Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge keeps it close, but Memphis East prevails in state semifinal

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Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10), who is 5-foot-9, drives around Memphis East sophomore center Malcolm Dandridge (35), who is 6-foot-8, during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats during a Class AAA boys' state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. Smith led Oak Ridge with 14 points and eight assists. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10), who is 5-foot-9, drives around Memphis East sophomore center Malcolm Dandridge (35), who is 6-foot-8, during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats during a Class AAA boys’ state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. Smith led Oak Ridge with 14 points and eight assists. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4 p.m. March 18.

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge kept it close, but Memphis East prevailed 63-60 in a state semifinal basketball game in Murfreesboro on Friday.

The season is over for the Wildcats (31-3). The Mustangs, last year’s Class AAA champion, move on to this year’s BlueCross Basketball Championship game against Southwind in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University on Saturday afternoon.

Oak Ridge, which started four seniors, led most of the first half against Memphis East (32-3), which is ranked number two in the nation, according to Wildcats Coach Aaron Green. The Mustangs, a tall team that started two sophomores and two juniors, took their first lead late in the second quarter on a three-point shot by senior Jayden Hardaway with 1:40 remaining in the half.

The two teams traded leads in the third quarter, and Oak Ridge led 44-43 at the end of three.

But Memphis East outscored Oak Ridge 20-16 in the fourth quarter to seal the win. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Wildcats at Class AAA boys’ quarterfinal

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OakRidge senior Tyshawn Young (4) led the Wildcats with 18 points and nine rebounds during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA boys' state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Young was 6-of-6 from the free throw line. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young (4) led the Wildcats with 18 points and nine rebounds during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA boys’ state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Young was 6-of-6 from the free throw line. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge beat Brentwood 53-45 in a state quarterfinal basketball game on Wednesday to advance to a semifinal game against Memphis East on Friday. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Harlem Ambassadors basketball show to benefit Habitat for Humanity

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Habitat for Humanity Harlem Ambassadors March 17 2017

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will host the Harlem Ambassadors basketball show at Oak Ridge High School on Friday evening. Oak Ridge firefighters have volunteered to be the opposing team.

The show is a benefit for Habitat for Humanity. It starts at 7 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Wildcat Arena.

“Please join us for an evening of entertainment, fun, and zany basketball,” organizers said. “The Ambassadors also bring the message ‘Stay in School, Stay off Drugs and Don’t be a Bully.'”

Tickets are only $5, and there will be plenty of food at the concession stand, organizers said. Advance tickets are available in Oak Ridge at TNBank at 401 South Illnois Avenue and at the Habitat ReStore at 105 Randolph Road. They can be purchased at the door on Friday night. [Read more…]

Photos: Oak Ridge beats Brentwood in state quarterfinal

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Oak Ridge senior E.J. Bush (2), who is playing again after a knee injury sidelined him for several months, drives against Brentwood during a 53-45 win for the Wildcats in a Class AAA boys' state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge senior E.J. Bush (2), who is playing again after a knee injury sidelined him for several months, drives against Brentwood during a 53-45 win for the Wildcats in a Class AAA boys’ state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge beat Brentwood 53-45 in a state quarterfinal basketball game on Wednesday to advance to a semifinal game against Memphis East on Friday. Here are photos from the quarterfinal game by Kindell Moore. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge beats Brentwood to advance to state semifinal

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Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5) had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5), shown going for a dunk here, had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:35 p.m. March 16.

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge beat Brentwood 53-45 in a state quarterfinal basketball game on Wednesday to advance to a semifinal game against Memphis East on Friday.

It’s the farthest the Wildcats have made it in the Class AAA state tournament since 2014, when they finished as state runner-up, losing 60-58 to Blackman.

Oak Ridge and Brentwood hadn’t played before. The Wednesday afternoon quarterfinal game in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro was the last of the four Class AAA games. It was the closest of those four games in the BlueCross Basketball Championships. Oak Ridge led by one point, 20-19, at halftime.

The Wildcats (31-2) were led by senior Tyshawn Young with 18 points and nine rebounds. Young was 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins, who has signed to play football at Clemson, had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two spectacular blocks, and a dunk on a lob pass, as well as another one after driving up the lane. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge leads Brentwood 20-19 at halftime of state quarterfinal

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Oak Ridge Basketball Camp Logo

Oak Ridge led Brentwood 20-19 at halftime of a Class AAA boys’ state quarterfinal game in Murfreesboro.

The Wildcats were led in the first half by senior Tyshawn Young with 10 points and six rebounds.

The Bruins were led by senior Kellen King with eight points.

The game remained close in the start of the second half, with the Wildcats ahead 35-32 with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter. [Read more…]

Officials break ground on multi-sport facility at Clinton High

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Officials break ground Monday, March 13, 2017, on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School. (Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner)

Officials break ground Monday, March 13, 2017, on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School. (Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner)

 

Officials broke ground Monday on the $1.6 million multi-sport facility at Clinton High School.

WYSH Radio in Clinton has posted pictures from the ceremony, which you can see here.

Clinton Dragons Football has also posted pictures, as well as a video. You can see them here.

WYSH Radio, an Oak Ridge Today news partner, has previously reported that the multi-sport facility design calls for a complete replacement of the aging Field House with a two-story structure that has a weight training area and an artificial surface practice field that can be used by the football team, the band, cheerleaders, and the dance team. An additional open area will host the wrestling and volleyball teams. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge man wins regional award for helping wounded, disabled vets

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Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner

Photo via WYSH Radio in Clinton, an Oak Ridge Today news partner

 

Information from WYSH Radio

Steve Brown of Oak Ridge has been named Tennessee Valley Region Volunteer of the Year by Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, or PHWFF, for wounded and disabled veterans. The region comprises the whole state of Tennessee.

Brown is a longtime leader of Trout Unlimited in Tennessee and of the Clinch River Chapter TU, a partner organization of the Knoxville program of PHWFF since its beginning in 2012. He serves as Tennessee’s representative to the National Leadership Council of Trout Unlimited.

In nominating Brown for the honor, Steve Thompson, Knoxville program lead and deputy regional coordinator for PHWFF, wrote: “Since the inception of the Knoxville program, there have been a few critical components to the success of the program. One of those components is Steve Brown. Since October of 2012 Steve has been to almost every single outing, class, meeting or get-together and has played a pivotal role in the healing of many of our veterans. Steve has always given of himself more than most and as a veteran himself is very relatable to all of our participants. [Read more…]

5K Run, Walk on May 5 a fundraiser to help fight cancer

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The American Cancer Society has announced the first 5K Run and Walk at a Relay For Life event in Anderson County in May.

The run and walk will take place on Friday, May 5, at 8 p.m. at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge. People ages 12 and up are invited to participate by either walking or running to help raise money in the quest to “create a world with less cancer by helping people get well and stay well, by finding cures, and by fighting back against cancer,” a press release said.

To register for this event, go to the website runsignup.com. You may locate the event by typing in Anderson County Twilight, which will take you to the event page. Individuals may support one of the local teams participating in Relay For Life or may create a team of their own.

“This is a great way to honor or remember someone you love whose life has been touched by cancer,” the press release said. [Read more…]

Wildcats open baseball season at home today

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The 2017 Oak Ridge Wildcats baseball team is pictured above. (Photo courtesy ORHS Baseball)

The 2017 Oak Ridge Wildcats baseball team is pictured above. (Photo courtesy ORHS Baseball)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats open the regular baseball season at home today (Monday, March 13) against Gatlinburg Pittman. The game has been moved up one hour to 4:30 p.m. to try to avoid incoming rain.

The Oak Ridge Baseball Complex Fields are off Wilberforce Avenue, which is off East Tulsa Road and behind the Hobby Lobby shopping center in central Oak Ridge.

See the varsity season schedule below: [Read more…]

Recreation and Parks announces spring indoor pool events

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department is offering several classes and events at the Civic Center’s indoor pool this spring, a press release said.

Spring Break Open Swim Extended Hours: First, to take full advantage of spring break, the indoor pool will operate on extended hours between Monday, March 13, and Friday, March 24. Open swim times are as follows:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ORCA Swim Team: Sign-ups for the Oak Ridge City Aquatics (ORCA) swim team are open through Tuesday, March 28, when the spring session begins. ORCA is open to anyone 5-18 years old and the only prerequisite is the ability to swim 25 yards unassisted. Practices are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. The swim team fee is $70 ($80 for those living outside of Oak Ridge). The season runs from March 28 through May 18.

Adult Swimming Lessons: Beginner and intermediate level adult swimmers are invited to enroll in a swim course that will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays between March 7 and March 23. Classes are scheduled between 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on those days.

Red Cross Swim Lessons: Red Cross Swim Lessons are also offered in two sessions this spring: [Read more…]

Hackworth, of Oliver Springs, named head softball coach at Roane State

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Jessie Hackworth

Jessie Hackworth

 

Jessica Hackworth has been named Roane State Community College’s head softball coach.

She had served as the interim coach. Hackworth succeeds Sue Niemi, who has taken a student services position at the college.

Hackworth, who is from Oliver Springs, was a Roane State assistant coach for five years. In addition to coaching duties, she organized remodeling of the softball locker room, ran fall tournaments, and worked closely with players to ensure their academic success. Roane State softball players have received numerous conference honors for their academic performance. [Read more…]