The 2025–26 basketball season will be remembered as one of the most successful in recent history for Horace Maynard Middle School, as both the boys and girls teams delivered strong performances throughout the regular season and into postseason play.Both squads finished the regular season as the No. 3 seed in their district, trailing only Maryville and Sevier County Junior High School. They carried that momentum into the District Tournament, hosted at Sevier County Junior High School.

The boys’ team faced a tough opening-round matchup against Clinton Middle School and came up just short in a tightly contested game. Despite the early exit, the season marked a major step forward, highlighted by a 16–5 regular season record and consistent improvement in the face of adversity and injuries.

Head coach Dustyn Copeland noted that injuries challenged the team from the very beginning, but the players embraced a true team-first mindset. “These boys bought into what it really means to be a team,” Copeland said. “They supported one another, competed hard every day, and embodied the idea that ‘iron sharpens iron.’ It was an incredibly enjoyable group to coach.”

Copeland also praised his coaching staff—Brad Merrill, Seth Bates, and Benji Harless—for their commitment to the players and the program, and expressed excitement about the future of Horace Maynard basketball.

The Lady Devils also made a strong postseason run. The girls opened tournament play with a first-round victory over Union Grove before falling in the second round to Sevier County Junior High School. Their finish stands as one of the best in recent memory.

Girls head coach Coach Cooper reflected positively on the season, calling it the best postseason finish since he took over the program. He credited the team’s work ethic and steady improvement, noting that the girls played hard all season and continued to get better as the year progressed.

With both teams earning high seeds, competing in the district tournament, and setting new benchmarks for success, the season served as a strong foundation for the future Horace Maynard basketball teams.