Class of 2024
1937 State Championship Basketball Team
Team
Basketball
Tennessee High School
1937
1937 State Championship Basketball Team (Tennessee High)
Coach Elmer Soloman’s Vikings brought home the first state title ever from Upper East Tennessee in 1937, besting Columbia in the championship game, 31-26.
The Vikings, who won the District title that season, finished with a 21-7 record. They also beat Rives (38-36) and Milan (28-26) in state tournament play.
Billy Furlow and Tommy Ingram were named to the All-State team.
J.C. Phipps, Kenneth Messerole, and Graham Vance also starred for the Vikings, who went on to win their first-ever state championship. Other team members included Cecil McClister, Hartsell Morrell, Jimmy Hawkins, and Tucker Smith. Soloman’s assistant coach was Irvin “Turtle” Talbert, and the manager was Fred Vance, Graham's dad, who was the mayor of Bristol at that time.