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.
UC Top 5 Girls Teams
- York Institute (LW: 2)
York Institute (27-2, 8-0) closed out a dominant regular season last week by winning 5 games in 6 days, including victories over Cookeville and Oakland. YAI has won 22 straight games behind Miss Basketball finalist Reese Beaty’s stellar play.
2. Cookeville (LW: 1)
Cookeville (24-4) flips with York following their loss in Jamestown last Monday, but the Lady Cavaliers are still amongst the state’s best as they followed up with dominant wins over Wilson Central and Lebanon. The Lady Cavs have their sights set on a return to the Class 4A state tournament.
3. Upperman (LW: 3)
It’s mid-February, which means the Upperman Lady Bees (25-3, 10-2) are playing some of their basketball as they avenged their loss to Livingston Academy on Tuesday. Upperman has won 7 straight and 11 of their last 12 games behind dominant play from Miss Basketball finalist Abigail Johnson.
4. Livingston Academy (LW: 3)
The Livingston Academy Lady Wildcats (23-5, 10-2) fell in back-to-back games to White County and Upperman before bouncing back to beat Stone Memorial on Friday. LA is led by District 7-3A MVP Ellie Butler and won the coin flip for the district’s overall #1 seed.
5. Cumberland County (LW: NR)
The Cumberland County Lady Jets (21-7, 8-4) jump back into the UC Top 5 this week after impressive wins over White County and Clarkrange last week. CCHS has had an impressive season with multiple statement wins and no bad losses to bad teams. The Lady Jets enter the District 7-3A tournament at #3 overall.
UC Top 5 Boys Teams
1. Stone Memorial (LW: 1)
The Stone Memorial Panthers (22-4, 11-1) remain in the top spot on the UC Top 5 despite a 10-point loss to Livingston last week due to their complete body of work. The Panthers had #1 already locked up prior to Friday’s game and have been the best team in the Upper Cumberland almost all season.
2. Clay County (LW: 2)
Clay County (22-3, 8-0) has won 13 straight games and swept last week’s contests against Jackson County, Macon County and Clarkrange. The Bulldogs have their sights set on Murfreesboro and have a great chance to make it back again.
3. Livingston Academy (LW: NR)
Livingston Academy (23-4, 9-3) reminded the Upper Cumberland they’re a force to be reckoned with as they defeated Upperman and Stone Memorial in back-to-back games to earn District 7-3A’s #2 seed.
4. York Institute (LW: 5)
York Institute (19-10, 7-1) won four straight games last week including a buzzer-beater over District 5-2A foe Jackson County. The Dragons have had a strong second half of the season and are entering the postseason as their district’s #1 seed thanks to a tiebreaker.
5. Upperman (LW: 3)
Upperman (18-7, 8-4) suffered a setback at Livingston Academy last week before bouncing back for a win over DeKalb County. The Bees enter the postseason as District 7-3A’s #3 seed and on a crash course for a rematch with Livingston.