Frank Hughes, best story at TSSAA basketball tournament, is cheered like champs despite title game loss

MURFREESBORO — Frank Hughes fans roared as the school’s boys basketball players accepted their runner-up trophy. 

It was a reception fit for champions, even though the Lions lost to Chattanooga Prep 64-41 in Saturday’s TSSAA basketball tournament Class 1A state championship game. 

With an enrollment of just 93 students, Frank Hughes is the third-smallest basketball-playing public school in the TSSAA. The Lions became the state tournament darlings this week, reaching the finals for the first time in program history after having not been to the state tournament in 40 years. 

Chattanooga Prep's enrollment is 246 for the all-boys charter school.

Frank Hughes' Cinderella story ended with mixed feelings. The Lions were happy for their run, but after getting a taste of the championship game, all they wanted was a gold ball. 

“The only reason we’re here is because this group thought we could win it. Once you get to the game, there’s just no consolation,” Frank Hughes coach Chad Love said. “It’s not like, ‘Well, we (at least) were there.’ I didn’t think it would be that way, and it wasn’t. 

“But in reflection, these guys have been unbelievable. They’ve done something at Frank Hughes that’s never been done before.” 

Aiden Dicus scored a team-high 16 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for Frank Hughes (26-9). More than anything he said he’ll remember the community’s support from this week. 

“Everyone from Clifton was here today,” Dicus said. “It means a lot to know that many people drove two hours to watch us play.” 

The Lions turned people’s heads with a 77-62 comeback win over Jellico in the quarterfinals. Suddenly, everyone had heard of Frank Hughes after it defeated Gordonsville 48-43 in the semis.

“I felt like at times everyone in the building wanted us to win, and for good reason,” Love said. “This group does things right. It works itself to death and they’re to be commended.”

Derrick Robertson scored a game-high 25 points for Chattanooga Prep (26-6), which won its first boys basketball title. The Sentinels pulled away with a 24-10 advantage in the third quarter. 

More:How rural Clifton lifted Frank Hughes basketball during its TSSAA state tournament run

Alex Ronchetti added 12 points for Frank Hughes. He had a black eye and struggled to keep himself in the game during Saturday’s second half due to a shoulder injury. 

“It’s a real (grind) from Wednesday to Saturday,” Love said. “I thought about managing conditioning this week, but as far as managing physicality, I didn’t think about that as much.”

Reach sports writer Tyler Palmateer at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, formerly Twitter, @tpalmateer83.