Class 3A Defending State Champion Upperman Cruises To 63-47 Sectional Win Over Red Bank; Ty Cobb Leads With 30 Points

By Michael Lindsay

The Upperman Bees (30-5) will have a chance to defend their Class 3A state championship in the Murphy Center next week as they clinched their third consecutive state tournament berth Monday via a 63-47 win over Red Bank in the sectional round.

“I’m proud of our kids,” said Upperman head coach Bobby McWilliams. “It was a fight; Red Bank is really good. We didn’t play perfect and they had a lot to do with that.”

Reigning Class 3A Mr. Basketball Ty Cobb dropped 30 points to lead the Bees followed by 16 points and 11 rebounds from Colton Johnson.

Upperman led 14-8 late in the first quarter before the Lions clawed back within 3 points (16-13) to end the opening frame. Red Bank caught the Bees with 4:12 remaining in the second period via a three-pointer to tie the contest at 20-20.

The Bees took control from there as they closed the first half on a 14-0 run capped off by a Cobb buzzer-beating three-pointer to send his team into halftime ahead 34-20.

“We just kept playing and trying to get matchups we liked on the offensive end,” said McWilliams.

Upperman’s kept their advantage at double digits throughout the second half as they went on to win by a 63-47 final score.

The Bees will take on South Gibson (23-9) in the Class 3A state tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday, March 18 at 4 p.m.