Oakland Middle finishes fourth in state

The Chargers' season ends at 20-2 after consolation game loss to Mt. Juliet

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The Oakland Chargers middle school basketball team fell to Mt. Juliet 42-33 in the consolation game of the TSSAA Middle School State Championships, ending their season with a 20-2 record. The Golden Bears jumped out to an early lead and their length on defense bothered the Oakland guards, who struggled to get their offense going. Oakland was unable to overcome Mt. Juliet's strong second-half performance, led by 21 points from Hunter Hamilton.

Why it matters

The Oakland Chargers had a highly successful season, making it all the way to the state championships before falling short in the consolation game. While they didn't capture the state title, the team's deep playoff run and 20-win season are still impressive accomplishments that the community can be proud of.

The details

The Golden Bears jumped out to a 7-0 lead and extended it to 12-4 at the end of the first quarter. Mt. Juliet's length on defense gave the Oakland guards trouble, as they struggled to get around, pass, or shoot over the taller opponents. Oakland fell behind by double digits before halftime, and despite cutting the deficit to 5 points late in the game, they couldn't complete the comeback. Turnovers and poor free throw shooting (9-of-20) ultimately doomed the Chargers' chances.

  • The Oakland Chargers ended their season with a 20-2 record.
  • The consolation game was played at Rockvale High School.

The players

Oakland Chargers

The middle school basketball team from Oakland, Tennessee that made it to the state championships.

Mt. Juliet Golden Bears

The opposing team that defeated the Oakland Chargers 42-33 in the consolation game of the TSSAA Middle School State Championships.

Hunter Hamilton

A player for the Mt. Juliet Golden Bears who scored 21 points, 14 of which came in the second half to help his team hold off the Chargers.

Eric Moore

The head coach of the Oakland Chargers.

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What they’re saying

“Mt. Juliet is a long and athletic team and it took us a few minutes to figure out what we were going to do.”

— Eric Moore, Oakland Chargers Head Coach (mainstreetmediatn.com)

“You have to make your free throws on a big stage like this and we didn't make them.”

— Eric Moore, Oakland Chargers Head Coach (mainstreetmediatn.com)

The takeaway

While the Oakland Chargers fell short of the state championship, their impressive 20-win season and deep playoff run demonstrate the strength of the program and the dedication of the players and coaches. The team's experience at the state tournament will serve as valuable preparation for future seasons as they continue to build a winning basketball tradition.