Aaron Green Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Basketball: Smith scores career-high 34 as Wildcats sweep Karns

Posted at 1:52 pm December 5, 2018
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Oak Ridge senior Marcus Smith (2) scored a career-high 34 points during an 82-65 win over Karns at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior guard Marcus Smith (2) scored a career-high 34 points during an 82-65 win over Karns at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior guard Marcus Smith scored a career-high 34 points as the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats swept Karns at home on Tuesday.

Smith also had eight rebounds and five assists during the 82-65 win over the Beavers at Wildcat Arena.

“I was really proud of Marcus,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

Eleven of his points were from the free throw line, where Smith was 11-of-15.

Oak Ridge senior guard JaVonte Thomas scored 18 points for the Wildcats (6-1, 3-0 District 3-AAA) and pulled down 10 rebounds. Senior guard Joe Kesterson added 10 points, with nine of those on three-point shots. Junior guard Isaiah Johnson scored eight, and sophomore forward Jeremy Miller had six points and 10 rebounds. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge eliminates Catholic in Region 2 quarterfinal

Posted at 11:24 am February 25, 2018
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The 2018 Region 2-AAA boys’ basketball tournament bracket.

Oak Ridge eliminated Catholic in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday.

The Wildcats (21-7) advanced to play Bearden (34-1) in a regional semifinal game at Bearden High School at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Oak Ridge was the District 3-AAA runner-up this year, and Bearden was the District 4 champion.

The winner of Tuesday’s semifinal will play in a state sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, and the Region 2-AAA championship at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Tuesday night semifinal is an elimination game, so the season will be over for the loser.

The other semifinal Tuesday is between Powell (20-10), the District 3 champion, and Maryville (25-6), the District 4 runner-up. It’s scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, just before the Oak Ridge-Bearden game. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge vs. Powell in boys’ district championship

Posted at 1:18 pm February 24, 2018
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Josh Woods of Powell (12) is pictured above during the 60-58 District 3-AAA championship win over Oak Ridge at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

HALLS—Oak Ridge hadn’t lost a district game in four years, but Powell ended the Wildcats’ long 70-game win streak during the district championship at Halls last week. The Panthers outscored the Wildcats 14-9 in the final quarter for a 60-58 upset victory to win the District 3-AAA basketball championship at Halls High School on Saturday, February 17.

Here are photos from the game.
[Read more…]

After district win streak ends at 70, Wildcats play Catholic on Saturday

Posted at 12:24 pm February 24, 2018
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Oak Ridge senior Seth Caldwell (4) dribbles near the basket during a 60-58 loss to Powell in the District 3-AAA championship at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 9:45 a.m. Feb. 25.

HALLS—Oak Ridge hadn’t lost a district game in four years, but Powell ended the Wildcats’ long 70-game win streak during the district championship at Halls last week.

It was a close game, and Oak Ridge (20-7) led after each of the first three quarters: 26-16 at the end of the first, 37-35 at the half, and 49-46 at the end of three.

But the Panthers (19-10) outscored the Wildcats 14-9 in the final quarter for a 60-58 upset victory to win the District 3-AAA basketball championship at Halls High School on Saturday, February 17.

The Wildcats missed 16 free throws, including 10 in the second half. That could have been the difference in the two-point game. Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said the missed free throws were uncharacteristic.

“It hurts to lose a game, especially a championship game,” Green said. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Anderson County district semifinal

Posted at 4:01 pm February 17, 2018
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Marcus Smith (2) of Oak Ridge during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Anderson County at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Behind him is Seth Caldwell (4). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

HALLS—The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play for a district championship against Powell at Halls tonight (Saturday, February 17). The Wildcats advanced to the title game by beating Anderson County 69-61 in a District 3-AAA semifinal game at Halls on Friday.

Here are photos from Friday’s game. We will try to add more photo captions as we can. [Read more…]

Wildcats play for district championship tonight

Posted at 3:56 pm February 17, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Levert Smith (5) of Oak Ridge during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Anderson County at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

HALLS—The Oak Ridge Wildcats will play for a district championship against Powell at Halls tonight (Saturday, February 17).

The Wildcats (20-6) advanced to the title game by beating Anderson County 69-61 in a District 3-AAA semifinal game at Halls on Friday.

Powell (18-10) made it to the championship game with a 75-45 win over Karns in the other boys’ district semifinal game on Friday.

The Wildcats and Panthers also played in the district championship game last year, when Oak Ridge won 86-58.

On Friday at Halls, the Oak Ridge gained a 16-2 lead over Anderson County (20-12) in the first four minutes of the district semifinal, but the Mavericks then scored nine straight points to keep it close. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge boys summer basketball camps this week, July

Posted at 11:27 am June 5, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge boys summer basketball camps are this week and again in July.

June 6-7—Oak Ridge High School Boys Shooting Camp (Grades K-8th), 5-8 p.m. ($60 pre-registered)
July 10-12—ORHS Boys Skills Camp (Grades K-8th), 1-4 p.m. ($85 pre-registered)

To register, contact Aaron Green at [email protected] or go to www.oakridgebasketball.net.

See this form for details: Oak Ridge Basketball Camp 2017.

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

Posted at 3:24 pm March 17, 2017
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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)

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…]

Cool under pressure, Jones, Gibson lead Wildcats to state

Posted at 8:58 pm March 6, 2017
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Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3), who scored a game-high 27 points, shoots from three-point range during a 90-60 win over David Crockett in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday, March 6, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m. March 7.

Cool under pressure, Oak Ridge seniors Tajion Jones and Anthony Gibson helped lead the Wildcats to the state Class AAA boys’ basketball tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

Jones, a Mr. Basketball finalist, scored a game-high 27 points during a 90-60 win over David Crockett in a sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday.

“Tonight, he showed why he’s a Mr. Basketball finalist,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

Though the team lineups aren’t exactly the same, it was somewhat of a rematch of last year’s sectional, also played at Wildcat Arena, when David Crockett eliminated Oak Ridge 73-70 in overtime. The sectionals determine which eight teams play in the state tournament.

This year’s game wasn’t close.

“We played really well,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. “This is not easy. It’s hard to get to the state tournament.” [Read more…]

Boys basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Bearden

Posted at 10:57 am March 3, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge sophomore Herbert Booker (14) shoots the basketball against Bearden sophomore Drew Pember (3) during an 86-73 win for the Wildcats in the Region 2-AAA basketball championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge sophomore Herbert Booker (14) shoots the basketball around Bearden sophomore Drew Pember (3) during an 86-73 win for the Wildcats in the Region 2-AAA basketball championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge beat a young, talented Bearden team 86-73 in the Region 2-AAA championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Wildcats win Region 2 championship two years in a row

Posted at 10:07 am March 3, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge beat a young, talented Bearden team 86-73 in the Region 2-AAA basketball championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2017. The team is pictured above with coaches, cheerleaders, and the student section. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones bounced back with 24 points and the Wildcats beat a young, talented Bearden team 86-73 in the Region 2-AAA championship at home on Thursday.

It’s the second consecutive regional championship for the Wildcats and their third in the past five years.

Oak Ridge (29-2) will now play David Crockett, the Region 1-AAA runner-up, in a sectional at Wildcat Arena at 7 p.m. Monday.

Bearden (21-9) will play at Science Hill, the Region 1 champion, in another sectional at 7 p.m. Monday.

The eight sectionals will determine which teams get to play in the Class AAA state basketball tournament from March 15-18 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said the Thursday night win over Bearden, which started four sophomores, was a collective effort. [Read more…]

Upchurch scores 25, but Maryville can’t stop Oak Ridge

Posted at 3:52 am March 1, 2017
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Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson (23) led the Wildcats with 13 points during a 46-43 win against Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal elimination game at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson (23) led the Wildcats with 13 points during a 46-43 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal elimination game at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Maryville senior guard Easton Upchurch scored 25 points and made seven three-point shots on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough to keep Oak Ridge from advancing to its fifth straight regional championship.

The Wildcats were held to their lowest offensive output of the season in the 46-43 Region 2-AAA semifinal win over the Rebels at Wildcat Arena. No Oak Ridge player scored more than 13, which is unusual.

Maryville Coach Mark Eldridge said Oak Ridge has better players than the Rebels, so his team tried to limit the number of possessions. More possessions mean the better team wins, Eldridge said.

The Wildcats probably had about half as many possessions as they normally do, Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. Maryville has guards who are good enough that the Rebels could run time off the clock—and they did.

“Sometimes you have to find ways to grind them out,” Green said. “Our guys haven’t had a lot of close games, and our guys kept their composure.”

Oak Ridge (28-2) advances to play Bearden (21-8) in the Region 2-AAA championship at Wildcat Arena at 7 p.m. Thursday. The season is over for Maryville (24-6). [Read more…]