Our final Knoxville-area boys basketball rankings are in: Here's who is No. 1
With the Division I state basketball tournament in Murfreesboro concluded, here are the final rankings of the top 10 boys basketball teams in the Knoxville area as ranked by PrepXtra.
1. Fulton (32-5): Fulton won its fourth state championship in program history. The Falcons did it in dominating fashion, as they won by 28 points per game in the state tournament. Fulton’s Tyler Lee won the Class 3A tournament MVP after averaging 16 points and 7.3 rebounds. Last week: Ranked No. 1.
2. Alcoa (30-8): Alcoa captured its third state championship in program history and its first since 1967. The Tornadoes won their title game against Frederick Douglass on a game-winning layup by star junior Jahvin Carter. Carter was awarded MVP of the Class 3A state tournament after averaging 27.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 steals. Last week: Ranked No. 2.
3. Karns (26-8): Karns failed to reach the state tournament after losing its Class 4A state sectional to Sevier County but defeated one of the best Class 4A teams in William Blount in the Region 2-4A championship March 2. The senior trio of JJ Faulkner, Jaylen Roberts and Aiden Goins was one of the best in the area. Last week: Ranked No. 5.
4. William Blount (30-6): The Governors fell short of the state tournament after a heartbreaking 64-63 loss to Dobyns-Bennet in the Class 4A state sectional. William Blount’s junior duo of Caden Windle and Grady Robertson led William Blount to its first 30-win season. Last week: Ranked No. 6.
5. McMinn County (27-8): McMinn County lost 74-55 to Memphis Overton in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A state tournament. The Cherokees won the district and region championship and its sectional all in the same season for the first time in program history. Last week: Ranked No. 3.
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6. Austin East (23-10): After four straight seasons with losing records, the Roadrunners had a winning season in coach Denard Bertram’s first season as coach. They lost 54-53 to White County in the Class 3A state sectional. Last week: Ranked No. 7.
7. Knoxville Webb (24-8): Webb made the tournament for the first time in four years but lost to Brentwood in the semifinals of the Division II-AA state tournament. Last week: Ranked No. 8.
8. Sevier County (17-15): The Smoky Bears won the Region 1-4A semifinals and the state sectional to reach the state tournament. Their season closed, however, against Hillsboro 65-39. Last week: Ranked No. 4.
9. Oak Ridge (24-6): The Wildcats lost to Karns in the Region 2-4A tournament semifinals for the first time in 10 years and missed the state tournament for the second consecutive season. Last week: Ranked No. 9.
10. Halls (20-13): The Red Devils were one game short of reaching the Class 3A state tournament for the first time in program history. They lost to Volunteer in the state sectional. Last week: Ranked No. 10.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: TSSAA boys basketball rankings: Here's Knoxville-area's final No. 1
