SPORTS

The Tennessean Midstate boys basketball top 10

Michael Murphy
USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Here are the top 10 high school boys basketball teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

Sophomore Mr. Basketball finalist Darius Garland (10) helped lead Brentwood Academy to a second straight Division II-AA champion on Saturday.

10. CPA (23-8) — The Lions, coming off a comfortable 69-49 win over Marshall County in last week’s Region 6-AA championship, can secure their fifth straight Class AA state tournament appearance with a sectional win over visiting Whites Creek on Monday. Last week: No. 10. Streak: Won 9. 

9. Maplewood (23-5) — The Panthers got their revenge for last month’s district championship defeat to Whites Creek, capturing a 51-46 win over the Cobras in last Thursday’s Region 5-AA championship. Last week: No. 8. Streak: Won 3. 

8. Cane Ridge (24-4) — The District 11-AAA runner-up Ravens advanced to the Region 6-AAA semifinals for just the second time in school history before eventually suffering a season-ending 61-56 defeat to Independence. Last week: No. 6. Streak: Lost 1. 

7. White County (29-1) — The previously-unbeaten Warriors couldn’t have picked a worse night to have one of their poorest performances of the season, which resulted in 78-66 season-ending defeat to Bradley Central in last Thursday's region semifinals. Last week: No. 5. Streak: Lost 1. 

6. Hillsboro (20-7) — Like in last season’s state quarterfinal finish, the District 12-AAA and Region 6-AAA champion Burros appear to have hit their stride at just the right time, stringing together six straight wins heading into Monday’s sectional against visiting Mt. Juliet. Last week: No. 9. Streak: Won 6. 

5. Ensworth (24-6) — The Division II-AA runner-up Tigers, led by senior Tennessee signee Jordan Bone, captured a double-digit semifinal win over Christian Brothers before being blown away by Brentwood Academy in Saturday’s state title game. Last week: No. 7. Streak: Lost 1.

4. Independence (27-3) — The District 11-AAA champion Eagles came within seconds of securing their first region title in program history last Thursday before allowing Hillsboro’s Thomas Smith to sink a near half-court shot at the buzzer to steal the win. Last week: No. 4. Streak: Lost 1. 

3. Station Camp (34-1) — The District 9-AAA and Region 5-AAA champion Bison can clinch their first Class AAA state tournament appearance with a sectional win over visiting Independence on Monday. Last week: No. 3. Streak: Won 6.

2. Brentwood Academy (29-3) — The Eagles captured their second straight Division II-AA title and the sixth in program history on Saturday, coasting to an 82-49 championship rout of rival Ensworth. Last week: No. 2. Streak: Won 9. 

1. Blackman (31-0) — The Blaze, the state’s only remaining unbeaten team, can secure a fifth consecutive Class AAA state tournament appearance with a sectional win over visiting Bradley Central on Monday. Last week: No. 1. Streak: Won 31. 

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.