Oak Ridge Today

Basketball: Oak Ridge finishes second in Ladies Classic

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greeneville on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

GREENEVILLE—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished in second place in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greeneville on Saturday, losing to Bradley Central 63-32 in the championship game.

Rhyne Howard of Bradley Central, a 6-foot-1 junior, dominated. The tallest player on the floor, she scored a tournament-high 30 points. No other player scored more than 12. Howard also led both teams with 10 rebounds and eight steals.

It was a much better performance for Howard than in March, when Oak Ridge and Bradley Central played in the Class AAA semifinal game in Murfreesboro. The Lady Wildcats beat the Bearettes 38-31 in that game to advance to the Class AAA state championship, and Howard, who was then a sophomore, was limited to six points, two rebounds, and one steal.

Bradley Central had other advantages on Saturday, including in rebounding and turnovers, and better shooting. The undefeated Bearettes shot 57 percent from field goal range, compared to 37 percent for the Lady Wildcats, and they were 4-of-12, compared to 0-for-3, from three-point range. They led in total steals, 17-5, and forced 23 Lady Wildcat turnovers, while giving up about half as many, 13. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats play for championship in basketball tournament today

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Oak Ridge junior Jaymi Golden (32) dribbles the ball during a 69-50 win over Greeneville in a quarterfinal game at the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic in Greeneville on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016. At left is sophomore Jada Guinn (24). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

GREENEVILLE—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play for the championship in a basketball tournament in Greeneville today (Saturday, December 31).

Oak Ridge (13-1, 5-0 District 3-AAA) will play Bradley Central, a team the Lady Wildcats beat 38-31 in the Class AAA state semifinal last season. Today’s championship game in the Andrew Johnson Bank Ladies Classic starts at 4:30 p.m. in the Hal Henard Gymnasium in Greeneville.

The Lady Wildcats advanced to the championship by winning three straight games in the tournament this week. That included a Friday night 51-41 semifinal victory over South Greene (14-2, 2-0 District 1-A). The Lady Rebels, a Greeneville team, were the Class A state champions last season, and they made it to the final game of the Ladies Classic last year.

Before South Greene on Friday, Oak Ridge defeated Jefferson County 57-50 in the opening round on Wednesday and Greeneville 69-50 in a quarterfinal game on Thursday. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats open wide lead over Cleveland in second half

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Oak Ridge sophomore Jada Guinn (24) led the Lady Wildcats with 21 points against Cleveland in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout at Science Hill High School in Johnson City on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. (Photo by Robert Kell)

 

JOHNSON CITY—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats opened up a wide lead in the second half to beat the Cleveland Lady Blue Raiders 69-35 in the Champion Chevrolet Shootout in Johnson City on Friday.

Oak Ridge (9-1, 5-0 District 3-AAA) was led by sophomore Jada Guinn with 21 points. Junior Desiree Bates had 14 points, and junior Jaymi Golden had eight.

The score was closer earlier in the game, with Oak Ridge ahead by two, 9-7, after the first quarter. The halftime score was 25-17. [Read more…]

Basketball: Wildcats, Lady Wildcats win at Clinton

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Information from WYSH Radio

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats beat the Clinton Lady Dragons 61-19 on Tuesday, and the Wildcats won 87-57.

It was the 59th consecutive time the Oak Ridge girls have defeated the Clinton girls since 1990. The Lady Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 District 3-AAA) were led at Don Lockard Gymnasium by junior Mykia Dowdell with 18 points and sophomore Jada Guinn with 14. Only three Lady Dragons (0-4, 0-1) scored, led by Nikki Jones with eight points, Kinley Martin with six, and Danyel Joy with five. [Read more…]

Riverdale dominates, Lady Wildcats finish as runner-up in state championship

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Oak Ridge sophomore Jaymi Golden (32) drives against Riverdale junior Anastasia Hayes (3) during a 68-36 loss in the Class AAA girls championship game in Murfreesboro on Saturday, March 12, 2016. (Photo by Paul Ward)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 4:10 p.m. March 13.

MURFREESBORO—Riverdale dominated, and Oak Ridge finished as state runner-up in the Class AAA girls basketball championship in Murfreesboro on Saturday.

The Lady Warriors (32-4) led from start to finish in their 68-36 win. They’ve now won five state titles since 2007, with the last one in 2013.

The Lady Wildcats (30-5) have won three state championships, with the last one in 1997.

The Oak Ridge and Riverdale teams both featured young players this year, and both were led Saturday by first-year coaches. Players from both teams said no one expected them to end up in the final Class AAA game of the 2016 BlueCross Basketball Championships. The two teams have already set their sights on next season.

Riverdale was led Saturday by junior Anastasia Hayes, a Miss Basketball finalist, with a game-high 27 points, three rebounds, and four steals. Sophomore Alexis Whittington scored 14, pulled down five rebounds, and had five assists. Her twin sister Amanda Whittington had six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. [Read more…]

Young Lady Wildcats, first-year coach advance to state championship

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats celebrate a 38-31 Class AAA semifinal win over Bradley Central in the state basketball tournament in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 11, 2016. (Photo by Paul Ward)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:40 p.m.

First-year Oak Ridge Coach Paige Green and her young Lady Wildcats advanced to the state basketball championship game on Saturday after beating Bradley Central 38-31 in a Class AAA semifinal game in Murfreesboro on Friday.

It was a success story that few, if any, had predicted. Wildcats broadcasters called it a “miraculous journey” and a “Cinderella run.”

The Lady Wildcats were led by sophomore Mykia Dowdell with 15 points, nine rebounds, and two steals. Freshman Jada Guinn had nine points, two rebounds, and two assists, and sophomore Jaymi Golden added eight points, including late free throws that helped seal the win.

Oak Ridge (30-4) trailed by as many as eight points in the third quarter, but they rallied starting late in that quarter and continuing through the fourth to knock off Bradley Central (32-4). The Lady Wildcats took a 26-25 lead with about 3.5 minutes left in the game on a feed across the lane from Golden to Guinn, who scored a layup.
[Read more…]

Photos: Oak Ridge 40, Dyer County 35 in Class AAA quarterfinal

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Oak Ridge sophomore Mykia Dowdell (34) battles Dyer County for a loose ball during a 40-35 win in a state Class AAA quarterfinal game at Middle Tennessee State University on Wednesday, March 9, 2016. (Photo by Paul Ward)

 

Oak Ridge beat Dyer County in a 40-35 quarterfinal win in the 2016 BlueCross Basketball Championships in Murfreesboro on Wednesday. Here are photos by Paul Ward.

The Lady Wildcats (28-4) advance to a Division I Class AAA semifinal game against Bradley Central (32-3), a Cleveland team, at 10 a.m. Central (11 a.m. Eastern) on Friday, March 11. The games are being played at Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University.

See the story on Oak Ridge’s Wednesday morning quarterfinal game here. [Read more…]

Coming off the bench, Bates leads Oak Ridge in state quarterfinal win

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Oak Ridge sophomore Desiree Bates (20) came off the bench to lead the Lady Wildcats with 12 points during a 40-35 state Class AAA quarterfinal win over Dyer County in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 9, 2016. Bates also had seven rebounds and three steals. (Photo by Paul Ward)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 5:52 p.m.

Sophomore Desiree Bates came off the bench to lead Oak Ridge with 12 points in a 40-35 quarterfinal win in the state Class AAA basketball tournament in Murfreesboro on Wednesday.

The Lady Wildcats (28-4) were up 10 points at halftime, and they bounced back from a 15-4 Dyer County run in the third quarter to advance to the semifinal game in Murfreesboro on Friday.

Dyer County had three consecutive steals midway through the third quarter that they converted into eight points, helping to turn a 26-14 deficit late in the second quarter into a 29-26 lead midway through the third.

Oak Ridge prevailed despite their 19 turnovers and the game-high 18 points of Amber Thompson. Thompson knocked down three three-pointers and ignited the third-quarter surge for the Lady Choctaws (27-5), but she picked up her fourth foul with three minutes remaining in that quarter and had to go sit on the bench. [Read more…]

Clary: Miraculous journey of Lady Wildcats continues Saturday

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David Clary

By David Clary

Saturday night, the miraculous journey of the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats continues with a one-game opportunity to join a historic group of great girls basketball teams who have worn the Cardinal and Gray.

For 30 years, the Lady Wildcats dominated East Tennessee basketball and were a major state force as well, making 21 state tournament appearances and playing in nine state championship games along the way. Oak Ridge played a national schedule, being invited to the most elite women’s tournaments in America. They finished several seasons ranked in the USA Today’s Top 25 poll and earned a number two preseason ranking, garnishing them an invitation to Florida to take on the number one-ranked team in that same poll. Twice during this time they tasted victory over a number one nationally ranked team and once a defending national champion. But since 2010, things had changed.

Since their last substate win and state appearance, the Lady Wildcats have fallen on hard times, for them anyway. Anything less than at least a sectional for such a storied program like Oak Ridge meant an unsuccessful season. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats upset Bearden in Region 2 championship; Guinn named MVP

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Oak Ridge freshman Jada Guinn (24) led the Lady Wildcats with a game-high 17 points during a 49-35 upset over Bearden in the Region 2-AAA championship at Bearden on Wednesday, March 2, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 3:15 p.m. March 3.

KNOXVILLE—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats upset Bearden and won their first Region 2-AAA championship since 2010 on Wednesday, and freshman Jada Guinn was named most valuable player in the regional tournament—one week after being named most valuable player in the district tournament.

The 49-35 win for Oak Ridge, the Region 2 champion, means the Lady Wildcats (27-4) will have home-court advantage when they play Dobyns-Bennett in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena at 7 p.m. Saturday. Dobyns-Bennett (25-10) is the Region 1 runner-up.

Bearden (27-6), the Region 2 runner-up, will also play in a Class AAA sectional, but the Lady Bulldogs will have to travel to Morristown West (30-3), the Region 1 champion.

Sectional winners advance to the state tournament. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats keep composure, Ellison scores 21 in Region 2 semifinal win

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Oak Ridge junior Courtney Ellison (10) scored a career-high 21 points for the Lady Wildcats during a 64-53 Region 2-AAA semifinal win over William Blount at Bearden on Monday, Feb. 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2:25 a.m.

KNOXVILLE—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats battled back from an eight-point deficit in the second quarter of a Region 2 semifinal win against William Blount on Monday and kept their composure against a swarming defense to advance to the regional championship against Bearden on Wednesday.

The Lady Wildcats (26-4) permanently seized the lead about halfway through the second quarter behind the 10 first-half points of junior Courtney Ellison. They widened the lead to as many as 16 points in the second half before finishing ahead 64-53 in the Region 2-AAA elimination semifinal at Bearden High School.

Ellison led Oak Ridge with 21 points, a career high. Late in the third quarter, she made a three-point shot and a field goal within about 45 seconds to help open up a 44-31 lead. She added two more field goals from the left and right baseline late in the fourth quarter to maintain an Oak Ridge margin of about 10 points.

“I was really into it tonight,” Ellison said. “I was really wanting the win, and it was there.”

It’s the first time the Lady Wildcats have made it to the regional championship since 2010, the last year Jill Prudden coached Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats advance to Region 2-AAA semifinal behind 21 points of Dowdell

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats advanced to the Region 2-AAA semifinal behind the 21 points of sophomore Mykia Dowdell (34) and a 58-32 win over Heritage at Wildcat Arena on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:30 p.m.

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats advanced to the Region 2-AAA semifinal behind the game-high 21 points of sophomore Mykia Dowdell and a 58-32 win over Heritage at Wildcat Arena on Friday.

It’s the second time this week a Lady Wildcat has scored 21 points in a playoff game. On Tuesday, it was freshman Jada Guinn, in the District 3-AAA championship. On Friday, it was Dowdell in a Region 2-AAA elimination quarterfinal.

It’s the first time the Lady Wildcats (25-4) have advanced to the regional semifinals since 2010, according to broadcaster David Clary. [Read more…]