The McMinn Central Chargerettes took on the Loretto Mustangs in a TSSAA Class 2A state tournament quarterfinal at the Charles M. Murphy Athletic Center on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — McMinn Central coach Johnny Morgan had a couple heartfelt thoughts to share Wednesday afternoon following his team’s 59-48 loss to Loretto in the Class 2A state quarterfinals.
Foremost, he didn’t care for the officiating in the contest. Not at all.
Secondly, he announced his retirement as the girls’ basketball coach of the Chargerettes.
Loretto eliminated McMinn Central 59-48 from the state tournament, as McMinn Central (34-2) was whistled for 23 fouls — including five on Miss Basketball finalist and senior Karina Bystry and five more on starting senior guard Reagan Baker.
Baker didn’t even make it to the fourth quarter.
Bystry — the program’s all-time leading scorer — exited with 6 minutes and 32 seconds remaining. McMinn Central (34-2) trailed by just four points at that juncture despite an atypical offensive off night and the superfluous foul calls.
Nevertheless, Loretto (25-8) stretched its lead to 11 points over the next three minutes. McMinn Central never threatened to close the gap once Bystry was relegated to the bench.
She finished with 12 points on 1-for-10 shooting. She was 9 of 10 at the foul line.
“I never say anything about the officiating unless someone asks me about it. I just think that if that’s the best officials we got for a state tournament, then we just need to call off the sport,” Morgan said. “That may cost me a fine. It may cost me my job. I don’t know.
“But there was no excuse for the way the officials officiated. We were bad. We didn’t deserve to win. But there’s no excuse for what went on out there.”
Ally Weathers led Loretto with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Loretto shot 51.2 percent and had 15 foul calls.
McMinn Central shot 24.1 percent and had five players with three or more fouls.
Loretto will play Westview (31-1) in Friday’s semifinals.
SmartBank is the proud sponsor of 5Star Preps postseason basketball coverage.
MORGAN ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT
Just before the postgame press conference ended, Morgan was asked if he’d return for a 48th season at the helm.
He surprisingly answered. And said, he wouldn’t be back.
He finished his career with 1,107 wins against 397 losses. His 2011 team won a state title and he had five runner-ups (1997, 2004, 2010, 2015 and 2023).