In battle of two undefeated teams, Oak Ridge emerges with win

 

JOHNSON CITY—Oak Ridge and Cleveland were both undefeated top-ranked teams before they played in Johnson City on Friday, and only the Wildcats remained undefeated afterward. Oak Ridge beat Cleveland 76-56 in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City.

The Wildcats are now 10-0 overall and 5-0 in District 3-AAA.

The Blue Raiders are now 11-1 overall and 4-0 in District 5-AAA.

Like the earlier girls’ game, the boys’ game was closer in the first half: 16-15 after the first quarter, and 32-30 at halftime. But Oak Ridge had a 20-6 run through most of the third quarter and an 8-0 run in the last part of the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats were led by senior E.J. Bush with 20 points. He might have scored more; Bush fouled out of the game about halfway through the fourth quarter.

Also credited with double-digit scoring for Oak Ridge were seniors Tajion Jones and Anthony Gibson, and Herbert Booker.

The Wildcats played without senior Tee Higgins, a Class AAA Mr. Basketball finalist from last season, reportedly because of an inflamed right shoulder.

Oak Ridge held Cleveland junior KK Curry, who averages 24.3 points per game, to 16.

The Wildcats play Science Hill in their second game of the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at 4 p.m. today (Saturday, December 17) at Science Hill.

The Hilltoppers (10-5, 2-0 District 1-AAA) made it to the Class AAA state quarterfinal basketball game in the 2015-2016 season, although Oak Ridge beat Science Hill 82-67 in the Rick McGill Toyota Classic at Wildcat Arena about one year ago. Gibson, who was then a junior, scored a personal-high 21 points during that game.

Science Hill lost 67-59 to defending Class AA champion Fulton (5-0, 2-0 District 3-AA) in another game at the Champion Chevrolet Shootout on Friday.

Here are a few more pictures by Robert Kell from the Friday night basketball game between Oak Ridge and Cleveland in Johnson City. The game was played at Science Hill High School.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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