Oak Ridge Today

Lady Wildcats hold Karns scoreless in third quarter of 60-26 win

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Dowdell-Dec-30-2015

Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34), shown here in a Dec. 30 game against Upperman, scored a game-high 18 points for the Lady Wildcats during a 60-26 win at Karns on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

KARNS—The Lady Wildcats held Karns scoreless in the third quarter of a 60-26 win over the Lady Beavers on Tuesday.

The game was closer at the end of the first quarter, which ended with Oak Ridge ahead 16-10. But the Lady Wildcats went on a 19-4 run in the second quarter, and the game was a blowout by midway through the third quarter.

Oak Ridge Coach Paige Green said the Lady Wildcats emphasized defense in the second half. They shut out the Lady Beavers in the third quarter and held Karns to 12 points in the fourth.

Sophomore post Mykia Dowdell, who already had 10 points early in the game, led Oak Ridge (12-3, 6-0 District 3-AAA) with 18 points. Freshman point guard Jada Guinn had 12.

Trinity Fisher of Karns scored 10 for the Lady Beavers (3-12, 2-5). [Read more…]

Wildcats finish fifth in Arby’s Classic with win over Taylor County, Ky.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge senior point guard Geevantay Gee (12) dribbles during a 91-73 win over Taylor County for fifth place in the 2015 Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2015. (Photo by Allen Greene/TriCitiesSports.com)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats finished fifth in the 2015 Arby’s Classic basketball tournament with a 91-73 win over Taylor County, Kentucky, in Bristol on Thursday.

The Wildcats had been bumped into a consolation bracket in this year’s tournament after they lost to David Crockett of Jonesborough, 87-85, in a double-overtime second-round game on Tuesday. They advanced to the fifth-place game with a 56-54 win on Wednesday over North Mecklenburg of North Carolina, the 2014 Arby’s Classic champion.

Oak Ridge junior Anthony Gibson led the Wildcats (17-1, 5-0 District 3-AAA) with 22 points on Thursday and 100 percent shooting from the free throw line. Junior Tee Higgins added 20 points, and he pulled down eight rebounds and had five assists and two steals. He also got the crowd on its feet with two dunks in the second half.

The Wildcats had three other players in double digits: senior forward Javien Johnson with 17 points (seven rebounds, one assist); junior guard E.J. Bush with 13 (six rebounds, two blocks, one assist); and junior guard Tajion Jones with 12 (six rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal). [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats finish as runner-up in Lenoir City Christmas Tournament

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Lenoir-City-Christmas-Tournament-Runner-Up-Dec-30-2015

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the 2015 Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, losing 51-40 to Upperman on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the 2015 Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, losing to Upperman 51-40 in the championship game on Wednesday.

It’s the first trophy or plaque her players have received, first-year coach Paige Green said.

“That in itself says something,” Green said. “It’s not what we wanted. But it’s progress.”

The Lady Wildcats Oak Ridge (11-3, 5-0 District 3-AAA) can play at a championship level, but they didn’t do it on Wednesday, she said. [Read more…]

Wildcats beat 2014 Arby’s Classic champion to play for 5th place on Thursday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5) hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining to beat North Mecklenburg of North Carolina, 56-54, in the 2015 Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by Allen Greene / TriCitiesSports.com)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:25 a.m. Dec. 31.

Oak Ridge lost an Arby’s Classic tournament game on free throws on Tuesday, and then won one on free throws on Wednesday. The Wildcats beat last year’s Arby’s Classic champion on Wednesday to play for fifth place in Bristol on Thursday.

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds remaining to beat North Mecklenburg of North Carolina, 56-54, in the 2015 Arby’s Classic. North Mecklenburg was the champion in the 2014 Arby’s Classic.

Higgins, a University of Tennessee football commit who had a one-handed dunk early in the third quarter, finished with 11 points. Junior Tajion Jones, who had a three-pointer in each of the first three quarters, scored 11 for the Wildcats. Higgins pulled down five rebounds and had three assists, while Jones had four rebounds and a block. Senior Geevantay Gee had 10 points, two rebounds, and two assists for Oak Ridge.

Oak Ridge will play for fifth place in this year’s Arby’s Classic against the winner of a Wednesday afternoon game between Urspring, Germany, and Taylor County, Kentucky. (Thursday, December 31 update: Oak Ridge will play Taylor County.) The fifth-place game starts at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, December 31. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats play for championship in Lenoir City tournament on Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Nov-19-2015

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats basketball team will play for the championship in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament on Wednesday, December 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play for the championship in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament on Wednesday.

The Lady Wildcats advanced to the championship with a 50-37 win over Lenoir City (7-7, 1-3 District 4-AAA) on Tuesday.

The tournament championship game starts at 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 30, at Lenoir City High School. Oak Ridge (11-2, 5-0 District 3-AAA) will play Upperman of Baxter, Tennessee (14-2, 4-0 District 8-AA). [Read more…]

Wildcats lose to Pioneers in double-overtime game that features 30 three-pointers

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5) scored 25 points for the Wildcats in a double-overtime 87-85 quarterfinal loss to David Crockett in the 2015 Arby’s Classic basketball tournament in Bristol on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. (Photo by Allen Greene / TriCitiesSports.com)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:40 a.m. Dec. 30.

The Oak Ridge Wildcats lost their first basketball game of the season in a thrilling quarterfinal game that went into double overtime in the Arby’s Classic tournament in Bristol on Tuesday. It featured a combined 30 successful three-point shots. The final score was 87-85 in favor of the David Crockett Pioneers.

Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones had a game-high 28 points and was credited with seven three-pointers, while junior Tee Higgins had 25 points and hit six three-pointers. Jones hit four of his seven three-point shots in the first quarter. The 6-foot-4 guard also finished with seven rebounds and one assist, and the 6-foot-5 Higgins had five rebounds and two steals.

It was a personal best for Jones, both in terms of total points scored and made three-pointers.

The Wildcats (15-1, 5-0 District 3-AAA) had 14 three-point shots total, while David Crockett (12-2, 2-0 District 1-AAA) had 16. That tied the single-game record of 16 set by Memphis White Station in 2003. The 15-0 start for Oak Ridge was the best in school history.

Oak Ridge and David Crockett, two top Class AAA teams that received a standing ovation at halftime after a flurry of three-pointers, made 21 three-point shots in the first half alone and shot an incredible 68 percent from beyond the arc (21 of 31). In comparison, the two teams shot 60 percent or less from two-point range in the first half. [Read more…]

With win over Sequoyah, Lady Wildcats advance to semifinals in Lenoir City Christmas Tournament

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Dowdell-Sequoyah-Dec-28-2015

Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34) had 15 points for the Lady Wildcats during a first-round quarterfinal game in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LENOIR CITY—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats advanced to a semifinal game in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament with a 49-29 win over Sequoyah on Monday.

Sophomore Mykia Dowdell led Oak Ridge (10-2, 5-0 District 3-AAA) with 15 points. Senior Caelyn Thompson scored eight, and junior Courtney Ellison and freshman Jada Guinn each added six. Nine players scored for the Lady Wildcats, who got off to an 8-0 start in the first quarter and never trailed.

Madi Haymes scored 10 for Sequoyah, a 6-8 Class AA team from Madisonville, and Bailee Lane and Haley Isbell had six each.

Oak Ridge will play Lenoir City (7-6, 1-3 District 4-AAA) in a seminal game in Lenoir City at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 29. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Upperman-Stone Memorial game in a championship game at 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 30. [Read more…]

Wildcats wallop Dobyns-Bennett 81-35 in first round of Arby’s Classic

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tee-Higgins-Arbys-Classic-Dec-26-2015

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5) led the Wildcats with 15 points during a 81-35 opening-round rout of Dobyns-Bennett in the 2015 Arby’s Classic in Bristol on Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015. (Photo courtesy Heather Williams/WCYB-TV, Bristol, Va.)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12 a.m.

For the second time in less than two weeks, the Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Dobyns-Bennett Indians by more than 40 points.

The first time was at Wildcat Arena in the Rick McGill Toyota Classic on Friday, December 18, when Oak Ridge won 88-36.

The second time was on Saturday, December 26, when the undefeated Wildcats trounced the Indians 81-35 in the opening round of the 2015 Arby’s Classic basketball tournament at Tennessee High School in Bristol.

At 15-0, the Wildcats are off to their best start ever. [Read more…]

Sulack of CAK sets record with nine 3s at Arby’s Classic

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Isaiah-Sulack-CAK-Arbys-Classic-Dec-26-2015

Junior guard Isaiah Sulack (3) of Christian Academy of Knoxville set a single-game record with his nine three-point shots during the second game of the Arby’s Classic basketball tournament in Bristol on Saturday. (Photo courtesy CAK Boys Basketball)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:17 a.m.

Junior guard Isaiah Sulack of Christian Academy of Knoxville set a single-game record with his nine three-point shots during the second game of the Arby’s Classic basketball tournament in Bristol on Saturday.

CAK beat Tabernacle Baptist of the Bahamas 71-44 behind a barrage of three-pointers to advance to play Taylor County, Kentucky, on Monday. That game starts at 8:30 p.m. Monday at Tennessee High School in Bristol.

Sulack, a 6’2” guard, came off the bench in the play-in game and finished with 39 points for the Warriors, a 6-5 Class AA team. He had 26 at the half.

The previous record for three-point shots was eight. Sulack broke it halfway through the third quarter on Saturday. CAK finished with 13 three-pointers total. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats start play in Lenoir City Christmas Tournament on Monday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Lady-Wildcats-Nov-19-2015

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats basketball team will compete in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament starting Monday, December 28, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats basketball team will compete in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament starting Monday.

The tournament is scheduled from Monday, December 28, to Wednesday, December 30.

The Lady Wildcats (9-2, 5-0 District 3-AAA) will play their first game on at 4 p.m. Monday, taking on Sequoyah High School (6-6, 3-1 District 5-AA). [Read more…]

Wildcats play D-B in Arby’s Classic in Bristol tonight

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Wildcats-Basketball-Team-Nov-17-2015

The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play their first game in the Arby’s Classic basketball tournament in Bristol, Tenn., at 7 p.m. Saturday, December 26. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats play their first game in the 2015 Arby’s Classic basketball tournament in Bristol at 7 p.m. today (Saturday, December 26).

The first game for the Wildcats (14-0, 5-0 District 3-AAA) is against Dobyns-Bennett (2-7, 0-1 District 1-AAA). Oak Ridge beat the Indians 88-36 in Oak Ridge on Friday, December 18.

The winner and loser will both advance to games on Tuesday, December 29.

The 2015 Arby’s Classic, which is at Tennessee High School in Bristol, features 18 teams from four countries. [Read more…]

A spark for the Wildcats, Gibson scores personal high of 21 in win over Science Hill

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Wildcats-Gibson-Science-Hill-Dec-19-2015

Oak Ridge junior Anthony Gibson (14) scored a personal-high 21 points in an 82-67 win over Science Hill at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:35 a.m.

Oak Ridge junior Anthony Gibson scored a personal-high 21 points in an 82-67 win over Science Hill at Wildcat Arena on Saturday. Gibson also had five rebounds, four assists, and a steal for the undefeated Wildcats.

Oak Ridge led 50-32 at halftime against Science Hill on Saturday, but the Hilltoppers outscored the Wildcats 35-32 in the second half to narrow the lead. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the large first-half Wildcat lead.

“They’re a scrappy team,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said of the Hilltoppers. “They’ve got a good group. They play hard.”

Gibson, who hit three three-pointers, scored 10 of his points in the first quarter and 14 in the first half. His nickname is “Buckets,” and he showed why on Saturday.

“He’s a spark,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. [Read more…]