- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 394,138
- Reaction score
- 43
MURFREESBORO — MTSU's Murphy Center expected Whitehaven's arrival at the TSSAA basketball state tournament, the 23-game winning streak and the newly-minted Mr. Basketball winner in Taquez Butler.
The sudden sound of trumpets from the Tigers band ahead of the tipoff of Thursday's 4A quarterfinal vs. Independence certainly signaled their arrival, although coach Willie Kemp hoped for a sounder start on the court.
Nevertheless, Whitehaven defeated the defending champion Eagles 40-36 to advance to Friday night's semifinal vs. Oak Ridge at 8:45 p.m.
"That first half, that wasn't Whitehaven," Kemp said.
Indy's defense held Whitehaven (32-3) to their lowest point total of the season (the first under 50 points) and limited Butler to just two points in the first half via free throws. After the break, Whitehaven tightened the screws on defense and Butler, the school's first Mr. Basketball winner since Ron Huery in 1986, finished with a game-high 13 points.
"Everything they ran, we were ready for it," Kemp said of his team's defense. "(Butler) didn't have it going in the first half, but second half, he got it going. He's had a great year. He can put a ball in the hole with the best of them."
Butler credited his teammates for the second-half outburst, as well as for the Mr. Basketball trophy he'll take back to Memphis.
"They told me that it's time to get going, and I just answered," said Butler, referencing his teammates at halftime. "I'm blessed to win Mr. Basketball. I couldn't do it without my teammates."
Defense was a key part of the game for both teams, as the Eagles threw doubles at Whitehaven big man Bob Dickson, limiting him to four points (no field goals). However, his seven rebounds were big in a game where possessions were precious. His contributions, along with junior Dorion Bowen's defending, which helped limit Indy to 30.6% shooting, were crucial down the stretch.
"They've been two leaders for us all season," Kemp said of Butler and Bowen. "Dorion is passionate, wants to do anything to win a ball game. He came out and started the game with two threes and he's always gonna bring the energy."
Coach Kemp has been to state tournaments before, winning two at Bolivar Central (2004, 2005) and attending last year's tournament as a spectator despite Whitehaven bowing out in the region tournament. It reminded him of the kind of discipline his team would need on the brightest stage. In just his second year at the helm, Whitehaven is there, now just two wins from its first state title in 40 years.
"I came up here last year and I know how the officials will call the game and I told them to defend without fouling," Kemp said. "That's our (24th) win in a row, and that's because we've been playing defense."
Defending will include different tasks on Friday as the Tigers face a much bigger Oak Ridge team that defeated Walker Valley 60-39.
"Oak Ridge is a different team from Independence. Everybody in the lineup is 6-5 or taller except the point guard," Kemp explained. "They're athletic, they're gonna get out and run. I'm expecting an up-and-down game, the type of game that we want. I'm looking forward to hopefully scoring more than what we did tonight."
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: Whitehaven survives
Continue reading...
The sudden sound of trumpets from the Tigers band ahead of the tipoff of Thursday's 4A quarterfinal vs. Independence certainly signaled their arrival, although coach Willie Kemp hoped for a sounder start on the court.
Nevertheless, Whitehaven defeated the defending champion Eagles 40-36 to advance to Friday night's semifinal vs. Oak Ridge at 8:45 p.m.
"That first half, that wasn't Whitehaven," Kemp said.
Indy's defense held Whitehaven (32-3) to their lowest point total of the season (the first under 50 points) and limited Butler to just two points in the first half via free throws. After the break, Whitehaven tightened the screws on defense and Butler, the school's first Mr. Basketball winner since Ron Huery in 1986, finished with a game-high 13 points.
"Everything they ran, we were ready for it," Kemp said of his team's defense. "(Butler) didn't have it going in the first half, but second half, he got it going. He's had a great year. He can put a ball in the hole with the best of them."
Butler credited his teammates for the second-half outburst, as well as for the Mr. Basketball trophy he'll take back to Memphis.
"They told me that it's time to get going, and I just answered," said Butler, referencing his teammates at halftime. "I'm blessed to win Mr. Basketball. I couldn't do it without my teammates."
Defense was a key part of the game for both teams, as the Eagles threw doubles at Whitehaven big man Bob Dickson, limiting him to four points (no field goals). However, his seven rebounds were big in a game where possessions were precious. His contributions, along with junior Dorion Bowen's defending, which helped limit Indy to 30.6% shooting, were crucial down the stretch.
"They've been two leaders for us all season," Kemp said of Butler and Bowen. "Dorion is passionate, wants to do anything to win a ball game. He came out and started the game with two threes and he's always gonna bring the energy."
Coach Kemp has been to state tournaments before, winning two at Bolivar Central (2004, 2005) and attending last year's tournament as a spectator despite Whitehaven bowing out in the region tournament. It reminded him of the kind of discipline his team would need on the brightest stage. In just his second year at the helm, Whitehaven is there, now just two wins from its first state title in 40 years.
"I came up here last year and I know how the officials will call the game and I told them to defend without fouling," Kemp said. "That's our (24th) win in a row, and that's because we've been playing defense."
Defending will include different tasks on Friday as the Tigers face a much bigger Oak Ridge team that defeated Walker Valley 60-39.
"Oak Ridge is a different team from Independence. Everybody in the lineup is 6-5 or taller except the point guard," Kemp explained. "They're athletic, they're gonna get out and run. I'm expecting an up-and-down game, the type of game that we want. I'm looking forward to hopefully scoring more than what we did tonight."
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: Whitehaven survives
Continue reading...
