State Title in Sight

CHS wins in triple OT
Cats to play Maryville for state title today
By JIMMY TRODGLEN
The Leaf-Chronicle

MURFREESBORO — There are moments forever frozen in history. There are games that define teams, players and coaches. Fans will talk about the shot, the block, and a player's performance decades after the final seconds have ticked off the game clock.

Clarksville High has a storied basketball tradition dating back to the 1950s when it made its first state basketball tournament appearance. Along the way, the Wildcats have won their share of district and region titles, and have won more than their share of memorable games.

Arguably its greatest game was played Friday in the semifinals of the TSSAA boys state basketball tournament at Middle Tennessee's Murphy Center. The Wildcats will play for their first state championship in 43 years after beating Oakland 70-63 in triple overtime in what some longtime observers of the state tournament were calling the greatest game in tournament history.



As much as Clarksville High, and its large contingent of fans, would like to enjoy the experience of Friday's semifinal win, there is still unfinished business.

Clarksville High will play Maryville today at 7 p.m. for the Class AAA state title. Maryville stunned Whites Creek 65-55 in Friday's other semifinal game.

"I think all the honor also goes to Murfreesboro Oakland, what a worthy opponent to meet in the state semifinals," Clarksville High coach Ted Young said. "(TSSAA executive director) Ronnie Carter said, 'Ted, I think that's the all-time classic here in TSSAA history.'

"You've got two great fan bases. Our fans, we talked about it starting when we went to the region tournament at Beech that our fans were tremendous."

Clarksville High (33-2) last played for a state championship in 1964 when it lost to Donelson 68-49.

"It's our school's 100th anniversary, here's our present again," Young said. "We gave them (CHS fans) a present when we made it to state. I hope we've got another present in us. What an emotional game."

In the quarterfinals on Thursday, a large and vocal Clarksville High following, watched their Wildcats overcome a big first-quarter deficit to beat Memphis Ridgeway. On Friday, a Wildcats' fan base estimated at well over 1,000, watched Clarksville overcome a 16-9 first quarter deficit.

Ryne Harper hit four 3-pointers and scored 20 points for the Wildcats, while guard Tyrone Caldwell had 14 points. Harper also had eight rebounds.

"The adrenalin was going and there were some great battles," Harper said. "It was just a matter of who wanted it more. Three overtimes, it was great fun and the hardest game I've ever played in my life."



Harper, along with Caldwell, played all 44 minutes, with Caldwell adding five rebounds and three assists to his numbers.

"I don't really know what to say right now," Caldwell said. "There have been a lot of great teams and players come through Clarksville, and coach Young keeps saying we're making history. I think Saturday is setting it up. We could be the best team to come out of Clarksville."

Jimmy Trodglen is sports editor of The Leaf-Chronicle and can be reached at jimmytrodglen@theleafchronicle.com or by phone at 245-0261.