Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025

The latest edition of the UCR Basketball Top 5 was revealed Wednesday night on the UCR Basketball Show Presented by Fire & Vine as the Upperman Bees and Lady Bees hold the top spots in both the boys and girls rankings.

Girls

1.Upperman (16-3)

The Lady Bees tacked on three more wins since last week’s UCR Top 5 over Lenoir City, Creek Wood and Franklin County by a combined 93 points to improve to 16-3 overall. Upperman enters District 7-3A play at home on Thursday against a Stone Memorial team who’s leading scorer from last season, Kortney Headrick, just returned from injury.

2. Cookeville (11-3)

The Lady Cavaliers have won 5 straight including a come-from-behind victory over the Class 1A defending state champions Pickett County on Saturday followed by a 10-point road win at Hendersonville on Tuesday. Cookeville have a home game with Webb School of Knoxville on the slate for Friday, but inclement weather has postponed the contest.

3. White County (16-2)

The White County Warriorettes are holding steady at 16-2 overall following a pair of convincing wins over Warren County and Wilson Central to start the week. Sparta hasn’t lost to a team from Tennessee since Nov. 23 and has won 15 of their last 16 games. White County enters District 7-3A play on Thursday at home against DeKalb County.

4. Pickett County (12-3)

The Pickett County Lady Bobcats handled Eagleville last Thursday before falling in a thriller at Class 4A Cookeville on Saturday night. The Lady Bobcats open District 7-1A play on Thursday at home against Clay County.

5. Smith County (13-4)

New to the top 5 this week are the Smith County Lady Owls, who enter at 13-4 and are on a 5-game winning streak following convincing wins against Cannon County and at DeKalb County. Smith County defeated defending Class 1A sate champion Pickett County earlier in the season as well. Smith County’s quest to return to the Class 2A state tournament begins on Thursday with their District 5-2A opener at Monterey.

Honorable Mentions: York Institute, Clarkrange

Boys

1.Upperman (13-2)

The Upperman Bees retain their top spot after a trio of wins over Franklin County, Lenoir City and Creek Wood. All eyes are on Baxter this Thursday as the Bees host the Stone Memorial Panthers in a matchup of two of Tennessee’s best high school basketball players in Upperman sophomore Ty Cobb and Stone Memorial senior Cade Capps.

2. Stone Memorial (12-4)

Stone Memorial hasn’t played a game in 2025 after Tuesday’s York Institute game was postponed, so the Panthers will be well-rested for Thursday’s showdown in Baxter with the #1-ranked Upperman Bees.

3. Jackson County (10-2)

Jackson County split a pair of non-district matchups this week as they fell at Cumberland County (KY) before beating Pearl Cohn 57-40. Jackson County is scheduled to play at Macon County on Thursday before entering District 5-2A play next week.

4. Pickett County (10-5)

Pickett County earned a key road victory to wrap up last week as they traveled to Cookeville and defeated the Cavaliers 72-63, avenging a loss to Eagleville the night before. The Bobcats host a key showdown with Clay County on Thursday to open District 7-1A play.

5. Clay County (9-2)

Clay County enters the UCR Top 5 this week at 9-2 overall following an 85-30 win over Red Boiling Springs to open District 7-1A play. All eyes are on Byrdstown this Thursday as the Bulldogs travel to Pickett County for a key district matchup.

Honorable Mention: Cookeville