What Buster Douglas, UMBC have to do with Cheatham County making first final in any sport

MURFREESBORO — How did the "Little Engine That Could," Buster Douglas and 16-seed UMBC's upset of top-seed Virginia play a part in Cheatham County's first state championship appearance in any sport?

It's perhaps the best story of the TSSAA girls basketball state tournament.

And it is one that will play out Saturday following Friday's 75-51 rout of Macon County at Middle Tennessee State's Murphy Center in the Class AA semifinals.

The Lady Cubs (30-3) play Westview (31-5) at 11 a.m. in the Class AA championship.

Cheatham County coach Jim Gibbs used YouTube clips as motivation this week. The Lady Cubs watched the story of the "Little Engine That Could" before Wednesday's 49-41 win over Grainger.

On Friday he found various YouTube clips of famous sports upsets before playing Macon County, the tournament favorite.

"We wanted to show that the favorite doesn't always win," Gibbs said.

Like on this day.

The win sets up a trip to the first state championship for the school where Pat Head Summitt played her high school basketball and where the gym is named after her. Prior to this year, the girls program had won just three games in six state tournament appearances. Cheatham County High School opened in 1970.

"I think she will probably be up in heaven cheering us on down here," said Abbi Douglas, a great niece to the Hall of Fame coach.

Cheatham County shot 57.1 percent from the field against Macon County, which was the Class AA runner-up a year ago. Douglas scored 27 points and sister Alli Douglas added 22 points and 11 rebounds. Emmy Nelson chipped in with 14.

Jalynn Gregory led Macon County with 23 points. Teammate Keeley Carter added 16.

Macon County struggled against Cheatham County's 1-2-2 zone defense that sparked a 17-0 run in the first half and led to 28 turnovers in the game.

So what is next for motivation?

"It's going to be a surprise," Abbi Douglas said. "We don't want to know."

Added Gibbs: "I've got 22 hours and a bus ride or a car ride — whatever we come in — to figure out what we'll do."

Gibbs pointed out that during the Miracle on Ice in 1980 when the U.S. hockey team beat Russia in the Olympics it came in the semifinals. Team USA still had work to do to win gold over Finland.

Likewise, there is still unfinished business.

But there is probably a YouTube clip that will be found somewhere for motivation. 

State tournament schedule:TSSAA high school girls basketball state tournament 2019 pairings

Where to eat:TSSAA tournaments: Best places to eat in Murfreesboro

Pat Summitt's connection to Cheatham:Great nieces of former Lady Vols coach help lead team

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.