MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – McMinn County coach Keith Elliott likes that there are some similarities between the Cherokees’ last state tournament team and the one he’s coaching now. He just wishes those similarities had surfaced a little sooner.
On the 20th anniversary of their last state appearance, McMinn’s season will end one way or another in Murfreesboro. Their journey for a championship will continue today at 6 p.m. EDT against top-ranked Bearden in the Class AAA quarterfinals at the Murphy Center.
In the Class AA tournament, Howard (23-6) will take on Giles County (24-5) at 12:45 p.m.
Bearden (33-2) is led offensively by a pair of McDonald’s All-Americans – 6-foot-4 wing Rico White and 6-foot-2 guard Ty Greene – but Elliott believes the other side of the ball is what has pushed Bearden into the tournament.
“Bearden is No. 1 for a reason. They play great, fundamental defense,” he said. “After watching them on film, I believe their defense is what has got them where they are.