MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Karina Bystry, Maddox Mayfield and Molly Masingale embraced one another Saturday night as they walked off the basketball court for the final time this season.
McMinn Central’s three leaders did not hold their heads down as they watched Westview celebrate back-to-back TSSAA Class 2A titles after a dominant 56-37 victory in the BlueCross State Championships inside the Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University.
“The motivation doesn’t start next season or the next time we get in the gym,” Masingale said. “It really started five minutes ago, when we saw them go get the gold ball. We have now seen what it is like to win it all, and that is going to be our motivation for next year. It starts right now.”
The Chargerettes (28-8) put together an incredible season in which they handed losses to Division II-AA state champion Knoxville Catholic as well as Class 4A champ Bradley Central.
Legendary coach Johnny Morgan’s bunch played exciting basketball, too, with a high-tempo offense led by Masingale and Bystry, who combined for 107 points in three tournament games in Murfreesboro.