The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the championship game in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic basketball tournament, beating Jefferson County 49-36 at Greeneville on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was updated at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 30.
GREENEVILLE—After finishing second the past two years, the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the championship game in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic basketball tournament in Greeneville on Saturday, beating Jefferson County 49-36.
It’s the sixth time Oak Ridge (15-2, 3-1 District 3-AAA) has won the title in 10 appearances in the tournament final. The Lady Wildcats have been runner-up four times, including in 2016 and 2017, when they lost to Bradley Central. Oak Ridge’s last championship win in the tournament was in 2002.
The team didn’t want to settle for second place again this year.
“When you want to play for championships, you want to win championships,” Oak Ridge Coach Paige Redman said.
It was the second championship win for Oak Ridge in about a week. The Lady Wildcats won their division championship in the Nike Tournament of Champions in Phoenix on Saturday, December 22.
Oak Ridge senior guard Jada Guinn was named the most valuable player of both tournaments.
Guinn and Oak Ridge junior Bri Dunbar, who was named to the All-Tournament team in Greenville, led all scorers with 15 points each on Saturday. Guinn also had nine rebounds, four assists, and four steals.
Nine of Guinn’s 15 points were in the fourth quarter, when Oak Ridge widened its lead after Jefferson County had narrowed it. Twelve of Dunbar’s 15 points were from three-point shots.
Oak Ridge senior Shatyrah Copeland had a double-double: 13 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore Khamari Mitchell-Steen added six points, and she also had three steals and two assists.
Redman said the first quarter was important in setting the tone for the game. The Lady Wildcats jumped out to an 11-0 lead in the first quarter, and the defense held the Lady Patriots scoreless until the end of those first eight minutes, when Jefferson County finally got on the scoreboard with two free throws by junior Kadin Johnson.
Oak Ridge led the entire game. But Jefferson County (12-5, 3-1 District 2-AAA) generally kept the Oak Ridge lead to about 11 points or fewer, and the Lady Patriots narrowed it to four points (33-29) at the end of the third quarter.
Redman said the Lady Wildcats, who have played eight games in 11 days, slowed down in the third quarter and weren’t as aggressive offensively. Oak Ridge outscored Jefferson County 11-2 in the first quarter, and the two teams both scored 12 points in the second quarter. Then, the Lady Patriots outscored the Lady Wildcats 15-10 in the third quarter.
But Oak Ridge increased its lead in the fourth quarter, outscoring Jefferson County 16-7 and widening the Lady Wildcats’ margin to 15 points with 2:23 remaining.
Redman said she was proud of the team’s mental and physical toughness. After four games in a row this week, the girls had to be mentally tough, she said.
Oak Ridge senior Jada Guinn (24) was named most valuable player and junior Bri Dunbar (12) was named to the All-Tournament team after a 49-36 championship win over Jefferson County in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greenville on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Dunbar shot the ball well, and Guinn sets the tone, allowing others to play off her, Redman said.
She said Copeland has had several double-doubles this year and been consistent on the boards. Copeland is having a great senior season, Redman said.
Jefferson County had no players in double digits. The team’s leading scorers were junior Makayla Alvey and freshman Kali McMahan with eight points each. Junior Cayla Smith, who made two three-point shots, added seven for the Lady Patriots.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
See our previous story on the Lady Wildcats here.
Oak Ridge senior guard Jada Guinn (24) scored 15 points during a 49-36 championship win over Jefferson County in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greenville on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge senior Shatyrah Copeland (22) scored 13 points during a 49-36 championship win over Jefferson County in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greenville on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge sophomore Khamari Mitchell-Steen (2) scored six points during a 49-36 championship win over Jefferson County in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greenville on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Junior Taliah Davis (5) of Oak Ridge passes the basketball during a 49-36 championship win over Jefferson County in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greenville on Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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