MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — With his twin brother and all five starters for his team by his side, Chattanooga Prep basketball coach Christian Collins was overjoyed after the Sentinels won a historic third straight TSSAA state championship Saturday.
In just their fifth year of varsity high school competition, the Sentinels became the first basketball program from Chattanooga and just the ninth boys’ hoops program in Tennessee history to three-peat when they beat Westview 61-52 in the Class 2A title game at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center.
“I give all the glory to God,” said Collins, who took over as head coach ahead of the 2023-24 season that began the reign for the Sentinels, who won their first two titles in 1A before moving up due to TSSAA reclassification for the growing school. “This three-peat is a testament to these young men’s hard work throughout the years. This all started when they were in sixth grade. To be champions for a third straight season is just a blessing for our guys to reap the fruits of their labor.
“Winning three straight is amazing. These guys have made history as the first team to ever do it from Chattanooga. We are really blessed.”
With his team up by just four points with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Chatt Prep senior Reid Conley blazed down the court for a layup. Soon after, the 6-foot-4 guard showed some defensive dominance on the other end with his fifth block of the day.
T.J. Foster added four blocks as the Sentinels totaled 10, and the 6-2 sophomore had a big basket late when he rose high at the right side of the rim to dunk on Westview senior Arden Smith, who’s listed as 6-7.
Chattanooga Prep vs. Westview basketball on March 21, 2026
While celebrating a state championship has become a habit for the Sentinels, who finished the season 22-11, it was a new experience for Conley, who transferred in for his final prep season after previously playing at Hamilton Heights and Chattanooga Christian.
“I am so happy,” said Conley, who scored a game-high 18 points while shooting 6-of-12 from the field with two 3-pointers and making all four of his free throws. “This is everything I imagined and dreamed of. Winning that gold ball is an unbelievable feeling. Chatt Prep has treated me like family. This really is one big family. That’s why we always say O.B.F.”
Chatt Prep senior Derrick Roberson was honored as state tournament MVP for a third time. The 6-6 Freed-Hardeman signee with a 7-1 wingspan also made his fourth straight all-state tournament team after finishing the three-game run at the BlueCross Basketball Championships with a team-high 55 points on 25-of-43 shooting to go with 27 rebounds and six blocks.
In the title game, Roberson scored 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds, including three key offensive rebounds in the fourth quarter.
“I started with C (Christoffer Collins) when I was nine years old,” Roberson said of the Sentinels’ previous head coach. “This is a result of years of hard work with him. He showed me tough love and made sure I got better every day. Coach Murse (Christian Collins) stepped in for his twin brother, and he told us all there would be no setback and that we are just all go. He has been there for us on and off the court and treated us like family.
“To end my high school career with a bang, I couldn’t picture anything better. I wouldn’t be here without my coaches or teammates.”
(READ MORE: Chatt Prep star Derrick Roberson motivated to win a third state title)
Joel Bulis was a monster on the glass once again as the 6-7 senior power forward collected his 13th double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and as many points — he shot 2-of-3 from the field and made all six of his free throws — plus three assists.
Bulis hauled in 41 rebounds over Chatt Prep’s three games in Murfreesboro, with the Sentinels following up Saturday on an 83-66 win against Peabody 83-66 in the quarterfinals Wednesday and a 67-44 victory over 2025 Class 2A state champion Loretto in Friday’s semifinals.
Kentrell Watkins hit some clutch shots Saturday, including a soft kiss off the backboard for 28-20 lead going into halftime. Watkins also came away with his second steal late in the game and picked up his fourth assist on a layup by Foster that made it 48-38 with less than two minutes to play.
“Kentrell has come a long way,” Collins said. “I brought him into my office before the season and told him I needed him to facilitate, be a playmaker and play great defense. He has made the right decisions and right plays for us down the stretch. He pushed through early-season setbacks and really came up big for us.”
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Westview (25-8), which trailed 13-11 after the first quarter after leading for much of the period, was led by Miles Brown (17 points and Asa Barnes (12).
The Sentinels are 107-34 over the past four seasons, a stretch in which they’ve quickly become a state powerhouse.
Having joined the list of schools with three consecutive TSSAA boys’ basketball titles — Hume Fogg (1921-23), Perry County (1955-57), East Robertson (1987-89), White Station (2002-04), Mitchell (2014-16) and Memphis East (2016-18) — the next step would be to join Brentwood Academy (2003-06) and Ensworth (2011-14) as the only programs with four in a row.
“What these guys have done together is historic,” Collins said. “Some of their jerseys will be up in the rafters one day. … No one has ever done what they have from our area. They are one of a kind and did this together as one big family.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.