Oak Ridge Today

Wildcats roll to victory at Campbell County; Lady Wildcats lose nail-biter

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Logo

JACKSBORO—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats and Wildcats made the long trip to Campbell County Tuesday night for their matchup against the Lady Cougars and Cougars. While the boys rolled to an easy 78-47 victory, the girls came up just short of beating the Lady Cougars, losing 47-46 in a nail-biter.

Lady Wildcats stunned by Lady Cougars

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats (15-9, 10-3 District 3-AAA) were beaten last night by the Campbell County Lady Cougars 47-46 in a game that had the entire crowd on edge. The Oak Ridge crowd really seemed to be after the officials all night, as they made many questionable calls in the game.

“Those refs were brutal,” said one fan. “It seemed they were out to get us.”

Controversial calls aside, the Lady Wildcats just couldn’t muster up enough at the end to come back for the victory. The loss marks the 16th time in the schools’ series history that Campbell County has been victorious over the Lady Wildcats. [Read more…]

Recreation, Parks Board to discuss upcoming year during Saturday work session

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Advisory Board will discuss its work plan for the upcoming year during a Saturday morning work session. The Board will also discuss ways it can work alongside the Recreation and Parks Department on long-range planning.

The work session starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, January 31, in the Club Room of the Oak Ridge Civic Center at 1403 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

For more information about the Recreation and Parks Department, call (865) 425-3450 or visit www.orrecparks.org for information on all of their programs.

Wildcats clinch district in rout of Anderson County

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Darel Middleton and Anderson County

Oak Ridge junior center Darel Middleton (33) had 14 points and a dunk as the Wildcats clinched the regular-season district championship in a 73-51 rout of Anderson County on Friday night, January 23. (Photos by Melissa Livesey)

 

Lady Wildcats overcome halftime deficit to upend Lady Mavericks

The Oak Ridge Wildcats clinched the regular-season district championship against Anderson County on Friday, and the Lady Wildcats continued their fight for first place. Both teams won their match-ups against Anderson County at home in Wildcat Arena.

Foul trouble was a main factor in both games, and the ability to overcome that played a major factor for Oak Ridge.

Girls’ team

The ladies were the first up to play, and they did not disappoint. The Lady Wildcats came back from a 12-point deficit at the half to win the game 43-39. A late three and some extra free throws by Oak Ridge proved to be the dagger for the Lady Mavericks.

Anderson County seemed to be all over the Lady Wildcats early. The Lady Mavericks jumped out to an early 16-10 lead after one quarter of play. Oak Ridge (15-8, 10-2 District 3-AAA) would then come out in the second quarter and score only four points. [Read more…]

Hike for Your Heart at Haw Ridge on Feb. 7

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Haw Ridge Park Parking Lot

Part of the Melton Lake Greenway is pictured above at the Haw Ridge Park parking lot.

 

Oak Ridge city and school officials will kick off Heart Health Month with a walk and hike at Haw Ridge Park on February 7.

Hike for Your Heart is a 4.2-mile walk with optional trail hiking included. It starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, February 7, and the public is invited. The walk and hike has been organized by the City of Oak Ridge Wellness Committee and Oak Ridge Coordinated School Health.

The walking path has varied elevations, a press release said. Walkers will leave the Haw Ridge parking area on Edgemoor Road promptly at 9 a.m. February 7. [Read more…]

Wildcats, Lady Wildcats edge Halls, set sights on first place

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Logo

The Lady Wildcats and Wildcats of Oak Ridge traveled to Halls on Tuesday to take on the Lady Red Devils and Red Devils. The crowd at Halls is always loud and troublesome for visiting teams, but both sets of Wildcats came out unscathed against their opponents. The victories helped solidify each team’s place at the top of the district leaderboard.

Girls’ Team

A strong first half defensively for the Lady Wildcats proved to be the difference-maker in the end. Oak Ridge would squeak by the Lady Red Devils of Halls by a score of 50-42.

The Lady Wildcats opened the game up with a 13-4 run before going on to finish the first quarter ahead 18-6. The second quarter was a low-scoring quarter for both teams, as the Lady Wildcats only put up 10 points compared to eight by Halls. The score was 28-14 at the half. [Read more…]

Photos: Wildcats blow out Powell 85-44

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Geevantay Gee and Powell Panthers

Junior point guard Geevantay Gee (12), who had a good first half, helped give the Wildcats a 43-29 halftime lead at Powell on Friday night. (Photos by Melissa Livesey)

 

All 12 Wildcats scored, and four Oak Ridge players finished in double digits during a 85-44 blowout win at Powell on Friday night.

The Panthers were shorthanded, playing without three injured starters. It was the second meeting between Oak Ridge (18-2, 10-0 District 3-AAA) and Powell (8-9, 5-6) this season.

The only two losses for the Wildcats this season have been to Georgia teams in the Chick-Fil-A Invitational at Tucker High School in Tucker, Georgia, after Christmas.

Earlier on Friday, the Lady Panthers (12-5, 9-2) beat the Lady Wildcats (13-8, 8-2) 43-22. Twenty-two points is the fourth-lowest total in Lady Wildcat history, according to broadcaster David Clary. Both of the Lady Wildcats’ district losses this season have been to the Lady Panthers.

Here are pictures of the Friday night boys’ game by Melissa Livesey. [Read more…]

Wildcats, Lady Wildcats extinguish Dragons

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Tee Higgins Dunk

Sophomore Tee Higgins (5) of Oak Ridge had two dunks in the first quarter and led the Wildcats with 14 points against the Clinton Dragons at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday. (Photos by Melissa Livesey)

 

Eleven miles is all that separates the bitter rivalry between the Oak Ridge Wildcats and the Clinton Dragons. However, since 1990 the rivalry has been nothing but Oak Ridge. For 57 straight games, Oak Ridge has bested Clinton on the basketball court, and Tuesday night was no different for the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats. Both teams went on to soundly defeat their opponents.

Girls’ game

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats were the first matchup of the night. Clinton’s players and coaches were pumped up before and during the entire game, and it was obvious that they had upset on the mind. However, thanks to a strong fourth quarter, the Lady Wildcats were able to defeat the Lady Dragons by a solid score of 65-54.

Clinton actually jumped out to an early lead on Oak Ridge. With a little less than 5:20 left in the first quarter, the Lady Dragons had an 8-1 lead. However, the Lady Wildcats fought back to a 10-8 lead thanks to a three-pointer by Jasmine Hembry with 3:51 left in the first quarter. Hembry would finish with 14 points, which was second on the team. After fighting back and forth, Oak Ridge would score a basket with :20 seconds left, and the score after one quarter was 15-13. [Read more…]

Family Day at the Civic Center on Valentines Day

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The Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks Department will host the Third Annual Family Day at the Civic Center on February 14 from noon to 4 p.m.

All activities except public swim and concessions will be free, a press release said. Concession items will include hot dogs, nachos, chips, juice, and soft drinks. A free cookie decorating activity will be offered.

Discounted public swim times, in 30-minute increments, will be offered for $1. Children 2 and under are free. The public swim is open to everyone and is scheduled at the indoor swimming pool from 12:30-1 p.m., 1:15-1:45 p.m., 2-2:30 p.m., and 2:45-3:15 p.m. [Read more…]

Three Wildcats named to All-State Football Team; Fox of AC also picked

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Oak Ridge Wildcats Brandon Bonds and Rhea County

Senior safety Brandon Bonds (81) and another Wildcat wrap up Rhea County running back Cody Bice on Blankenship Field on November 21, 2014. “The people that came before us never gave up, and we never give up,” Bonds said. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Three Oak Ridge Wildcats—Brandon Bonds, Tee Higgins, and Jemiah Hall—were named to the 2014 Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State Football Team.

Bonds is a senior wide receiver, safety, and punt returner. Higgins is a sophomore wide receiver. Hall is a senior cornerback. [Read more…]

OR, AC players compete in Kentucky-Tennessee Border Bowl

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Brandon Bonds Forced Fumble

Oak Ridge Wildcat Brandon Bonds (81) forces a fumble in the first half of the Kentucky-Tennessee National Guard Border Bowl in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on Saturday, January 10, 2015. (Photos by Melissa Livesey)

 

Four players from Oak Ridge High School and Anderson County High School participated in the Kentucky-Tennessee National Guard Border Bowl in Williamsburg, Kentucky, on Saturday.

Oak Ridge senior Brandon Bonds—who played safety, wide receiver, and punt returner for the Wildcats—forced a fumble during the first half and recovered a Kentucky fumble in the second, said Melissa Livesey of ORHS Dance Cat Boosters.

Besides Bonds, other players who were picked to play were ORHS senior offensive lineman Isaac Chapman (Chapman also played on the defensive line for the Wildcats, especially toward the end of the season); and senior running back Matt Fox and defensive end Josh Edwards, both of Anderson County High School. [Read more…]

Local cycling community riding this weekend in honor of Biegalski

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Michael Biegalski Memorial Road Ride

A memorial road ride honoring Michael Biegalski, an avid athlete and Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher, started Sunday morning near Whippoorwill Drive and Wisconsin Avenue.

 

Michael Biegalski

Michael Biegalski was an avid athlete and a research and development staff member at the Center for Nanophase Materials Science at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (Photo courtesy ORNL)

The local cycling community is having memorial rides this weekend in honor of Michael Biegalski, an avid athlete and Oak Ridge National Laboratory researcher who recently died in a tragic mountain biking accident at Haw Ridge.

On Saturday, top athletes from the community rode the North Boundary and Black Oak Ridge trails.

On Sunday, they’re riding the My Larry/Brushy Mountain “prison loop.” It’s a road ride. Like Saturday’s ride, it will depart from the Westwood neighborhood.

The rides are in memory of Michael, who competed in road, mountain, and cyclocross racing and was passionate about big climbs and endurance riding, Amy Biegalski said. [Read more…]

CHS offensive coordinator to take over Powell football program

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Information from WYSH Radio

Clinton High School football offensive coordinator Rodney Ellison has been named the new coach at Powell High School in Knoxville.

He previously was head coach at Wartburg for one season in 2011 before coming to Clinton, where he helped revitalize the Dragon program with an up-tempo, spread-style offense.