Top Jackson area high school teams from 2017-18 school year
As we have started to recap the 2017-18 high school sports season, we have looked at the most memorable games and the top coaching jobs.
Today, we look at the top 15 teams in West Tennessee this past year.
Teams from West Tennessee brought home four team state championships this season.
1. Greenfield girls basketball
The Lady Yellowjackets won the program’s first Class A state championship with a 34-2 record. The girls now match the boys program, which won the state championship in 1984. Greenfield was led by two Miss Basketball finalists in sophomores Chloe Moore and Tess Darby, who were named All-West Tennessee first-team members.
2. Hardin County bowling
For the second straight season, the Tigers and Lady Tigers swept the Division I state bowling championships. Senior Calin Meeks won the individual state championship to become the first Hardin County boys player to do so. The boys ended the season 20-2 with a 16-11 win over White House. The girls went 22-0 with a 23-4 win over Creek Wood.
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3. TCA tennis
The Trinity Christian Academy boys tennis team won the program’s first state championship as the Lions beat L&N STEM Academy 4-1 in the title game. The doubles team of Benjamin Sidwell and Cam Presley also won the Small Division individual state championship, while Will Richardson reached the singles semifinals.
4. Westview girls basketball
The Lady Chargers were dominant throughout the season with their two regular-season losses coming against bigger schools in the Tournament of Champions in Arizona. Led by seniors Tasia Jones and Deja Graves, Westview didn’t lose to a team from Tennessee until the Class AA semifinals when Jones and Graves spent time injured at the state tournament. The Lady Chargers finished 33-3.
5. Haywood football
The Tomcats played the toughest schedule in West Tennessee, but that just made them harder to beat by teams in the area. Haywood boasted the All-West Tennessee Offensive Player of the Year in Decourtney Reed. The Tomcats went 11-4 before losing to Springfield in the Class 4A semifinals.
6. Riverside baseball
The Panthers went from an 0-3 start all the way to the Class AA state championship game. They were the No. 3 seed in the District 14-AA regular season, finished runner-up in the tournament and won the Region 7-AA championship to finish 27-10-1.
More: Riverside's Odle gets to end career at same location as mentor
7. Huntingdon girls basketball
After losing the No. 1 post player from the 2016-17 season, the Fillies came back even stronger to reach the Class A semifinals. Taylor Smith ran the offense from the point guard position. Huntingdon finished 27-2 with both losses coming against eventual state champion Greenfield.
8. Camden volleyball
The Lady Lions became the third West Tennessee program and first public school to reach the Class AA final four. All-West Tennessee Player of the Year Jordan Vick led Camden to a 36-7 record, including a 2-2 mark in the state tournament.
9. Huntingdon football
The Mustangs entered the season with aspirations to bring home the Class 1A state championship. Huntingdon played like it throughout the regular season behind the play of Class 1A Mr. Football finalist Kade Pearson. But they hit a snag in the state quarterfinals at Cornersville.
10. USJ baseball
The Bruins entered the season as the No. 1 team in Division II-A, and they reached the postseason with two losses – to FACS and Scotts Hill. USJ finished 32-4 and third in the Division II-A state tournament behind a strong group of senior leadership.
11. Peabody football
The Golden Tide had a strong mix of seniors and young talent, and that led them to a 10-3 record. With Cooper Baugus at quarterback and Jarel Dickson at running back, Peabody reached the Class 2A quarterfinals before falling to Union City.
12. TCA baseball
The Lions were among the best in West Tennessee all season as they won the District 14-A crown. They went on to reach the semifinals in the Class A state tournament, becoming the first Class A team to beat Loretto in more than a year. With only one senior on the team, TCA should be just as good next year.
13. Haywood girls basketball
The Lady Tomcats didn’t enter the postseason with a great record, but that was because coach Patrice Boyd put together a tough schedule. That tough schedule helped in the postseason as Haywood reached the Class AA semifinals. The Lady Tomcats ended the season 24-13.
14. Crockett County football
The Cavaliers went 10-3 with two of the three losses coming against Haywood. Crockett County ran smash-mouth football to reach the Class 4A quarterfinals.
15. South Side boys basketball
Even though the Hawks finished fourth in the District 14-AA regular season, they went on a strong postseason run to reach the Class AA quarterfinals. Behind the scoring of Bryce McBride, South Side won the District 14-AA and Region 7-AA championships to go 21-9.
Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.