MURFREESBORO – One of the most historic seasons in Stone Memorial boys’ basketball history came to an end in a 59-55 loss against Greeneville on Friday in the semifinal round of the TSSAA Class AAA State Tournament at the Murphy Center.
The Panthers pushed the defending state champion Green Devils to the brink, but ultimately fell just short of earning a trip to the state championship game.
“It was the grittiest performance I’ve ever been a part of as a coach at any level,” said SMHS head coach Neil Capps. “I’ve never been more proud of a group of kids with that effort. Outsized, out-athleted… I just can’t say enough about these young men. I’m just humbled that I was allowed to be a part of it.”
The two teams battled throughout the first quarter, with Brady Lane making three free throws in the final minute as GHS took a 13-11 lead into the second.
Mr. Basketball Jakobi Gillespie found his rhythm in the second quarter, making three triples in the frame. His 16 first-half points paced the Green Devils to a 26-18 halftime lead.
The Panthers showed their resiliency in the third quarter, opening the frame on a 10-3 run to cut the deficit to 29-28. Cade Capps made two jumpers in the final two minutes as GHS took a 37-36 lead into the fourth.
Each team continued to battle in the fourth, with Capps giving Stone the lead on two separate three pointers, but Gillespie answered with a jumper and three of his own to take a 56-53 lead. The Green Devils made three more free throws in the final minute as they escaped with the 59-55 victory.
The Green Devils averaged a margin of victory of over 35 points in the postseason before Friday’s game.
“You’ve got to give Greeneville credit,” said coach Capps. “They played really well, but I’ll take my group of kids any day. I’m proud of them and I can’t say enough about them.”
Bilbrey led the Panthers in scoring with 18 points. Cade Capps scored 14 points and tallied 11 rebounds. Dylan Whittenburg added nine points and four assists.
It was the final game in the high school careers of Whittenburg and PJ Barnes. Coach Capps said the impact his seniors had on the program will not be forgotten.
“They had a lasting effect,” said Capps. “An effect that will resonate for a long period of time with this program with their leadership.”
The Panthers entered the season picked sixth in the District 7/AAA media poll after facing large roster turnover from the 2020-2021 season. They ended the year as the regular season district champions, district tournament runners-up, region champions, and state semifinalists.
“We had a beam, not a chip, a beam all season because I think these kids felt slighted being picked sixth by the media and third by the coaches,” said coach Capps. “You can whine about it and complain or you can go out and do something about it. You can see what kind of cloth these young men are cut from. They did something about it. That’s something to respect there.”
The Panthers end the season with a 21-11 overall record. They will return four starters next season.