MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Minutes after his team held on for the biggest win in Walker Valley boys’ basketball history, coach Will Campbell was asked how the Mustangs would reel in their celebration after the TSSAA Class 4A semifinals and prepare for a title matchup that was less than 24 hours from its scheduled tipoff.
Instead of talking about coming back down to Earth and how the Mustangs would reset after Friday’s 52-50 win over Whitehaven at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center, the veteran coach spoke to how his players should savor a historic moment for Walker Valley, which is at the BlueCross Basketball Championships for just the fourth time.
“Well, we are going to Buffalo Wild Wings to watch some college basketball in a minute. So that will help us,” Campbell said. “This is what we are here for. We are living in the moment a little bit. You soak it all up and enjoy the moment. This is what these guys work so hard for. They have had to listen to me yelling and screaming at them every day to enjoy this moment and realize they are going to be one of the last two teams in the state tomorrow.
“We prepared all season for this moment right here. This moment is not too big for us. This is exactly what we want. We are right where we want to be. We are in the sweet spot, and there’s no shrinking from it. We just embrace it at this point. But those wings are going to taste extra good.”
The Mustangs are set to play at 5 p.m. Eastern on Saturday against Memphis-area program Bartlett (34-4), a 71-61 winner against Knoxville’s Bearden (37-2) in Friday’s second semifinal.
Walker Valley (31-3) advanced to a state championship game for the first time in program history — and ended Whitehaven’s season at 29-9 — by taking down a Memphis program led by 6-foot-9 senior center Idris Aliyu, who stood nearly six inches taller than the Mustangs’ tallest player.
Despite the massive size disadvantage, Walker Valley’s guards were exceptional in their gaps defensively and their perimeter help, as they held the Tigers to 27% shooting in the first half.
Walker Valley’s blazing start to the third quarter also made a major difference as senior Isaac Sausville’s stop-and-shoot mid-range jumper began a 13-0 run at the start of the second half. It was capped by senior guard Turner Clayton‘s 3-pointer from the right corner to build a 38-21 lead with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
“Our guard play is the best in the state,” Campbell said. “There is not another team in the state that has the quintet of guards we have. But the most important thing is the way they care about one another and support one another on and off the court. Their chemistry has been formed throughout their lives playing together, hanging out and spending the night at each other’s houses. They play for each other and root for one another harder than I have ever seen a group root for each other.”
(READ MORE: State-ranked Walker Valley boys led by experienced, talented guards)
Walker Valley vs. Whitehaven boys’ basketball on March 20, 2026
Leading the guard play for the Mustangs once again was junior Zach Davis, who scored a game-high 18 points (while shooting 5-of-12 from the field and 7-of-10 at the foul line) a day after scoring 21 in an 18-point quarterfinal win over Farragut. Davis scored seven points in Friday’s fourth quarter, which included an authoritative drive around two defenders down the right lane for a 44-35 lead with 4:33 left in regulation.
“I think what is so special about us is our heart,” Davis said. “We know we have a lack of size, but we make up for that in our confidence. This is what we have all been working for our entire careers. You can’t luck up and get in the state championship game. You have to work for it and get here. So I think we have the team to do it. We are the team that deserves to be here.”
Walker Valley made its first shot on the opening possession of the first, third and fourth quarters, which included a 3-pointer by senior point guard Ashton Davis in the opening frame and a tough leaning jumper by the floor general to begin the fourth for a 40-29 advantage. He finished with 10 points and six rebounds, which was one shy of Sausville’s team high.
Each of the Davis brothers had a block in the thrilling victory, which the Mustangs celebrated with their fans who have traveled well.
“We were ready for the moment,” Ashton said. “We have experienced and gone against teams this year with Whitehaven’s size, so the pressure and physicality were up to us. It is what we practiced for all season. We played with great energy and were strong from start to finish.”
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Whitehaven fought back valiantly late as 6-6 guard Isaiah Grant drilled five 3-pointers after halftime. However, the Tigers ultimately fell without their star big man on the court as Aliyu fouled out with 1:49 left after contributing 14 points and 15 rebounds.
Clayton sealed Walker Valley’s victory by sinking three free throws in the final 37 seconds. He finished with 14 points as he shot 4-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from the line while tying Sausville by playing a game-high 31 minutes.
All that stands in the way of a gold ball trophy for the Mustangs is Bartlett, which is ranked seventh in the nation by MaxPreps.com and seeking a second state title to add to its 2001 Class AAA crown.
“We have some killers, man,” Campbell said. “Across the state, I don’t think anybody saw this coming except for us. We never doubted. We believed the whole time. I am not shocked a bit. I am super proud of these guys for their heart, grit and fight. But I am not shocked. I believe in these guys, and we’ve got 32 more minutes.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.