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MURFREESBORO — Hillcrest boys basketball is even closer to history.
Coach Dareyon Terrell and his players talked about the haters, the people doubting Hillcrest's ability to reach the heights they have. Well, the Vikings will reach the last day of the basketball season, and the program's first-ever state championship game.
Hillcrest (25-6) defeated Wayne County 44-41 in Friday's TSSAA 1A state semifinal to advance to an 11 a.m. date with defending champions Chattanooga Prep on Saturday at MTSU's Murphy Center.
"It's real big," Terrell said of the program's accomplishment. "We got people in the school that feel like we shouldn't be here, people in the neighborhood. No weapon formed shall prosper. "We believed in ourselves, we kept together, didn't lose composure."
The biggest lead in Friday's game was just five for Hillcrest during the opening quarter, but it never felt like the Vikings were out of the driver's seat. Terrell directed his team to slow the tempo of the game and trust its defense and playmakers in Ja'coby Lewis and Alex Morgan.
"We had to beat them at their game," Terrell explained. "I knew for a fact if they would've got up, they would've held the ball. Our goal was to make them come out of the zone, then we'd get a quick hitter."
Morgan had plenty of quick hitters.
After a 15-point performance in Wednesday's quarterfinal, Morgan supplied a game-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. On his junior guard, Terrell described him as an emotional leader and reliable force when the team needs a bucket.
"When we need him to step up, he comes through in the clutch. He's hard on his teammates and he's even harder on himself. When it's that time and we're in a slump, he'll make a play."
Plays were made by junior forward Ja'den McCray as well, though they weren't as evident on the stat sheet. The 6-foot, big-bodied McCray held Wayne County big man Cayman Camfield to five points in the second half after an 11-point outburst to start the game. His 21 minutes and zero points might be forgotten by some, but not his coach.
"A lot of people underestimate Ja'den because of his size, but he's really a big man that can move his feet," Terrell said. "That was a game-changer. He stood his ground and he did what he could do."
Hillcrest feels overlooked, as a team and as individuals. However, it's given them the drive to reach the program's peak.
"It's just a lot of hate really," Lewis said. "They hate on Alex Morgan, they hate on coach (Terrell), they hate on Jerrell (Miller). (People say) we're small guards, typical Memphis thing. They don't want to see us win, but we made it through."
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at [email protected] or on X @wendellsjr_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TSSAA boys basketball state tournament 2025: Hillcrest will play for title
Continue reading...
Coach Dareyon Terrell and his players talked about the haters, the people doubting Hillcrest's ability to reach the heights they have. Well, the Vikings will reach the last day of the basketball season, and the program's first-ever state championship game.
Hillcrest (25-6) defeated Wayne County 44-41 in Friday's TSSAA 1A state semifinal to advance to an 11 a.m. date with defending champions Chattanooga Prep on Saturday at MTSU's Murphy Center.
"It's real big," Terrell said of the program's accomplishment. "We got people in the school that feel like we shouldn't be here, people in the neighborhood. No weapon formed shall prosper. "We believed in ourselves, we kept together, didn't lose composure."
The biggest lead in Friday's game was just five for Hillcrest during the opening quarter, but it never felt like the Vikings were out of the driver's seat. Terrell directed his team to slow the tempo of the game and trust its defense and playmakers in Ja'coby Lewis and Alex Morgan.
"We had to beat them at their game," Terrell explained. "I knew for a fact if they would've got up, they would've held the ball. Our goal was to make them come out of the zone, then we'd get a quick hitter."
Morgan had plenty of quick hitters.
After a 15-point performance in Wednesday's quarterfinal, Morgan supplied a game-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting. On his junior guard, Terrell described him as an emotional leader and reliable force when the team needs a bucket.
"When we need him to step up, he comes through in the clutch. He's hard on his teammates and he's even harder on himself. When it's that time and we're in a slump, he'll make a play."
Plays were made by junior forward Ja'den McCray as well, though they weren't as evident on the stat sheet. The 6-foot, big-bodied McCray held Wayne County big man Cayman Camfield to five points in the second half after an 11-point outburst to start the game. His 21 minutes and zero points might be forgotten by some, but not his coach.
"A lot of people underestimate Ja'den because of his size, but he's really a big man that can move his feet," Terrell said. "That was a game-changer. He stood his ground and he did what he could do."
Hillcrest feels overlooked, as a team and as individuals. However, it's given them the drive to reach the program's peak.
"It's just a lot of hate really," Lewis said. "They hate on Alex Morgan, they hate on coach (Terrell), they hate on Jerrell (Miller). (People say) we're small guards, typical Memphis thing. They don't want to see us win, but we made it through."
Wendell Shepherd Jr. is The Commercial Appeal's high school sports beat writer. Reach Wendell at [email protected] or on X @wendellsjr_.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: TSSAA boys basketball state tournament 2025: Hillcrest will play for title
Continue reading...
