Oak Ridge Today

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 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…]

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…]

Lady Wildcats shut out Halls, advance to district soccer championship

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Lady Wildcats Zoe Van Hook and Halls on Oct. 13, 2015

Oak Ridge sophomore Zoe Van Hook (17) had two goals in the second half of a 10-0 shutout win over Halls during a District 3-AAA semifinal game at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015. Van Hook defends here against Halls junior Taylor Grabner (7). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge girls soccer team shut out Halls 10-0 at home on Tuesday, and the Lady Wildcats advance to the district championship game at Powell on Thursday. Win or lose, Oak Ridge is guaranteed a game in the Region 2-AAA tournament that starts Tuesday, Coach Jeff Trombly said.

Six Lady Wildcats scored against the Lady Red Devils on Tuesday. Senior Macy Barclay had three goals, and sophomore Zoe Van Hook and freshman Kate Hausladen each had two. Adding one goal each were senior Katie Welsh, junior Leah Scudder, and sophomore Alex Rouse.

Barclay also had two assists, both on the goals by Hausladen. Scudder, sophomore Katie Roach, and freshman Valerie Carter also had one assist each. [Read more…]

Powell sophomore scores three in 4-1 win over Oak Ridge

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Oak Ridge Alex Rouse and Powell Kaylin Shipley

Oak Ridge sophomore forward Alex Rouse (11) and Powell freshman defender Kaylin Shipley (3) battle for the ball in a 4-1 win for the Lady Panthers at Powell on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today) 

 

POWELL—Powell sophomore Raygan Scarbrough scored three goals, a hat trick, in a 4-1 win over Oak Ridge at Powell on Thursday.

The loss ended a 10-game winning streak for the Lady Wildcats, who are now 10-1 overall and 3-1 in District 3-Class AAA. It could have an impact on whether Oak Ridge gets home field advantage in the playoffs, Lady Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said.

It was also an important district victory for Powell (4-2-1, 2-0).

“It’s a huge win for us,” Powell Coach Mark Smith said. “It’s become a good rivalry between the two teams.”

He said Oak Ridge, Powell, and Karns have been the top three seeds in the district the past three years. [Read more…]

Lady Bobcats advance to state semifinals as Griffith sisters score 39

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Oliver Springs Lady Bobcats Emily Griffith and Riverside

Senior Emily Griffith (11) of Oliver Springs scored 14 points, and her twin sister Rachel Griffith led all scorers with 25 as the Lady Bobcats coasted to a 67-41 win over Riverside in a state tournament quarterfinal game in Murfreesboro on Friday. Also pictured is Riverside senior Bree Linton (24) and freshman Deidre McElrath (11). (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:15 p.m.

MURFREESBORO—Senior Rachel Griffith of Oliver Springs scored 25 points, and her twin sister Emily Griffith had 14 points and six assists as the Lady Bobcats coasted to a 67-41 win over Decatur County Riverside in a state Class A girls’ quarterfinal game in Murfreesboro on Friday.

“During tournament time, they really, really stepped it up and started playing at a different level,” Oliver Springs Coach Michelle Christopher said of the sisters, who are both 5-foot-5 senior guards. “They both played really big today.”

Rachel Griffith, who led all scorers, picked up 19 of her points in the second half, including on repeated trips to the free-throw line. Griffith shot seven of 11 from the field and was 10 of 13 from the line.

As a team, the Lady Bobcats shot 60 percent (22 of 37) from the field. Meanwhile, Riverside struggled at 25 percent (14 of 57). [Read more…]

Powell beats Lady Wildcats in overtime 60-54

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Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats Caelyn Thompson and Courtney Ellison

Oak Ridge junior Caelyn Thompson (22) had seven points during a district tournament semifinal game against Powell on Saturday, and sophomore Courtney Ellison, seen here behind Thompson, led all Lady Wildcats with 17, including three three-point shots. (Photo by Luther Simmons) 

 

Note: This story was last updated at 7:08 p.m.

KNOXVILLE—The Lady Wildcats took a one-point lead on a three-point shot by Princess Bates with nine seconds left, but Powell rallied in overtime to beat Oak Ridge 60-54 in a district tournament semifinal game in Knoxville on Saturday.

The Lady Wildcats, who have qualified for the Region 2 tournament, will play for third place in a consolation game against the loser of the Saturday afternoon game between Anderson County and Halls. The consolation game starts at 6 p.m. Monday at Central High School in Knoxville.

The Lady Wildcats led 27-22 at halftime and stayed on top for much of the second half, leading by as much as seven points. They got big momentum boosts from the three three-point shots of sophomore point guard/wing Courtney Ellison, who led Oak Ridge with 17 points, and three more from freshman wing/post Jasmine Hembry, who scored 12.

Bates, a freshman wing, and Caelyn Thompson, a junior post, each had seven.

Oak Ridge hit a total of eight three-point shots, for 24 points total.

“You hate it for them,” Oak Ridge Coach David Scott said of his team’s loss in the high-pressure game, undecided until the final seconds of the four-minute overtime. “They worked so hard.” [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…]