Loretto senior Jenny Clifton said. “I mean, of course, it's a little nerve wracking out there at the beginning, but we felt ready … freshman year it felt really good, but this year getting to lead the team here, felt even better.”

Clifton is one of two Loretto seniors on this year's roster that played in the 2021 championship game. She scored three points in 23 minutes of play in the 49-41 win over rival Summertown. That championship run was led by current Alabama sophomore Karli Weathers, the older sister of current junior Ally.

Ahead of the Lady Mustangs' quarterfinal, Karly gave Ally and the Lady Mustangs advice on how to handle the big stage, something she became quite familiar with in her Loretto career.

“(Karly) likes to go ahead and get in my ear anyway," Ally said. "She likes to talk to me, but she had sent me an encouraging text before the game and she's just a really encouraging person and just tries to calm us.

“She's just talked to us over the years just about (enjoying) the moment and when you get here it's no different. Just play the game of basketball.”

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Loretto coach Ashley Rutledge said this year's team is much different than her championship team.

“They're more laid back, this (season’s) team is. So their personality is a lot different and not in a bad way, in a good way," Rutledge said. "I enjoy their personality. But the thing I'm proud about (with) this team is we've had a lot of adversities this year … just within the team and they've (risen) to the occasion every time and they've gotten better as the years progressed.”