Marshall County falls short of first TSSAA state championship game appearance since 2008

MURFREESBORO — Marshall County girls basketball was not expected to make it the state tournament. 

Coach David Steely had only two seniors, but throughout the season, the Lady Tigers didn't let that hamper them. 

They made it to Murfreesboro for the first time since 2008 when they won their last championship. But they fell short in getting to the title game for the first time since then.

The Lady Tigers (27-8) lost to Westview 46-37 in a TSSAA Class AA state semifinal on Friday at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center. 

Steely has made it an emphasis to establish the Lady Tigers as a force in the state  once again. He did it in 2008 when he led them to a state championship before resigning to spend more time with his family.

He returned a few years ago and is starting to build the program again.

"(Westview) is one of the elite programs in Tennessee and I think we're getting to that point," Steely said. "We were ahead at halftime and we were right in the game in the state semifinals." 

The Lady Tigers might have been ahead of schedule this year. 

Only one of Marshall County's seniors, Demarial Ingram, played on Friday. Ingram finished with nine points and eight rebounds in her last game.

 "I think after going to (sectionals) last year, we all thought if we kept playing the right way we had a chance to go to the state tournament," Steely said. "We came over here and won a game, got to the semifinals, went toe-to-toe with Westview. (The state tournament) is where we want to be."

After finishing behind Nolensville in the district, Marshall County won the region tournament by beating Lewis County, Stewart County and Creek Wood. 

The Lady Tigers then defeated East Nashville 49-35 in a Class AA sectional to make it to Murfreesboro. 

"Nobody really had us in mind to make it to the state tournament," said junior Kelsey Keiler, who finished with a team-high 13 points. "It really doesn't matter what everyone else thinks. When it came to winning time, we got the job done."

Reach Luis Torres at ltorres1@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII.

TSSAA State Tournament: State tournament pairings and schedule.

TSSAA State Tournament: Tournament to impact parking around MTSU.

TSSAA State Tournament: Where to eat/restaurants in Murfreesboro.