Each week during the 2022-23 high school basketball season, UCR’s Rusty Ellis, Michael Lindsay and Noah McKay will release the UC Top 5. The lists will feature the top 5 girls’ and boys’ basketball teams in the Upper Cumberland, according to them.
Please note this list is 100% opinion-based, and will change throughout the season.
November 28, 2022
UC Top 5 Girls’ Teams
- Upperman (LW: 1)
Another undefeated week for the Lady Bees with wins over PCA, Hutchinson and Westmoreland. The UHS defense has been dominant to start the year, and freshman guard Taylor Dolente is turning into an offensive threat. Lady Bees stay on top.
2. White County (LW: 3)
Another week with a one-spot improvement for the Warriorettes, who dominated Shelbyville in the second half of their lone game of the week. The real test for Sparta comes this week as they host Warren County before traveling to Cookeville. If they come out of the week at 2-0, they’ll have an argument for the top spot.
3. York (LW: 2)
The Dragonettes drop a spot by nature of their loss to a very good Coffee County squad. There is no shame in dropping a game to that Lady Raiders squad who has blown everybody but York out. The Warriorettes have a measuring stick game on Tuesday when they host Cumberland County. One loss doesn’t change the fact this is a great girls’ basketball team.
4. Cookeville (LW: 4)
The Lady Cavs dominated Stone Memorial on Tuesday, leading 25-0 after the first quarter. Their loss against Blackman seems like ages ago, and if they are able to knock off Sparta on Friday night they have an opportunity to vault back up the rankings.
5. Livingston (LW: 5)
The Lady Wildcats suffered their first loss of the season, but still sit at 4-1 and appear to be contenders in District 7/AAA. They have another measuring stick matchup on Tuesday when they travel to Byrdstown to take on Pickett County. There’s a great chance the winner of that game occupies the five-spot next week.
Honorable Mentions:
1. Cumberland County
2. Pickett County
UC Top 5 Boys’ Teams
- Stone Memorial (LW: 1)
The Panthers hang on to the number one spot after wins over Cookeville and Meigs County to improve to 5-0. Cade Capps and Matthew Bilbrey have been great to start the season, and the supporting cast has played well for a team that has not lost a step after last year’s run.
2. White County (LW: 2)
The gap between the Panthers and Warriors is razor thin, and there was discussion about the order but a one-game week by WCHS keeps them at two. They dominated Shelbyville and are 3-0 with an average margin of victory of over 25 points. They’ll have a tough test on Friday when they travel to Cookeville to take on the Cavs, but they’ll have to get through Warren County first.
3. Upperman (LW: 4)
The Bees finally took the floor and started strong with a 2-0 week. The win over a very athletic Whites Creek team was impressive. AJ Nash scored 21+ points in both games, and freshman Bronzden Chaffin tallied a double-double. If anyone will challenge Stone and Sparta in District 7/AAA, it may be the Bees.
4. Cookeville (LW: 3)
The Cavs dropped their matchup against Stone with a massive asterisks as they played the bulk of the game without Josh Heard. If they can stay healthy, this is a CHS team that we think can compete with any team in the Upper Cumberland.
5. Monterey (LW: NR)
The Wildcats are on the list for the first time, and they’ve earned it as they’ve raced out to a 7-0 record in Lynus Martin’s second year. Tre Monette has dominated the competition in his first year at Monterey. The schedule has not been the toughest, but you are what your record says you are.
Honorable Mentions:
- Pickett County
- Livingston