Oak Ridge Today

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge in state quarterfinal game

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Senior Jada Guinn (24) has broken basketball records at Oak Ridge, including most points scored in a game and most points scored in a season. Guinn, a Miss Basketball finalist who has signed to play at Tennessee Tech, is pictured above shooting the basketball during a 65-49 win over Science Hill in a Class AAA girls basketball tournament quarterfinal game in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Mufreesboro on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Senior Jada Guinn (24) has broken basketball records at Oak Ridge, including most points scored in a game and most points scored in a season. Guinn, a Miss Basketball finalist who has signed to play at Tennessee Tech, is pictured above shooting the basketball during a 65-49 win over Science Hill in a Class AAA girls basketball tournament quarterfinal game in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Mufreesboro on Thursday, March 7, 2019. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats defeated Science Hill 65-49 in a quarterfinal game of the Class AAA girls basketball tournament in Murfreesboro on Thursday. Here are photos by Luther Simmons.

(Note: The girls’ season ended with a 56-50 loss to Bradley Central during a semifinal game on Friday.) [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats advance to state basketball semifinal with win over Science Hill

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats made it to the state basketball tournament for the third time in four years by beating Dobyns-Bennett 59-42 in a Class AAA sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 2, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats made it to the state basketball tournament for the third time in four years by beating Dobyns-Bennett 59-42 in a Class AAA sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 2, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 3:25 p.m.

Oak Ridge advanced to a state semifinal game on Friday with a 65-49 win over Science Hill in the Class AAA girls basketball tournament in Murfreesboro on Thursday.

The Lady Wildcats trailed in the first quarter by five points, but they went on an 11-0 run to take the lead by the end of that quarter.

The game remained relatively close until Oak Ridge went on a 14-4 run starting at about 3:30 in the third quarter and continuing through the first few minutes of the fourth quarter. The Lady Wildcats then widened their lead in the final six minutes.

The Lady Wildcats (34-2) will play Bradley Central (32-3) in a Class AAA girls semifinal game in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University at 2:45 p.m. (3:45 p.m. Eastern) on Friday.

Bradley Central advanced by defeating Lebanon 34-26 in another quarterfinal game on Thursday. [Read more…]

Programs manager at MTSU Center for Historic Preservation to speak Thursday

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Lydia Simpson

Lydia Simpson

 

The programs manager at a historic preservation center in Middle Tennessee will speak in Oak Ridge on Thursday evening.

Lydia Simpson will be the featured speaker at the 7 p.m. meeting of the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association at the Midtown Community Center at 102 Robertsville Road.

“The importance of heritage and science tourism for Oak Ridge cannot be overstated,” a press release said. “Our story is one that many other cities would love to have. We have been told that numerous times. Yet, we can’t seem to capitalize on the tremendous story that is Oak Ridge! Why? What are we missing?”

Simpson has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a master’s degree in history with a concentration in public history from Middle Tennessee State University. She is currently writing her dissertation on a 20th century rayon-mill community as she works toward completion of the Public History Ph.D. program at MTSU, the press release said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge boys finish ninth in state 4×800 meter relay

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Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge raced in the 1,600 meter run and was part of the 4x800 meter relay team at the 2017 TSSAA Boys' State Track Championships at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Friday, May 26, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge finished 12th in the 1,600 meter run and was part of the 4×800 meter relay team that finished ninth at the 2017 TSSAA Boys’ State Track Championships at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Friday, May 26, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

MURFREESBORO—The Oak Ridge boys 4×800 meter relay team finished ninth in the state track meet in Murfreesboro on Friday.

The boys 4×800 meter relay team includes senior Jake Etheridge and juniors Reid Dukes, Will Jeter, and Jose Villegas. They finished ninth in a field of 16 teams with a time of 8:14.63. Houston finished first with a time of 7:58.51. Blackman (8:03.53) and Daniel Boone (8:06.03) had the other top three finishes.

Hardin Valley Academy was sixth in the 4×800 meter relay with a time of 8:11.29, while Farragut finished 12th at 8:33.98.

The 2017 TSSAA Boys’ Track State Championships were at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on Friday.

Etheridge also raced in the boys 1,600 meter run, where he finished 12th with a time of 4:39.27. He finished just ahead of senior Brennan Humphreys of Hardin Valley, who crossed the finish line at 4:41.91. [Read more…]

Bishop of Anderson County wins state championship in pole vault

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Anderson County sophomore Brittany Bishop won the state championship in the girls' pole vault at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. (Photo courtesy Gary Terry)

Anderson County sophomore Brittany Bishop won the state championship in the girls’ pole vault at MTSU in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, May 24, 2017. (Photo courtesy Gary Terry)

 

Note: This story was updated at 11 a.m.

Anderson County sophomore Brittany Bishop won the state championship in the girls’ pole vault on Wednesday.

Bishop cleared 12 feet at the 2017 TSSAA Girls’ Track State Championships at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

She had been the second-seeded pole vaulter, behind senior Taylor Pickett of Brentwood.

Pickett finished second on Wednesday. She also cleared 12 feet.

Bishop had a miss at 11-06, but then she and Pickett both cleared 12 feet. But Bishop did it first. Pickett missed it on her first of three tries.

Bishop and Pickett were the final two jumpers starting at about 11 feet.

Anderson County Coach Al Rodd said Bishop has led pole vaulters for much of the year, but Pickett had recently passed her, clearing 12-02 and 12-04. Bishop had cleared 12 feet at the Dale Legg Invitational earlier this year. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge keeps it close, but Memphis East prevails in state semifinal

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Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10), who is 5-foot-9, drives around Memphis East sophomore center Malcolm Dandridge (35), who is 6-foot-8, during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats during a Class AAA boys' state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. Smith led Oak Ridge with 14 points and eight assists. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10), who is 5-foot-9, drives around Memphis East sophomore center Malcolm Dandridge (35), who is 6-foot-8, during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats during a Class AAA boys’ state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. Smith led Oak Ridge with 14 points and eight assists. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4 p.m. March 18.

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge kept it close, but Memphis East prevailed 63-60 in a state semifinal basketball game in Murfreesboro on Friday.

The season is over for the Wildcats (31-3). The Mustangs, last year’s Class AAA champion, move on to this year’s BlueCross Basketball Championship game against Southwind in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University on Saturday afternoon.

Oak Ridge, which started four seniors, led most of the first half against Memphis East (32-3), which is ranked number two in the nation, according to Wildcats Coach Aaron Green. The Mustangs, a tall team that started two sophomores and two juniors, took their first lead late in the second quarter on a three-point shot by senior Jayden Hardaway with 1:40 remaining in the half.

The two teams traded leads in the third quarter, and Oak Ridge led 44-43 at the end of three.

But Memphis East outscored Oak Ridge 20-16 in the fourth quarter to seal the win. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge beats Brentwood to advance to state semifinal

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Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5) had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5), shown going for a dunk here, had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:35 p.m. March 16.

MURFREESBORO—Oak Ridge beat Brentwood 53-45 in a state quarterfinal basketball game on Wednesday to advance to a semifinal game against Memphis East on Friday.

It’s the farthest the Wildcats have made it in the Class AAA state tournament since 2014, when they finished as state runner-up, losing 60-58 to Blackman.

Oak Ridge and Brentwood hadn’t played before. The Wednesday afternoon quarterfinal game in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro was the last of the four Class AAA games. It was the closest of those four games in the BlueCross Basketball Championships. Oak Ridge led by one point, 20-19, at halftime.

The Wildcats (31-2) were led by senior Tyshawn Young with 18 points and nine rebounds. Young was 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins, who has signed to play football at Clemson, had 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two spectacular blocks, and a dunk on a lob pass, as well as another one after driving up the lane. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge leads Brentwood 20-19 at halftime of state quarterfinal

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Oak Ridge Basketball Camp Logo

Oak Ridge led Brentwood 20-19 at halftime of a Class AAA boys’ state quarterfinal game in Murfreesboro.

The Wildcats were led in the first half by senior Tyshawn Young with 10 points and six rebounds.

The Bruins were led by senior Kellen King with eight points.

The game remained close in the start of the second half, with the Wildcats ahead 35-32 with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge to play Brentwood in boys’ state quarterfinal on Wednesday

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2017 Class AAA State Boys' Basketball Tournament Bracket

Oak Ridge (30-2) will play Brentwood (26-8) in a quarterfinal game in the Class AAA boys’ state basketball tournament on Wednesday.

The Oak Ridge-Brentwood game starts at 2:45 p.m. Central time (3:45 Eastern) on Wednesday, March 15, in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

Here are the other three quarterfinal games on Wednesday: [Read more…]

Cool under pressure, Jones, Gibson lead Wildcats to state

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Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3), who scored a game-high 27 points, shoots from three-point range during a 90-60 win over David Crockett in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday, March 6, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3), who scored a game-high 27 points, shoots from three-point range during a 90-60 win over David Crockett in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday, March 6, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12 p.m. March 7.

Cool under pressure, Oak Ridge seniors Tajion Jones and Anthony Gibson helped lead the Wildcats to the state Class AAA boys’ basketball tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

Jones, a Mr. Basketball finalist, scored a game-high 27 points during a 90-60 win over David Crockett in a sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday.

“Tonight, he showed why he’s a Mr. Basketball finalist,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said.

Though the team lineups aren’t exactly the same, it was somewhat of a rematch of last year’s sectional, also played at Wildcat Arena, when David Crockett eliminated Oak Ridge 73-70 in overtime. The sectionals determine which eight teams play in the state tournament.

This year’s game wasn’t close.

“We played really well,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. “This is not easy. It’s hard to get to the state tournament.” [Read more…]

Oak Ridge plays Memphis Central in girls’ basketball tournament Wednesday

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2017 Class AAA State Girls' Basketball Tournament Bracket

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats (30-3) will play Memphis Central (28-6) in the first game of the Class AAA State Girls’ Basketball Tournament on Wednesday.

The state quarterfinal game starts at 10 a.m. Central (11 a.m. Eastern) Wednesday in the Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

The other six teams in the girls’ Class AAA tournament are Morristown West of East Tennessee, Clarksville (northwest of Nashville on the Kentucky border), Stewarts Creek of Smyrna, Dickson County in the Nashville area, Riverdale of Murfreesboro, and Houston of Germantown in the Memphis area.

Riverdale, last year’s Class AAA state girls champion, is back in the state tournament. At 31-0, they are the only undefeated team. Riverdale is the number one-ranked team in the nation by USA Today and MaxPreps, according to the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal.

But Riverdale senior All-American Anastasia Hayes went down with an ankle injury late in a Class AAA sectional against Cumberland County on Saturday. Riverdale Coach Randy Coffman said Hayes has a “few days to nurse it,” according to the Daily News Journal. Hayes is a 5-foot-7 point guard and University of Tennessee signee who was named a Miss Basketball finalist again this year and was named most valuable player of last year’s state tournament. [Read more…]

Chadwick, Emch are Roane State’s 2016 Outstanding Alumni

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Lisa Chadwick

Lisa Chadwick

 

A healthcare expert and a leading geospatial scientist are Roane State’s Outstanding Alumni for 2016.

The recipients are Lisa Chadwick of Knoxville, director of risk management for Functional Pathways in Knoxville, and Whitney Emch with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Chadwick graduated magna cum laude from Roane State Community College in 1991 with an associate degree in nursing. She also holds a bachelor’s degree from Berry College and a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of St. Francis. [Read more…]