What to know as Memphis sends five teams to TSSAA boys state basketball tournament

Memphis will be represented at all three levels of the 2019 TSSAA Division I boys basketball tournament. East and Whitehaven are in the Class AAA bracket. Wooddale and Mitchell are in the Class AA bracket. And Manassas is in the Class A bracket. 

Here are five key things to know as the five local teams look to bring Shelby County its first state championship sweep since 1979. 

1. East is going for title No. 10

Three-time defending champion East (24-8) will make its 16th state tournament appearance. The Mustangs are 32-6 all-time in state tournament games with nine state titles. If Memphis signee James Wiseman, the nation's No. 1 recruit for the Class of 2019, can lead the Mustangs to this year's title it will make 10 championships for East and five within the last eight years. 

2. Wooddale makes first state tournament appearance

The Lawson family has led Wooddale (30-4) to its first state tournament appearance. The Cardinals have a three-time state champion in 6-8 Oregon signee Chandler Lawson, who was MVP of the 2017 Class AAA state tournament with East. Chandler's younger brother, Johnathan, has also been playing a key role. They transferred  to play for their father, Keelon Lawson, who won a state title at Hamilton in 2006. 

3. Manassas has scored 80 points or more in 8 of its last 11 games

Manassas, led by Mr. Basketball finalist Catthadious Moore, has put up its fair share of points. The Tigers are averaging 74.4 points and have scored 80 or more in eight of their last 11 games. The Tigers, who haven't lost since Dec. 29, are riding  a 21-game win streak. 

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4. Potential rematch in AAA

Whitehaven (24-7) finished runner-up to East in last year's Class AAA state championship game. Now, with an upset road victory over Bartlett under their belts, the Tigers are looking like contenders. Whitehaven is one of of just two TSSAA opponents to beat East this year. Four-star guard Matthew Murrell is one of the top 2020 prospects in the state. 7-2 center Jordan Wilmore averaged close to a double-double during the regular season. 

5. Mitchell back for 7th appearance since 2012

Mitchell, which enjoyed a three-peat from 2014-16, is back in the state tournament for the seventh time in the last eight years. Last year was the first time since 2012 the Tigers didn't make it to Murfreesboro. The Tigers have won seven of their last 10 including, a sectional victory over Crockett County on the the road. The three losses in that stretch were all against Wooddale. 

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