A season like Webb’s are few and far between
By Steve Williams
It’s rare when a high school’s girls and boys basketball teams both advance to the TSSAA state tournament in the same year.
But it’s even rarer when a high school’s two basketball teams win state championships in the same year.
Webb School of Knoxville became the seventh school to do it in TSSAA history this year when the Lady Spartans defeated Christ Presbyterian Academy 61-47 and the Spartans defeated Briarcrest 54-45 March 8 at Tennessee Tech’s Hooper Eblen Center in Cookeville.
In 63 years, it’s only happened 10 previous times by six schools.
Bradley Central was the first to strike gold twice in 1962, when there was no classification.
Brainerd High in Chattanooga was the first to earn this distinction in the classification era, sweeping the Class AAA state titles in 1984 at MTSU’s Murphy Center.
Brentwood Academy is the overall leader, with four seasons of hauling two gold basketballs back home. The fun started in 2006 when the Lady Eagles and Eagles were in Division II. Their classification changed to Division II AA in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
Christ Presbyterian is the only other school that’s rang the bell more than once and that was in Class AA in 2012 and 2013 when CPA participated in Division I before all private schools were forced to compete in Division II.
Rounding out the honorees for this special achievement are Ensworth in Division II AA in 2013 and Blackman in Class AAA in 2014.
Green and Swearengen lead Webb School to titles
Meeyah Green’s early 3-point shooting sparked Coach Greg Hernandez’s Webb girls to a 61-47 state title win over Christ Presbyterian Academy and the Lady Spartans’ first championship since 2018.
Green, a junior and Clemson commit, earned MVP honors with her 19 points, including 13 in the first half.
Freshman guard Zahnyah Rockett had a game-high 20 points and five steals.
Kyndall Mays, a freshman post, contributed 12 points and collected seven rebounds.
The Lady Spartans (29-3) will return its entire roster next season.
The Webb boys were in a close game against Briarcrest going into the final period, but with the scored tied at 38-all, Coach Ricky Norris’ Spartans went on a 16-0 runaway that lasted 5½ minutes before ending in the final minute.
It was the first state title for Coach Norris’ program since 2019.
Owen Lentz led Webb’s balanced attack with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Cam Swearengen, selected the MVP, totaled 11 points.
Alex Leeth and Huston Torres chipped in 10 and nine points, respectively.
Senior Jaylen Pompey contributed eight assists.
The Spartans will hang up a 34-2 record.
