<BillNo> <Sponsor> SENATE RESOLUTION 144 By Bailey SR0144 007191 - 1 - A RESOLUTION to honor and commend the Upperman Bees boys' basketball team upon winning the 2025 TSSAA Division I, Class 3A state championship. WHEREAS, it is fitting that this General Assembly should salute those student athletes who, through their extraordinary efforts, have distinguished themselves as true champions of whom we can all be proud; and WHEREAS, one such exemplary group of lads is the Bees boys' basketball team of Upperman High School in Baxter, whose members have proven themselves to be the fiercest of competitors and truly worthy of admiration by winning the 2025 TSSAA Division I, Class 3A state championship, the first such title in school history after eight previous state tournament appearances; and WHEREAS, entering regional competition as District 7 champions, Upperman defeated Lawrence County 58-53 in the quarterfinals and crushed Giles County 54-33 in their semifinal match-up before falling in the regional final; and WHEREAS, quickly rebounding in the sectional round, the Bees easily buzzed by Heritage 51-33 to punch their ticket for the Big Dance; and WHEREAS, poised for ultimate victory in the Class 3A state tournament at MTSU's Murphy Center, Upperman stung Hume-Fogg 54-40 in the quarterfinals and bested Greeneville 55-47 in the semifinal round to advance; and WHEREAS, in the final game, the Bees avenged their sole loss in regional play by taming the Tullahoma Wildcats 65-55 to claim the Gold Ball trophy that signifies a state champion and finish the 2024-2025 campaign with an outstanding 32-3 record; and - 2 - 007191 WHEREAS, the following young men made sweet championship honey as the Bees from Baxter: the Class 3A state tournament's Most Valuable Player, Ty Cobb; All-Tournament team selections, Bronzden Chaffin and Evan Huddleston; and contributing players, Jack Torrence, Branson Turnbow, Collier Bush, Colton Johnson, and John Sissom; and WHEREAS, Upperman's superb performance would not have been possible without the expert guidance of Head Coach Bobby McWilliams and his assistant coaches, Alan Asberry, Brian Johnson, and Austyn McWilliams, and the unfailing support of the players' families, their fans, and the close-knit Baxter community; and WHEREAS, the members of the Upperman boys' basketball team epitomize all that is good in today's student athletes, as they have achieved a premier level of success in competition while exhibiting the highest degree of character in all aspects of life; and WHEREAS, the perseverance, determination, work ethic, and talent of this group of young men not only made possible a championship but also surely bode well for their future success; and WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly find it appropriate to acknowledge and applaud the Upperman Bees for their outstanding season on the hardwood; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, that we honor and commend the Upperman Bees boys' basketball team upon winning the 2025 TSSAA Division I, Class 3A state championship and extend to them our best wishes for every continued success in all their future endeavors. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy.