Division 1 Boys’ State Tournaments: Semifinals round

Friday was the day for teams to punch their tickets into Saturday's championship games. One of the teams is in reach of a 3-peat.

Here are the difference makers that made it possible:

Class 2A

Derrick Roberson Derrick Roberson 6'6" | SF Chattanooga Prep | 2026 State TN Jr., Chattanooga Prep: Roberson finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds in a win over Loretto. The Sentinels are one win away from winning their 3rd consecutive state title, and Roberson made it possible. Chattanooga Prep had a comfortable double-digit at halftime then saw its lead drop to 9 in the 3rd quarter. Roberson had timely baskets, including some dunks, that pushed the Sentinels' lead back up to 17. This season's Class 2A Mr. Basketball winner went 9 for 14 from the field.

Reid Conley Reid Conley 6'4" | PG/CG Chattanooga Prep | 2026 State TN , Chattanooga Prep: Conley was the best guard on the floor. The 6-foot-2 point guard has been consistent for the Sentinels this season. Conley was huge again on Friday, scoring 19 points to go along with his 4 assists, and 2 blocks. He played with great pace and didn't get rattled when the Loretto Mustangs sent double teams his way. Conley got downhill whenever he wanted to. He finished at the rim each time.

Arden Smith Arden Smith 6'7" | PF Westview | 2026 State TN , Westview: Smith altered and contested shots near the rim for the entire time he was on the floor in the Chargers‘ 47-37 win over Smith County. He did a great job finishing around the rim. Smith had an all-around solid performance (11 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 blocks).

Miles Brown Miles Brown 6'2" | SG Westview | 2027 TN , Westview: Brown was the one that put the Chargers up 3 early in the 4th quarter for good off a 15-foot jumper. Westview didn't look back after that. Brown was aggressive throughout the contest, constantly attacking the rim each time the paint was open. He was aggressive on the boards. Brown played physical defense. He went 5 for 16 from the field, but led the team with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

Class 3A

Nick Steen Nick Steen 6'3" | SG Fulton | 2027 State TN , Fulton: Just like Smith did for Westview, Steen did the same for the Falcons in their 54-51 win over last season's Class 3A state champ Upperman:

Load up the stat sheet.

Steen finished with 8 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and a block. He did a little bit of everything. Steen went after 50-50 balls. He came up with big defensive stops, and scored timely buckets. Steen has been showtime for Fulton this season, and because of it, the Falcons will be playing for a Class 3A title.

Alcoa's core

Jay Kirk Jay Kirk 6'5" | SF Alcoa | 2027 State TN , Condis Cherry Condis Cherry 5'6" | PG Alcoa | 2027 State TN , Jamir Dean Jamir Dean 6'3" | SG Alcoa | 2027 State TN , and Jibriel Koko Jibriel Koko 6'2" | PG Alcoa | 2026 State TN all played a role in helping the Tornadoes reach the Class 3A title game after their thumping of Tullahoma, 66-47. Kirk made shots from the perimeter, especially in the 3rd quarter when the game was notched at 26-all. Kirk made a big one during a quick 6-0 run.

Cherry found Dean wide open under the basket for an easy score early in the 4th quarter. Koko went coast-to-coast after that score to give Alcoa its biggest lead at the moment (48-37). Koko then got a steal before making a 3 from the left wing. The Tornadoes forced a quick turnover, which led to a two-handed slam for Kirk.

Kirk led the team with 23 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. Cherry finished with 12 points and 3 steals. Dean also added 12 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Koko provided 11 points, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, and 2 assists.

It was a solid showing from Alcoa's core guys that have played deep into the season for the past three seasons. This core is only used to one thing: Playing on the final day of the season. Make it 4 straight seasons the Tornadoes will play on the final day of the season.

Davis brothers

Walker Valley stunned many on Friday, defeating a talented Whitehaven team, 52-50, to advance to the Class 4A title game. Zach Davis Zach Davis 6'1" | PG Walker Valley | 2027 State TN made a contested jumper while senior guard Kayin Mitchell Kayin Mitchell 6'3" | PG/CG Whitehaven | 2026 State TN face guarded him. Then, he made a 3 to give the Mustangs a 34-21 lead early in the third quarter. His bother, Ashton Davis Ashton Davis 5'8" | PG Walker Valley | 2026 State TN , went 3 for 7 from the field to finish the contest with 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Zach led the team with 18 points and went 7 for 10 from the free throw line.

What stood out about Walker Valley was how well it controlled the pace, moved the basketball, and spaced the floor to get great looks.

”You can't luck up into the state championship. You have to work for it,” said Zach, who had 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals.

The Mustangs defeated a physical Tigers team that guards 94 feet and limits scoring space. Willie Kemp's group likes to wear its opponent down. But Whitehaven's pressure didn't seem to rattle Walker Valley enough to come away with the win.

”The pressure and the physicality is nothing to us and what we practice for,” Ashton said.

Strong 3rd from Bartlett

The Panthers came out of halftime with great energy to put a stranglehold on Bearden's hot shooting from the first half. Bartlett, which led 32-30 at the break, blitzed the Bulldogs' ball screens, face guarded Justin Nordin Justin Nordin 6'2" | PG Bearden | 2026 State TN , and made shots to create a gap - 71-61 - that ultimately was enough to get the Panthers into Saturday's Class 4A title game.

It was sophomore Braylon Williams Braylon Williams 6'0" | PG Bartlett | 2028 State TN leading the charge. Despite having 3 fouls early, the 6-0 point guard stayed aggressive offensively. He made a 3 in the waning seconds of the 2nd quarter. Williams made a 3 in transition early in the 3rd quarter to give Bartlett a 41-31 lead. He followed that up with a tear drop from the baseline.

The great thing about Williams - an attribute he‘s had since his arrival in high school - is his pace, poise, and calmness when the lights are bright.

The Panthers are a win away from their 1st Class 4A title under Dion Real, and all of this is possible because of the stellar play from Williams, who finished the night with 20 points on 6 of 7 shooting.

Junior shooting guard Dylan Jones Dylan Jones 6'5" | SG Bartlett | 2027 State #48 Nation TN had his usual shooting night, going 9 for 11 from the field to finish the contest with a game-high 22 points.