MURFREESBORO — MTSU's Murphy Center expected Whitehaven's arrival at the TSSAA basketball state tournament, the 23-game winning streak and the newly-minted Mr. Basketball winner in Taquez Butler.
The sudden sound of trumpets from the Tigers band ahead of the tipoff of Thursday's 4A quarterfinal vs. Independence certainly signaled their arrival, although coach Willie Kemp hoped for a sounder start on the court.
Nevertheless, Whitehaven defeated the defending champion Eagles 40-36 to advance to Friday night's semifinal vs. Oak Ridge at 8:45 p.m.
"That first half, that wasn't Whitehaven," Kemp said.
Indy's defense held Whitehaven (32-3) to their lowest point total of the season (the first under 50 points) and limited Butler to just two points in the first half via free throws.