Oak Ridge Today

Campbell County finishes first, Clinton second in Christmas basketball tournament

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

clinton-boys-basketball-campbell-county-dec-21-2016-6

Daraon Jones (10) led Clinton with 12 points during a 57-46 loss to Campbell County during the Don W. Lockard Christmas Invitational Championship at Clinton High School on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

CLINTON—Campbell County held off a second-half rally by Clinton to beat the Dragon 57-46 and win the championship at the Don W. Lockard Christmas Invitational basketball tournament on Wednesday. Clinton finished as runner-up.

The tournament began at Clinton High School on Monday, and it ended on Wednesday.

Wednesday started with the Campbell County boys (12-5, 2-3 District 3-AAA) erasing an early 13-point deficit to blow out Oakdale 77-52.

The afternoon session began with Clinton’s boys—resting many of their starters—holding off First Baptist Academy, or FBA, 70-62. [Read more…]

Basketball: Clinton girls finish as runner-up in Christmas tournament

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

clinton-girls-basketball-cumberland-gap-dec-20-2016-4

The Clinton Lady Dragons finished as runner-up in the Don W. Lockard Christmas Invitational basketball tournament in Clinton on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2016, losing to Cumberland Gap 57-17. Clinton was led by Kinley Martin (5), who scored 11 points. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

CLINTON—The Clinton Lady Dragons finished as runner-up in the Don W. Lockard Christmas Invitational basketball tournament last week.

Clinton (4-10, 2-3 District 3-AAA) was overwhelmed by Cumberland Gap in the girls’ championship game. The Lady Panthers took a 34-2 halftime lead on their way to a 57-17 triumph at Clinton High School on Wednesday.

The Lady Panthers (6-5, 1-2 District 2-Class AA) also defeated the Lady Dragons 71-37 earlier in the day. [Read more…]

Football photos II: Oak Ridge-Sevier County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-tee-higgins-td-dive-sevier-county-football-sept-23-2016

Oak Ridge senior wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) dives for a touchdown on a four-yard pass in the first quarter of a 42-10 win over Sevier County on Blankenship Field on Homecoming Night on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge jumped to a quick 35-0 first-quarter lead over Sevier County on Friday, and the Wildcats finished with a 42-10 win on Homecoming Night. Here is the second set of photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Football photos: Oak Ridge-Sevier County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

oak-ridge-wildcats-jordan-graham-run-sevier-county-sept-23-2016

Oak Ridge sophomore Jordan Graham (22) runs during a 42-10 win over Sevier County on Blankenship Field on Homecoming Night on Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge jumped to a quick 35-0 first-quarter lead over Sevier County on Friday, and the Wildcats finished with a 42-10 win on Homecoming Night. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Photos: Wildcats scrimmage against Heritage

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak-Ridge-Reedy-Heritage-Scrimmage-July-29-2016-Simmons-1

Oak Ridge rising sophomore quarterback Kevin Reedy (15) throws a pass during a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers at Blankenship Field on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats had a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers of Blount County at Blankenship Field on Friday. Here are photos by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today and contributor Luther Simmons.

See a story on the scrimmage here.

Oak-Ridge-Booker-Heritage-Scrimmage-July-29-2016

Oak Ridge rising sophomore quarterback Herbert Booker (13) runs during a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers at Blankenship Field on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak-Ridge-Booker-Heritage-Scimmage-July-29-2016-Simmons-1

Oak Ridge rising sophomore quarterback Herbert Booker (13) takes a snap during a scrimmage against the Heritage Mountaineers at Blankenship Field on Friday, July 29, 2016. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

[Read more…]

Headed to championship, Wildcats open up large 80-49 lead over Central

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Javien Johnson, Geevantay Gee, and DeAndre Gibson of Oak Ridge Wildcats

Javien Johnson (11), Geevantay Gee (12), and DeAndre Gibson (10) of Oak Ridge react to another three-pointer by sophomore Tajion Jones in the third quarter of a 80-49 win over the Central Bobcats in a district semifinal game in Knoxville on Saturday. Jones hit three three-pointers and scored 11 points in the third quarter. (Photo by Melissa Livesey)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 1:30 a.m. Feb. 15

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge opened up a large 80-49 lead over Central in the second half of a district semifinal game in Knoxville on Saturday, and the Wildcats will move on to play Karns in the district championship at Central on Tuesday.

The game had been closer at halftime, with Oak Ridge (25-2) ahead 35-27.

But the Wildcats’ defense improved in the third quarter, and Oak Ridge outscored Central 27-12. Sophomore shooting guard Tajion Jones came off the bench to knock down three three-pointers within about one minute in the third quarter to give Oak Ridge a 20-point lead at 56-36. [Read more…]

Fans ask for dunks, Mitchell gives them two

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Ted Mitchell of the Oak Ridge Wildcats Dunks Against Gibbs

All year, fans had been asking senior guard Ted Mitchell (4) of the Oak Ridge Wildcats to dunk the ball, and Tuesday night, he obliged. Mitchell dunked twice in his last regular-season home game at Wildcat Arena. (Photo by Melissa Livesey)

 

All year, fans have been asking Ted Mitchell to dunk it. On Tuesday, the senior gave the fans what they wanted—and more. He dunked the ball twice in his last regular-season home game at Wildcat Arena.

It was a dramatic finish in a high school career that included trips last year to the state championship game in basketball and the state quarterfinal game in football. The Wildcats’ basketball team finished first in District 3-AAA this year and will advance to the playoffs.

Mitchell, who has plans to play football in college, was the only senior to play for the Wildcats on either the boys’ or girls’ team at home on Senior Night against the Gibbs Eagles on Tuesday.

Here’s more on those games from freelance contributor Trenton Duffer:

Oak Ridge celebrates Senior Night with two victories over Gibbs

Tuesday night, the Oak Ridge Wildcats and Lady Wildcats celebrated Senior Night in the home finale at Wildcat Arena. However, only one senior would be playing his last game in the arena: Ted Mitchell. In some ways, it seemed like “Ted Mitchell Night,” as both sets of Wildcats rolled to easy victories over the Gibbs Eagles and Lady Eagles. Neither set of Eagles had the lead the entire night.

Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats Mykia Dowdell against Gibbs Eagles

Freshman Mykia Dowdell (34) had 15 points against the Gibbs Eagles on Tuesday at Wildcat Arena. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Lady Wildcats Stomp Lady Eagles

The Lady Wildcats (17-9, 12-3 District 3-AAA) were the first up to play, and they did not disappoint. The Lady Wildcats would go on to crush the Gibbs Lady Eagles (6-18, 5-10) by a score of 65-29. A one-two punch of offense and defense helped the Lady Wildcats walk away with this victory unscathed.

The first quarter was actually very close. Within the first 1:30, Oak Ridge jumped out to an 11-2 lead before the Lady Eagles came storming back, making it 18-14 after one quarter. [Read more…]

Despite championship loss, coaches tell Rams to ‘hold your head high’

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Chris Jackson of Robertsville Rams Makes CAK Tackle

Chris Jackson (7) of the Robertsville Middle School Rams tackles Brandon Spencer (4) of the CAK Middle School Warriors during a TVAC Championship game at Blankenship Field on Thursday. (Photos by Luther Simmons)

 

RMS Ram Football Coach James Branson

Robertsville Middle School Rams head coach James Branson with the TVAC Middle School Runner Up trophy.

It was a painful loss, a tearful way to end the season.

But the Robertsville Middle School Rams coaching staff tried to console their football team after a 20-16 championship loss to the CAK Warriors at Blankenship Field on Thursday night.

If you put everything you had into the game, the coaches said, then “hold your head high.”

The Rams finished the year with a 6-2 record. They lost one game in the regular season to Rhea County, and they beat CAK 14-8 during the regular season, said first-year head coach James Branson.

“This whole season, I don’t think there was a lot expected of them,” Branson said. “They compete. They came ready to play. [Read more…]