Oak Ridge Today

Wildcats start soccer season with 4-0 win over Campbell County

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Oak Ridge senior forward Matt Warmbrod (5) scored Oak Ridge’s second goal during a 4-0 win over Campbell County at home on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats started the regular soccer season with a 4-0 win over Campbell County at home on Tuesday.

The Wildcats outshot the Cougars 20-2.

The Wildcats played four pre-season games, and senior Jose Rodriguez, the second-leading scorer last year, injured his ankle. But he should be back in a week or two, Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said.

Senior defender Blake Clowers also did not play Tuesday because of medical issues, Trombly said.

New to the team this year is senior Wildcats football player Matt Warmbrod, who primarily played linebacker. Warmbrod played up front for the Oak Ridge soccer team on Tuesday and scored one of the Wildcats’ four goals. Trombly said Warmbrod had played soccer until the eighth grade but then focused on football.

He had a busy night on Tuesday, picking up two shots and a goal in just the first half against Campbell County. Warmbrod had been a defender in soccer but converted to forward, Trombly said. [Read more…]

Powell gets more rebounds, but Wildcats get the win, going to Region 2 championship

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Powell had nine more rebounds than Oak Ridge and Coach Aaron Green wasn’t pleased with the defense, but the Wildcats battled to beat the Panthers for the fourth time this season, this time during a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. Pictured above are Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones (3) and Powell senior Conley Hamilton (34). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Powell had more rebounds and Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green wasn’t pleased with the defense, but the Wildcats prevailed over the Panthers in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game with help from the 32 points of juniors E.J. Bush and Tee Higgins.

The 53-48 win in a playoff elimination game at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday sends Oak Ridge (33-2) to the Region 2-AAA championship game on Thursday. Oak Ridge will face Karns (22-7) for the fourth time this season. The Wildcats have won the previous three contests.

Tuesday’s game was the fourth time that Oak Ridge battled Powell (22-11) this season. The Wildcats won all four matches, a difficult feat, Green said. Two of the wins were in the regular season, one was in the District 3-AAA tournament, and the last was in the Region 2-AAA tournament on Tuesday.

It’s hard to beat a team four straight times, Green said. The Tuesday night game was the closest of the four this year.

“I told the guys the last two days this is going to be a dog fight,” Green said. “This is the toughest game of the year.” [Read more…]

Farragut plays ‘stall ball,’ but Oak Ridge takes the Region 2 quarterfinal win

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Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson (11) celebrates during a 39-30 Region 2-AAA quarterfinal win over Farragut at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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

Farragut had this strategy coming into a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game against Oak Ridge on Saturday: Limit the number of possessions, shorten the game, keep the score low, and play as little defense as possible.

The goal: Hold the ball for two minutes at a time, or about one-fourth of an eight-minute quarter.

For a while, it worked. Oak Ridge (32-2) found itself in the unusual position of being down two points at halftime, 17-15. But the Wildcats, the District 3 champion, found a way to win in the second half and they eked out a 39-30 victory to advance to a Region 2-AAA semifinal against Powell at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday.

“I’m just proud of our guys for getting it done,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

The Farragut strategy bewildered, frustrated, and irritated Oak Ridge fans. Fans and players called it “keep away” or “stall ball.” It’s a strategy often used near the end of a half or quarter, maybe when there is a minute or so remaining and a team wants the last shot, but it’s generally not used throughout a game. [Read more…]

Higgins scores 20, Johnson named MVP as Wildcats win district championship

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats won the District 3-AAA championship in an 88-62 victory over Karns on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

CLINTON—Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins scored a game-high 20 points and senior Javien Johnson was named MVP as the Wildcats won the District 3-AAA championship in an 88-62 victory over Karns on Tuesday.

Coach Aaron Green said the Wildcats (31-2) had 13 offensive rebounds in just the first half. Junior E.J. Bush had a career-high 14 rebounds through both halves. Higgins had 12, including nine at the half, and Johnson pulled down eight.

“Rebounding was phenomenal,” Green said. “I thought we played really well, especially on defense in the first half.”

Johnson and junior Tajion Jones each scored 18 points for Oak Ridge. Bush added 10. Jones scored 13 of his 18 points in the third quarter.

Johnson, who has been playing with more intensity recently, said he knew he was capable of being named the most valuable player of the District 3-AAA tournament, which was played at Anderson County High School. [Read more…]

Photos: Oak Ridge, Powell, Karns in District 3-AAA boys semifinals

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Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins (5) scored 13 points and had five rebounds at halftime during a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge beat Powell 72-46 in a District 3-AAA semifinal game in Clinton on Saturday. Here are pictures from the game.

Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson scored a game-high 25 points as the Wildcats, the number one seed, advanced to play Karns, the number three seed, in the district championship at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Anderson County High School. The Wildcats prevailed in both regular-season games against the Beavers, the number three seed.

Karns rolled over Central 61-33 in the other district semifinal on Saturday.

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Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson (11) scored a game-high 25 points during a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

 

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Oak Ridge junior Tajion Jones (3) scored nine of his 11 points in the third quarter of a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

[Read more…]

Johnson scores 25 as Wildcats advance to district championship Tuesday against Karns

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Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson (11) scored a game-high 25 points during a 72-46 win over Powell in a District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:45 p.m.

CLINTON—Oak Ridge senior forward Javien Johnson scored a game-high 25 points in a 72-46 district tournament semifinal win over Powell on Saturday. The Wildcats advance to play Karns in the District 3-AAA championship on Tuesday.

The Wildcats (30-2) held the Panthers to six points in the first quarter and three points in the third on Saturday. But they allowed 21 points in the second.

“We quit guarding them in the second,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

But the Wildcats responded well in the second half and played better defense, Green said.

The District 3-AAA semifinal at Anderson County High School on Saturday was the third meeting this year between Oak Ridge and Powell (20-10). The Wildcats have won all three games. [Read more…]

Karns makes 14 three-point shots in win over Clinton, advances to play Central

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Karns sophomore K.J. Hawkins (3) scored a game-high 21 points during a 70-58 win over Clinton in a District 3-AAA tournament game on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:25 a.m.

CLINTON—Karns made 14 three-point shots and sophomore K.J. Hawkins scored 21 points in a 70-58 win over Clinton in the District 3-AAA tournament on Friday. Hawkins made five of the three-pointers for the Beavers.

Karns (19-6) hit eight three-point shots in the first half alone, compared to two for Clinton. The Beavers added six more in the second half.

Karns moves on to play Central (20-9) in a District 3-AAA semifinal game at Anderson County High School at 6 p.m. Saturday. The Beavers also secured a spot in the Region 2 tournament with their win over Clinton on Friday.

Besides Hawkins, Karns had three other players in double digits. Senior Devin Harper and Cartez Campbell both scored 14, and junior guard Taylor Everett added 11. [Read more…]

District 3-AAA tournament: Mavericks, Lady Mavs advance; Lady Dragons done

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Information from WYSH Radio

Day one of the District 3-AAA basketball tournament at Anderson County is in the books, and both the Mavericks and Lady Mavs survived and advanced on Tuesday.

The Lady Mavs got things started by rolling over Clinton 55-26 behind an 11-0 second-quarter scoring run and a 20-point, 14-rebound performance from Brooklin McCoy. Senior Klarissa Roberts also reached double figures for AC, scoring 13 points. Clinton shot only 17 percent from the field as their season ended despite nine points and eight rebounds from Kelley Wandell in her final game in Orange and Black.

Next up for the Lady Mavs will be a 6 p.m. Thursday game with Halls, which easily dispatched Central 47-17. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats hold Central to 11 points, a record low

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats basketball team, pictured above during an earlier game, held Central to 11 points on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats held Central to 11 points on Tuesday in a 64-11 win, a new record for least points allowed.

The previous record for least points allowed was 14, which is what the 1999 team allowed Alcoa, broadcaster David Clary said.

At 10-0, the Lady Wildcats remain undefeated atop District 3-AAA, and they have an overall record of 16-3. Central is last in the district at 0-9 and 2-16 overall.

The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats swept Clinton and Central in the past week. [Read more…]

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…]

Five Wildcats score goals in 7-1 win over Central

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Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats Zoe Van Hook and Central Bobcats

Oak Ridge sophomore Zoe Van Hook (17) just before scoring her second goal against Central in Knoxville on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, giving the Wildcats a 7-1 lead with about 28:30 remaining in the game. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:10 p.m. Sept. 2.

KNOXVILLE—Five Lady Wildcats scored goals in a 7-1 win over Central in Knoxville on Tuesday.

Oak Ridge dominated with 28 shots on goal, compared to three for the Lady Bobcats, and the Lady Wildcats kept the ball in the Central end of the field most of the game.

Sophomore Zoe Van Hook and freshman Kate Hausladen scored two goals each, and seniors Alex Allen and Macy Barclay each scored one and so did sophomore Chloe Nussbaum.

Van Hook, a midfielder, scored first for the Lady Wildcats (5-0), but forward Emily Wise quickly answered for Central (2-7), making the score 1-1 early in the game. The one goal for the Lady Bobcats ended a four-game shutout streak for Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats have fourth shutout, Hausladen has eight goals in two games

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Oak Ridge and Karns Soccer Leah Scudder and Ellie Brown

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats beat the Karns Lady Beavers 3-0 on Thursday. Among those pictured in red above are Wildcats Leah Scudder (22) and Ellie Brown (8). (Photo by Terri Blair)

 

The Lady Wildcats have four shutouts in their first four games, and freshman forward Kate Hausladen scored eight goals in two of them.

Oak Ridge beat Karns 3-0 on Thursday. Sophomore midfielder Zoe Van Hook scored two goals, and senior forward Macy Barclay scored one, Lady Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said.

He said Oak Ridge had most of the possession on Thursday and controlled most of the game.

“We were…very pleased with the results,” Trombly said.

The girls soccer team is now 4-0 overall and 3-0 in the district. [Read more…]