Oak Ridge Today

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge and Powell

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Oak Ridge senior guard Geevantay Gee (12) had nine points and eight assists during a 78-61 win over Powell on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Gee is guarded here by Powell senior Charlie Richards (23). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

POWELL—Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones led the undefeated Wildcats to a 78-61 win at Powell on Tuesday with five three-point shots and 22 points total. Here are pictures by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today.

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Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones (3) hit five three-point shots and scored 22 points during a 78-61 win at Powell on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

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Jones leads Wildcats to win with five 3-pointers, 22 points at Powell

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Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones (3) hit five three-point shots and scored 22 points during a 78-61 win at Powell on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

POWELL—Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones led the undefeated Wildcats to a 78-61 win at Powell on Tuesday with five three-point shots and 22 points total.

“He’s shooting it well,” Wildcats Coach Aaron Green said of Jones.

Oak Ridge, which got into foul trouble, led by as much as 19 points in the second quarter, but Powell narrowed the lead to seven with about four minutes left in the game.

“I was proud of the way they (the Panthers) fought in the second half,” Powell Coach Gary Barnes said. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats end seven-game losing streak to Powell with 55-43 win

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Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34) scored a game-high 21 points for the Lady Wildcats during a 55-43 win at Powell on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

POWELL—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats ended a seven-game losing streak to Powell with a 55-43 win over the Lady Panthers on Tuesday.

Oak Ridge was led by sophomore Mykia Dowdell, who tied her season high of 21 points. Dowdell got off to a hot start, scoring eight points in the first quarter.

Lady Wildcats Coach Paige Green said the girls played four quarters of basketball and kept their composure, even when Powell narrowed the lead. The score at halftime was 27-24, but Oak Ridge (5-2, 3-0 District 3-AAA) was able to widen it in the second half.

“Our defense was huge in the fourth quarter,” Green said. The Lady Wildcats were also able to get the ball inside to Dowdell and attack the rim, she said. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge and Central

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Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5) scored 15 points for the Wildcats in a 94-66 win over Central at home on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats beat the Central Bobcats 94-66 at Wildcat Arena on Friday. The Wildcats are now 9-0 and will play at Powell on Tuesday.

Here are photos from the Friday night game by Julio Culiat.

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Oak Ridge senior guard Geevantay Gee (12) had 10 assists for the Wildcats during a 94-66 win over Central at home on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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Playing for team, Middleton scores 18, rebounds 15 in blowout over Central

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Playing for his team, senior post Darel Middleton (33) had one of his best games as an Oak Ridge Wildcat, scoring 18 points and picking up 15 rebounds during a 94-66 win over Central on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:30 p.m.

Playing for his team, senior Darel Middleton had one of his best games as an Oak Ridge Wildcat, scoring 18 points and picking up 15 rebounds during a 94-66 win over Central on Friday.

It was the most memorable performance by Middleton, a 6-foot-6 post, since he scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds against Memphis East in the state quarterfinal game in March.

“I just felt like I owed my team,” said Middleton, who said he’s gotten into a little trouble this year. “I gave them my all tonight and from now on.”

Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said Middleton is playing a lot harder this year than he did last year.

“He played well,” Green said. “He’s been playing well.” [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats lose lead in final seconds, falling to Farragut 32-31

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Oak Ridge sophmore Mykia Dowdell (34) led the Lady Wildcats with a game-high 16 points in a 32-31 loss to Farragut at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge had the basketball and a one-point lead with 13.4 seconds to go. But the Lady Wildcats struggled to get the ball inbounds in their own end, and Farragut regained possession on a jump ball. The Lady Admirals quickly scored on a layup by senior Miranda Burt to take a one-point lead with about six seconds left.

Oak Ridge was unable to score again, and the Lady Wildcats lost to the Lady Admirals 32-31 at Wildcat Arena on Thursday. It’s the second loss to Farragut in the past two weeks. But this game was closer than the earlier match on Monday, November 23, when Oak Ridge fell to the Lady Admirals 52-39.

The Lady Wildcats (3-2, 1-0 District 3-AAA) had six turnovers in the first quarter on Thursday but were only behind by two, 7-5, after a low-scoring first quarter. The Wildcats came back in the second quarter and took a 16-11 halftime lead. [Read more…]

Clark Center Park, Bull Bluff Road tree removal work was postponed this week

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Clark Center Park Picnic Area

A plan to temporarily close Clark Center Park and Bull Bluff Road in Oak Ridge on Monday, Nov. 30, and on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, for tree removal was postponed due to weather. (File photo)

 

A plan to temporarily close Clark Center Park and Bull Bluff Road in Oak Ridge on Monday, November 30, and on Tuesday, December 1, for tree removal was postponed due to weather, officials said.

The U.S. Department of Energy Oak Ridge Office had identified the trees as potential safety hazards for travelers and visitors on the road and throughout Clark Center Park.

But the tree removal was delayed by rain.

“The temporary closure for the tree removal work will resume once the weather clears in the near future, and the public will be advised at that time,” a press release said.

Copyright 2015 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Higgins, only the second Mr. Football from OR, on Ch. 12 Locker Room tonight

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Some of the winners of the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football awards for 16 backs and linemen in eight classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association are pictured above at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins is wearing a Tennessee Titans jersey with the number 5 on it. (Photo by Martin McDonald)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:25 p.m.

Tee Higgins, who is only the second Mr. Football from Oak Ridge, will be on The Locker Room Chat on BBB-TV, Comcast Channel 12, at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday, December 2).

Higgins, a 6-foot-5 junior at Oak Ridge High School who plays football and basketball, won a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award during a luncheon at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Monday. He was named Back of the Year in Class 5A.

There have been other Mr. Football finalists from Oak Ridge, but only won other player has won the award. Greg Woofter won the Lineman award in 1998, according to broadcaster David Clary of Prepradio.com.

The last finalist that didn’t win was Spencer Gulmire in 2005, Clary said. [Read more…]

Five Wildcats score 10 or more in 85-51 win over Clinton

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Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones (3) led the Wildcats with 22 points in an 85-51 win over Clinton at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Five Wildcats scored 10 points or more as Oak Ridge beat Clinton 85-51 in the first district game of the basketball season on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (8-0, 1-0 District 3-AAA) were led by junior Tajion Jones, who scored 22 points, including on four three-pointers. Jones also had three rebounds.

Junior Tee Higgins, who was named most valuable player in a basketball tournament in the Bahamas on Thanksgiving weekend and was named Mr. Football in Class 5A in Tennessee two days later, on Monday, finished with 16 points. Higgins knocked down three three-pointers in the third quarter, and he also had five rebounds and six assists.

Oak Ridge hit nine three-point shots, compared to one for Clinton. That’s a difference of 24 points. [Read more…]

Higgins wins Mr. Football award in Class 5A

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Oak Ridge High School junior Tee Higgins, second from left, was named Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Back of the Year in Class 5A during a luncheon at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Monday, Nov. 30, 2015. Higgins is pictured above with ORHS Athletic Director Mike Mullins, left, and Wildcats Coach Joe Gaddis and Receivers Coach Kwayu Graham. (Photo by Martin McDonald)

 

Note: This story was updated at 3:30 p.m.

Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins won a Tennessee Titans Mr. Football award during a luncheon at Nissan Stadium in Nashville on Monday. Higgins was named Back of the Year in Class 5A.

The other Class 5A Back of the Year finalist was Nate Johnson of Independence High School, which is coached by former Oak Ridge Coach Scott Blade. The Wildcats are now coached by Joe Gaddis.

Higgins is a wide receiver, punt returner, and defensive back, and a star playmaker for the Wildcats. He had 46 catches for 841 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. He also had a punt return and an interception for a touchdown, and another interception and some big punt and kickoff returns.

Higgins, who has committed to the University of Tennessee, also plays basketball, and he was named the most valuable player at the 17th Annual Tabernacle Baptist Christian Academy Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament last week. [Read more…]

Wildcats win Tabernacle Baptist Thanksgiving championship in Bahamas

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats, pictured above with their coaches, won the Tabernacle Baptist Thanksgiving championship game in the Bahamas on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015, beating the home team, St. Georges Jaguars, 69-54. (Photo courtesy Paige Green)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:05 a.m.

During their second trip to the Bahamas, the Oak Ridge Wildcats won the Tabernacle Baptist Thanksgiving Tournament championship game on Saturday, beating the home team, St. Georges Jaguars, 69-54.

It was the first championship for the Wildcats in the tournament. The boys basketball team also played in the Tabernacle Christian Academy Invitational Tournament in 2013, when they finished 3-2, said broadcaster David Clary of Prepradio.com.

This year, the Wildcats finished 5-0 in the Bahamas.

Junior Tee Higgins was named the most valuable player of the tournament. Higgins drilled four three-pointers and finished with 25 points, according to Grandbahamasports.com. [Read more…]

Three Wildcats, Thackerson named to East-West All-Stars roster

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Oak Ridge Alex Alcorn and Soddy Daisy Justin Cooke Nov. 5, 2015

Oak Ridge senior defensive end Alex Alcorn (66) pursues Soddy Daisy junior quarterback Justin Cooke during a 45-33 win for the Wildcats in a first-round Class 5A playoff game on Blankenship Field on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Three Oak Ridge Wildcats and players from Clinton, Karns, Farragut, and Sevier County have been named to the East All-Stars roster for the 2015 Toyota East vs. West Tennessee All-Star Classic.

The Oak Ridge players are Alex Alcorn (offensive guard), Davon Middleton (cornerback), and Brandon Nickle (kicker).

Tyler Thackerson of Clinton and Deuce Wallace of Sevier County were named quarterbacks for the East.

The game is for seniors only. [Read more…]