Oak Ridge Today

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

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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…]

Guinn scores 32, but Oak Ridge loses at Campbell County

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JACKSBORO—Oak Ridge senior guard Jada Guinn scored 32 points in a 49-48 loss at Campbell County on Friday night, a district basketball game that ended with a battle of free throws.

Guinn, who has signed to play basketball at Tennessee Tech, scored more points than the top two Lady Cougars combined. She had two-thirds of the Oak Ridge offense and made a crucial three-point shot with about 30 seconds remaining.

Campbell County was led by 6-foot-2 junior post Madison Brady, who scored 20 points. That included seven points in the close fourth quarter, when Brady was 5-of-6 from the free throw line.

Brady and Guinn each went to the free throw line three times in the final 38 seconds. Each made five of their six shots. It was another battle between the two teams that have finished in the top two spots in the district in each of the past three seasons. [Read more…]

Basketball: Wildcats, Lady Wildcats beat Halls in first district games

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats and Lady Wildcats won at Halls in their first district games of the season on Tuesday night.

The girls (2-0, 1-0 District 3-AAA) won the first game 77-49. In the second game, the boys (4-1, 1-0) defeated the Red Devils 81-34.

Oak Ridge senior guard Jada Guinn, who signed this month to play basketball at Tennessee Tech, led the Lady Wildcats with 29 points against the Lady Red Devils (1-4, 0-1).

It was the second game of the season for the girls. They won at Meigs County 56-38 in a non-district game on Tuesday, November 13. Guinn had 31 points, five assists, and four steals in that game.

The girls will play their second district game of the season at Campbell County (4-0, 1-0) on Friday. That game will start at 6 p.m. For the past three years, the Lady Wildcats and Lady Cougars have battled for the top two spots in their district, with Powell usually number three. [Read more…]

Basketball: Wildcats open season with wins at Meigs County

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats and Lady Wildcats opened the 2018-2019 season with wins in non-district games at Meigs County on Tuesday.

The boys won 72-27, and the girls won 56-38.

It was the first time the Oak Ridge and Meigs County boys teams have played against each other, according to broadcaster David Clary of Prepradio.com. The girls last met in 1994. [Read more…]

Basketball: Lady Wildcats’ season ends at Daniel Boone

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In this photo from 2017, Oak Ridge's Desiree Bates (20), who is now a senior, plays defense against Daniel Boone's Macie Culbertson (4), who is also now a senior, during a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4. Culbertson led the Lady Trailblazers with a game-high 25 points during a 62-51 win over the Lady Wildcats in this year's Class AAA sectional, which was played at Daniel Boone on Saturday, March 8, 2018. (File photo by Luther Simmons)

In this photo from last year, Oak Ridge’s Desiree Bates (20), who is now a senior, plays defense against Daniel Boone’s Macie Culbertson (4), who is also now a senior, during a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4, 2017. In this year’s sectional, Culbertson led the Lady Trailblazers with a game-high 25 points during a 62-51 win over the Lady Wildcats at Daniel Boone on Saturday, March 8, 2018. (File photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats’ basketball season ended Saturday with a 62-51 loss at Daniel Boone High School in a Class AAA sectional game. The eight sectional games across Tennessee determine which eight teams go to the state tournament in Murfreesboro this week.

It was the last high school game for five talented, experienced Oak Ridge seniors: Desiree Bates, Destiny Kassner, Jaymi Golden, Mykia Dowdell, and Terrika Dean. They are part of a team that finished as Class AAA state runner-up in 2016 and made it to a state quarterfinal last year.

“This will be the biggest hit that we’ve taken,” Paige Redman, who has coached the Oak Ridge girls for three seasons, told broadcaster David Clary at Prepradio.com. “This was the group that we started with.”

Oak Ridge (25-7) advanced to the 2017 state tournament last year by beating Daniel Boone 61-44 in a sectional game at Wildcat Arena—after trailing early and being tied 20-20 at halftime.

In this year’s rematch in Gray, which is in upper East Tennessee, the two teams traded leads six times, and they were tied three times.

The Lady Trailblazers took the lead for good, 51-49, on a three-point shot late in the fourth quarter. [Read more…]

Second in region, Lady Wildcats play for chance to go to state tonight

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up in a 57-45 loss at Bearden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. The girls will play in a sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, at Daniel Boone in upper East Tennessee on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up in a 57-45 loss at Bearden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. The girls will play in a sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, at Daniel Boone in upper East Tennessee on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

BEARDEN—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the regional basketball tournament at Bearden on Wednesday, and they will play in a sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, at Daniel Boone in upper East Tennessee this evening (Saturday, March 3).

The runner-up in Region 2-AAA (Oak Ridge) plays at the winner of Region 1-AAA (Daniel Boone). The runner-up in Region 1-AAA (Jefferson County) plays at the winner of Region 2-AAA (Bearden). The games start at 7 p.m.

The eight girls’ teams that win in the Class AAA sectionals in Tennessee will advance to the state basketball tournament at Middle State State University in Murfreesboro on Wednesday.

Tonight’s game is the first sectional game on the road for the Lady Wildcats since 2005 at Greeneville, according to broadcaster David Clary. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats eliminate Hardin Valley

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Oak Ridge senior Jaymi Golden (32) is pictured above during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Jaymi Golden (32) is pictured above during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2 p.m. Feb. 24.

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats eliminated Hardin Valley 55-39 in the first round of the Region 2-AAA tournament at Wildcat Arena on Friday.

Oak Ridge (24-5) was led by senior Jaymi Golden with 16 points, including 12 in the first half, and junior Jada Guinn, who also scored 16. Senior Mykia Dowdell had 11. Senior Desiree Bates, who scored four points, also had at least three rebounds and three steals.

The Lady Hawks (22-8) were led by senior Abbey Cornelius with 15 points. Junior Kiara Inman added seven. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge vs. Campbell County in girls’ district championship

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Oak Ridge pulled away from Campbell County in the second half to win its third straight district championship, 60-38, in the girls' basketball tournament at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. Oak Ridge junior Jada Guinn (24), who was named most valuable player of the tournament, led in scoring with 23 points. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge pulled away from Campbell County in the second half to win its third straight district championship, 60-38, in the girls’ basketball tournament at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. Oak Ridge junior Jada Guinn (24), who was named most valuable player of the tournament, led in scoring with 23 points. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

HALLS—Oak Ridge pulled away from Campbell County in the second half to win its third straight district championship in the girls’ basketball tournament at Halls on Saturday. They Lady Wildcats beat the Lady Cougars 60-38.

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

Basketball: Lady Wildcats win third straight district championship

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the District 3-AAA basketball tournament championship for the third year in a row with a 60-38 victory over Campbell County at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the District 3-AAA basketball tournament championship for the third year in a row with a 60-38 victory over Campbell County at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 10 a.m. Feb. 25.

HALLS—Oak Ridge pulled away from Campbell County in the second half to win its third straight district championship in the girls’ basketball tournament at Halls on Saturday.

The Lady Wildcats led by just six points, 25-19, at halftime in the District 3-AAA tournament championship. But they outscored the Lady Cougars 35-19 in the second half to beat Campbell County 60-38.

Oak Ridge junior Jada Guinn, who was named most valuable player of the tournament, led in scoring with 23 points. Twelve of those were in the fourth quarter.

Oak Ridge senior Mykia Dowdell added 17.

Campbell County junior Skylar Boshears, who scored 11 points for the Lady Cougars, was hurt less than a minute into the second half and had to be helped off the floor and into the locker room. But she was back in the game a few minutes later. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats will play in District 3 championship Saturday

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Oak Ridge senior Desiree Bates (20) scored 17 points for the Lady Wildcats in a 62-38 District 3-AAA semifinal win over Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Desiree Bates (20) scored 17 points for the Lady Wildcats in a 62-38 District 3-AAA semifinal win over Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

HALLS—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play in the District 3-AAA basketball tournament championship on Saturday. It’s the third year in a row that the girls have made it to the district championship.

On Friday at Halls, Oak Ridge advanced to the championship game by beating Powell 62-38 in a district tournament semifinal game after trailing 21-14 at halftime.

Oak Ridge was led by junior Jada Guinn with 18 points. Ten of those were in the first half, which was most of the Lady Wildcats’ offense in the first two quarters. Guinn shot 8-for-8 from the free throw line during the game.

Senior Desiree Bates scored 17. She had three three-point shots in the third quarter, when the Lady Wildcats outscored the Lady Panthers 30-8. [Read more…]

Turnovers, 31 points of Stewart hurt Oak Ridge in state quarterfinal loss

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats huddle with Coach Paige Redman during a December 31, 2016, game against Bradley Central in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greeneville. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:30 p.m.

Turnovers and the 31 points of Memphis Central junior Johne’ Stewart hurt Oak Ridge in a 74-63 quarterfinal loss in the Class AAA girls’ basketball tournament in Murfreesboro on Wednesday.

The season is over for the Lady Wildcats (30-4), who were the state Class AAA runner-up last year.

The Lady Warriors (29-7) move on to a state semifinal game in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University on Friday.

Oak Ridge had 21 turnovers in the quarterfinal, the first of the Class AAA BlueCross Basketball Championships on Wednesday. Memphis Central, a quick team that applied a lot of defensive pressure, scored 23 points off of Oak Ridge turnovers. [Read more…]

Photos: Lady Wildcats win Class AAA sectional over Daniel Boone

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Oak Ridge junior point guard Jaymi Golden (32) started the attack against Daniel Boone in the second half of a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4, 2017. Golden is defended here by Daniel Boone sophomore Bayleigh Carmichel (30). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior point guard Jaymi Golden (32) started the attack against Daniel Boone in the second half of a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4, 2017. Golden is defended here by Daniel Boone sophomore Bayleigh Carmichel (30). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats are going back to the state basketball tournament in Murfreesboro. It’s the second year in a row that the girls have made it to the Class AAA tournament. They made it there this year by beating Daniel Boone 61-44 in a sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday.

Here are photos from the Saturday night game by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]