Oak Ridge Today

Wildcats sweep Gibbs, but Butch Jones steals the show

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University of Tennessee Coach Butch Jones, left, watches the Oak Ridge Wildcats play basketball at home on Friday, Jan. 29, 2015. Tee Higgins, a junior guard, has committed to play football at UT. Higgins is a wide receiver. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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

The Oak Ridge Wildcats swept Gibbs at home on Friday, but University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones stole the show.

Although they couldn’t discuss why they were there, Jones and Zach Azzanni, UT wide receivers coach, were at Wildcat Arena on Friday to watch 6-foot-5 junior Tee Higgins. Besides playing basketball well, Higgins is also a wide receiver, defensive back, and kick returner who has committed to play football for the UT Volunteers. He was named Tennessee Titans Mr. Football in November, recognized as Back of the Year in Class 5A.

Jones and Azzanni also attended a Wildcats football game in the fall, when Oak Ridge beat Lenoir City 55-15 on September 18.

When Jones arrived at the basketball game on Friday, the excited student section—many of them dressed in Volunteer orange—began singing “It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol, I said, it’s great to be a Tennessee Vol!” [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats: Great first half, Hembry ‘stepped up huge’ in second

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Oak Ridge Coach Paige Green said sophomore Jasmine Hembry (42), with back to camera, “stepped up huge” for the Lady Wildcats in the second half of a 63-42 win over Powell at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats had a great first half, on both offense and defense, and sophomore Jasmine Hembry “stepped up huge” for Oak Ridge in the second half, Coach Paige Green said after a Thursday night 63-42 win over Powell.

“Offensively, we were strong,” Green said. “We took it to the defense.”

After a Tuesday night game against Anderson County, Green had said she wants her team to take shots or take the ball to the basket, even if players have their shots blocked or pick up an offensive charge.

“We’ve got to have the scoring mentality,” Green said then.

On Thursday, the Lady Wildcats (18-3, 12-0 District 3-AAA) appeared to respond. They led 36-17 at halftime, and they made 10 of 11 free throws in the first half. [Read more…]

Lady Mavericks keep it close, but Oak Ridge girls prevail, play Powell tonight

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Oak Ridge senior forward Caelyn Thompson (22) dribbles during a 48-40 win over Anderson County at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:15 p.m.

The Lady Mavericks kept it close, but the Lady Wildcats prevailed in a 48-40 win at home on Tuesday. Oak Ridge will play Powell tonight, also at home at Wildcat Arena.

Oak Ridge and Anderson County were tied 25-25 at halftime on Tuesday. The Lady Wildcats led 37-31 at the end of the third quarter, but the Lady Mavericks were able to narrow the lead to four points in the fourth quarter and keep it there for about a minute in the final 90 seconds.

The Lady Wildcats (17-3, 11-0 District 3-AAA) were able to widen the lead to eight points late in the game on four made free throws by sophomore post Mykia Dowdell and freshman point guard Jada Guinn in the last 34 seconds. Dowdell led Oak Ridge with 16 points during the game, and Guinn had 14.

The Lady Mavericks (8-15, 6-5) were led by freshman Brooklin McCoy, who scored a game-high 20 points. Senior Colebee Sumner added 12 for Anderson County. [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…]

Lady Wildcats now the only undefeated team in district after win over Cougars

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Oak Ridge freshman point guard Jada Guinn (24) led the Lady Wildcats with a game-high 14 points during a 47-31 win over Campbell County at home on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats are now the only undefeated team in District 3-AAA after beating Campbell County, which had also been undefeated, at home on Tuesday. The final score was 47-31.

Campbell County only scored two points in the second quarter, and Oak Ridge (14-3, 8-0) had a 22-9 halftime lead.

But the Lady Cougars outscored Oak Ridge by 14-9 in the third quarter to narrow the lead to eight points.

But the Lady Wildcats then held Campbell County (15-4, 7-1) scoreless for the first several minutes of the fourth quarter to widen the lead. [Read more…]

Wildcats, Lady Wildcats remain undefeated in district

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This photo is property of Allen Greene. Unauthorized use of this photo is not permitted without consent.

Oak Ridge Wildcats Coach Aaron Green is pictured above in the 2015 Arby’s Classic basketball tournament in Bristol on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015. (File photo by Allen Greene/TriCitiesSports.com)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats and Lady Wildcats both remain undefeated in the district after wins over Halls on Thursday, but both basketball teams have tough games coming up.

The Lady Wildcats (13-3, 7-0 District 3-AAA) beat Halls 37-28 at home on Tuesday in a low-scoring game that had been narrowed to a two-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

After the girls played, the boys went on to beat the Red Devils by 30 points in a blowout, 84-54.

The Lady Wildcats held the Lady Red Devils scoreless in the first quarter and had an 18-10 halftime lead. Oak Ridge led by four, 25-21, at the end of the third quarter, when Halls outscored the Lady Wildcats 11-7, and Oak Ridge played great defense in the fourth quarter. Junior Courtney Ellison made two free throws to clinch the win for the Lady Wildcats with 20 seconds left in the game, and freshman Jada Guinn and sophomore Mykia Dowdell also added from the free throw line. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats hold Karns scoreless in third quarter of 60-26 win

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Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34), shown here in a Dec. 30 game against Upperman, scored a game-high 18 points for the Lady Wildcats during a 60-26 win at Karns on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

KARNS—The Lady Wildcats held Karns scoreless in the third quarter of a 60-26 win over the Lady Beavers on Tuesday.

The game was closer at the end of the first quarter, which ended with Oak Ridge ahead 16-10. But the Lady Wildcats went on a 19-4 run in the second quarter, and the game was a blowout by midway through the third quarter.

Oak Ridge Coach Paige Green said the Lady Wildcats emphasized defense in the second half. They shut out the Lady Beavers in the third quarter and held Karns to 12 points in the fourth.

Sophomore post Mykia Dowdell, who already had 10 points early in the game, led Oak Ridge (12-3, 6-0 District 3-AAA) with 18 points. Freshman point guard Jada Guinn had 12.

Trinity Fisher of Karns scored 10 for the Lady Beavers (3-12, 2-5). [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats finish as runner-up in Lenoir City Christmas Tournament

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the 2015 Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, losing 51-40 to Upperman on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the 2015 Lenoir City Christmas Tournament, losing to Upperman 51-40 in the championship game on Wednesday.

It’s the first trophy or plaque her players have received, first-year coach Paige Green said.

“That in itself says something,” Green said. “It’s not what we wanted. But it’s progress.”

The Lady Wildcats Oak Ridge (11-3, 5-0 District 3-AAA) can play at a championship level, but they didn’t do it on Wednesday, she said. [Read more…]

With win over Sequoyah, Lady Wildcats advance to semifinals in Lenoir City Christmas Tournament

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Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34) had 15 points for the Lady Wildcats during a first-round quarterfinal game in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

LENOIR CITY—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats advanced to a semifinal game in the Lenoir City Christmas Tournament with a 49-29 win over Sequoyah on Monday.

Sophomore Mykia Dowdell led Oak Ridge (10-2, 5-0 District 3-AAA) with 15 points. Senior Caelyn Thompson scored eight, and junior Courtney Ellison and freshman Jada Guinn each added six. Nine players scored for the Lady Wildcats, who got off to an 8-0 start in the first quarter and never trailed.

Madi Haymes scored 10 for Sequoyah, a 6-8 Class AA team from Madisonville, and Bailee Lane and Haley Isbell had six each.

Oak Ridge will play Lenoir City (7-6, 1-3 District 4-AAA) in a seminal game in Lenoir City at 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 29. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Upperman-Stone Memorial game in a championship game at 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 30. [Read more…]

Dowdell leads Lady Wildcats with 18 in win over Science Hill

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Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell (34) led the Lady Wildcats with 18 points during a 49-32 win over Science Hill at home on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:17 a.m.

Oak Ridge sophomore post Mykia Dowdell led the Lady Wildcats with 18 points during a 49-32 win over Science Hill at home on Saturday.

The Oak Ridge defense held the Lady Hilltoppers to eight points in the first half, although the Lady Wildcats only managed to score 14 points of their own in the first two quarters.

But Oak Ridge (9-2, 5-0 District 3-AAA) scored twice as many points in the third quarter as Science Hill, 22-11, to take the win.

Lady Wildcats Coach Paige Green said she was a little frustrated at halftime with the low-scoring game. But on the other hand, the Oak Ridge defense had held the Lady Hilltoppers to just eight points, Green said.

“Our defense will be what will help us win games,” she said. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats defense shines in 42-34 win over Dobyns-Bennett

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Freshman point guard Jada Guinn (24) led Oak Ridge with 13 points during a 42-34 win over Dobyns-Bennett at Wildcat Arena on Friday, Dec. 18, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Lady Wildcats defense played its best game of the year as Oak Ridge beat Dobyns-Bennett 42-34 at home on Friday, Coach Paige Green said.

The Lady Wildcats missed 13 layups and 14 or 15 free throws, Green said. But, “we can fix layups and free throws,” Green said during the two-day Rick McGill Toyota Classic at Wildcat Arena.

The teams exchanged leads in the first half. Oak Ridge trailed 7-8 at the end of the first quarter, and the Lady Wildcats led 18-15 at halftime. Oak Ridge kept a narrow 28-26 lead through the third quarter after Dobyns-Bennett tied it at 24, but the Lady Wildcats outscored the Lady Indians 14-8 in the final quarter.

Freshman point guard Jada Guinn led Oak Ridge (8-2, 5-0 District 3-AAA) with 13 points, and she scored nine of those in the fourth quarter. [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…]