Entering the TSSAA BlueCross Basketball Championships as two-time defending boys champions, Chattanooga Prep is comfortable wearing the favorite’s label.
With three wins in Murfreesboro in the Class 2A competition, the Sentinels would become the first Chattanooga boys program to win three consecutive titles. Though the target is large on their backs, the players say they are ready for the challenge.
“We know we have to stay humble,” said senior guard Reid Conley, who averages a team-high 20 points per game while shooting 45% from 3-point range and 81% from the free throw line. “At the same time, everybody knows we are the best in this class.
“Everybody is coming out to try and beat us. Every time we step on the court, we have to show why we are the best and why we are going to win a third gold ball.”
Conley’s arrival this season from Hamilton Heights, along with sophomore newcomer TJ Foster from Ridgeland, has helped the Sentinels fill massive holes created by losing four key players from last year’s title team to transfer and their starting point guard, Cadence Collins, to a preseason knee injury.
The departures from Chatt Prep were not small ones, as Austin and Marcus Jones each shined this season for a 25-win, state-ranked Red Bank, while Mari Bowman has helped lead Beech to a 32-2 overall record and to the Class 4A state tournament. In addition, Romel Koon Jr. transferred to play football at Brentwood Academy.
After outscoring its state tournament competition on average 72.8 to 49.7 over the past two years, the Sentinels hold a 72.7 to 44.2 advantage this postseason. That includes an 11-dunk performance in an 82-58 sectional mauling of Unicoi County, highlighted by a pair of 30-point showings by Conley and Mr. Basketball winner Derrick Roberson.
Chattanooga Prep (19-11), one of four teams in the state to qualify for the state field in each of the last four years, will face Peabody (25-6) in the state quarterfinals Wednesday at noon ET from MTSU’s Murphy Center. The winner will face either Loretto (19-10) or East Nashville (23-4) in Friday’s semifinals at 10:30 a.m. ET.
The opposite side of the Class 2A bracket includes matchups between Smith County (23-11) and Lewis County (20-9) along with Gatlinburg-Pittman (27-4) and Westview (23-7). The championship game will be played at noon ET Saturday from MTSU.
In just the fifth year of program existence, Chattanooga Prep has a chance to join the Chattanooga-area’s other three-time state champions — Bradley Central, Brainerd, Chattanooga Riverside and Tennessee Temple.
“Our team chemistry and living by our motto ‘One. Big. Family.’ has brought us back to the ‘Glass House’,” Chattanooga Prep head coach Christian Collins said. “We always cheer for one another. This week we need the whole city behind us. We are representing not only our school but also all of Chattanooga, Tennessee. If we can bring three gold balls back to Chatt, that is going to be great for the city.”
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The Sentinels are soaring with confidence, as their only losses to TSSAA opponents this season have come against teams ranked among the top 13 in the state by MaxPreps, including Bartlett (first), Knoxville Webb (second), Briarcrest Christian (fifth), Providence Christian (ninth), Pope Saint John Paul II (10th), Whitehaven (11th) and Walker Valley (13th).
Walker Valley (29-3) will appear in the Class 4A state tournament for a second straight season and will face Farragut (25-11) in Thursday’s quarterfinal round at noon ET.
Chatt Prep’s other four losses have come against the No. 1 and 9 teams in Texas, the fifth-ranked team in Alabama and a top-30 program from Georgia.
(READ MORE: Top-ranked Chattanooga Prep routs No. 9 Tyner for district regular-season title)
No one in the Class 2A state tournament will have as much experience playing inside the Murphy Center as Chatt Prep seniors Joel Bulis and Roberson, each appearing in eight TSSAA state tournament games.
Roberson has won back-to-back state tournament MVP awards and averages 14 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals in state tournament career action. Meanwhile, Bulis is shooting nearly 55% from the field to go with nearly nine points and seven rebounds per game at the Murphy Center.
“If we stay persistent with our defense, we will win a third straight state championship,” said the 6-foot-7 Bulis, who averages 11 points, 10.1 rebounds, and three assists per game this season. “Everyone has really been clicking together. Our team looks a lot different than last season, but we are still the same dominant Chattanooga Prep.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.