Tennessee Lady Vols coach Kellie Harper watching TSSAA girls basketball quarterfinals

Nashville Tennessean

MURFREESBORO – Tennessee women's basketball coach Kellie Harper made the trip to Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center on Tuesday to attend the first day of the TSSAA BlueCross Girls Basketball State Championships.

Harper, a Tennessee native, played her high school ball on the Upper Cumberland at White County. She watched from the corner of the gymnasium as Livingston Academy, another Upper Cumberland program, played Greeneville.

Harper led the Lady Vols to a SEC Women's Tournament runner-up finish, losing to South Carolina.

Kellie Harper (right), head coach for the University of Tennessee’s women’s basketball team, watches during the Class 3A quarterfinal game between Livingston Academy and Greenville in the Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

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Livingston Academy boasts a sophomore standout guard in Ellie Butler, who was the District 7-3A MVP and helped extend the Lady Wildcats' season with a putback at the buzzer in a win over Lincoln County in the Region 4-3A quarterfinals.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.