Oak Ridge Today

After finishing second in region, Wildcats’ season ends at Sevier County

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats finished as runner-up in Region 2-AAA with a 65-51 loss to Bearden in the championship game at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Wildcats finished as runner-up in Region 2-AAA with a 65-51 loss to Bearden in the championship game at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge finished second in Region 2-AAA after a 65-51 loss to Bearden in the championship game on Thursday, and the Wildcats’ season ended with a 62-57 loss at Sevier County in a sectional game on Monday.

Oak Ridge (26-7) trailed in both games from start to finish, although the Wildcats narrowed the Smoky Bears’ lead to one point in the final minute before Sevier County (25-6) pulled away on free throws in the Class AAA sectional game on Monday.

The sectional games determine which teams go to the state basketball tournaments at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro this month. The winners of the sectional games advance to the state tournaments, and the season is over for the teams that lose.

It’s Sevier County’s first trip to the state tournament since 1991. The Smoky Bears are one of only eight teams in Division I, Class AAA, to play in the state tournament. Bearden is another.

Oak Ridge last went to the state tournament in 2017, when the Wildcats were eliminated 63-60 by Memphis East in a semifinal game. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge wins Region 2 championship with Guinn’s three-pointer at buzzer

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the Region 2-AAA championship with a 53-50 win over Maryville at Wildcat Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, with a three-point shot at the buzzer by senior Jada Guinn. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the Region 2-AAA championship with a 53-50 win over Maryville at Wildcat Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, after a three-point shot at the buzzer by senior Jada Guinn. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 6:30 a.m. Feb. 28.

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the Region 2-AAA championship with a 53-50 win over Maryville on Wednesday after a three-point shot at the buzzer by senior Jada Guinn.

Guinn, a Miss Basketball finalist who has signed to play at Tennessee Tech, scored a game-high 21 points. She also had at least 10 rebounds.

Guinn, who was named most valuable player of the regional tournament, made two three-point shots in the final 33.9 seconds. The first one was from near the top of the key. She hit the last one-dribble shot from beyond the three-point line near the right sideline after an inbounds pass near half court following a timeout with 1.5 seconds remaining.

Jubilant fans erupted onto the floor of Wildcat Arena, cheering and jumping for joy after the dramatic finish.

Oak Ridge (32-2) will host Dobyns-Bennett (28-7), the Region 1 runner-up, at 7 p.m. Saturday at Wildcat Arena in a Class AAA sectional. The winner of that game will advance to the state tournament in Murfreesboro in March. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats play for Region 2 championship tonight

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Oak Ridge senior Jada Guinn (24) has passed 2,000 points total scored for the Lady Wildcats, and she set a single-game scoring record of 45 points at Karns on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Guinn is pictured above shooting a free throw during a 81-24 win at Clinton on Friday, Jan. 24, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Jada Guinn (24) is pictured above shooting a free throw during a 81-24 win at Clinton on Friday, Jan. 24, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play for the Region 2-AAA championship at home tonight (Wednesday, February 27).

Oak Ridge (31-2) will play Maryville (30-2). The Lady Wildcats were the District 3 champion, and the Lady Rebels were the District 4 champion.

Oak Ridge advanced to the championship game by beating William Blount 50-29 in a Region 2 quarterfinal game on Friday and defeating Bearden 50-43 in a semifinal game on Monday.

Maryville advanced to the championship game by beating Anderson County 82-59 in a Region 2 quarterfinal game on Friday and defeating Campbell County 60-52 in a semifinal game on Monday. [Read more…]

Wildcats win district championship, then beat West in regional game

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats won the District 3-AAA basketball championship with a 75-65 win over Karns on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Wildcats won the District 3-AAA basketball championship with a 75-65 win over Karns on Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 3:20 p.m. Feb. 28.

Oak Ridge won the District 3-AAA basketball championship with a 75-65 win over Karns on Wednesday, and the Wildcats won a Region 2 quarterfinal game with a 78-63 victory over West at home on Sunday.

The Wildcats (25-5) will play Knoxville Catholic (25-6), the District 4 runner-up, in a regional semifinal at Wildcat Arena this evening (Tuesday, February 26).

Oak Ridge senior Marcus Smith scored 41 points during the championship win over Karns on Wednesday, with 26 points in just the fourth quarter. Eleven of those points were from free throws. Smith was named most valuable player of the district tournament.

On Sunday, Wildcats senior JaVonte Thomas scored 30 points in the Region 2 quarterfinal win over West at Wildcat Arena. Smith and Thomas have been the Wildcats’ top two scorers. Like Smith, Thomas was named to the District 3 All-Tournament Team last week.

The other semifinal game at Wildcat Arena this evening will feature Bearden (26-5), the District 4 champion, and Maryville (28-3), the number three seed from District 4. Oak Ridge is the only District 3 team in the regional tournament. [Read more…]

Second in region, Lady Wildcats play for chance to go to state tonight

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up in a 57-45 loss at Bearden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. The girls will play in a sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, at Daniel Boone in upper East Tennessee on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up in a 57-45 loss at Bearden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018. The girls will play in a sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, at Daniel Boone in upper East Tennessee on Saturday, March 3, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

BEARDEN—The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats finished as runner-up in the regional basketball tournament at Bearden on Wednesday, and they will play in a sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, at Daniel Boone in upper East Tennessee this evening (Saturday, March 3).

The runner-up in Region 2-AAA (Oak Ridge) plays at the winner of Region 1-AAA (Daniel Boone). The runner-up in Region 1-AAA (Jefferson County) plays at the winner of Region 2-AAA (Bearden). The games start at 7 p.m.

The eight girls’ teams that win in the Class AAA sectionals in Tennessee will advance to the state basketball tournament at Middle State State University in Murfreesboro on Wednesday.

Tonight’s game is the first sectional game on the road for the Lady Wildcats since 2005 at Greeneville, according to broadcaster David Clary. [Read more…]

Lady Wildcats eliminate Hardin Valley

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Oak Ridge senior Jaymi Golden (32) is pictured above during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Jaymi Golden (32) is pictured above during a District 3-AAA semifinal game against Powell at Halls on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 2 p.m. Feb. 24.

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats eliminated Hardin Valley 55-39 in the first round of the Region 2-AAA tournament at Wildcat Arena on Friday.

Oak Ridge (24-5) was led by senior Jaymi Golden with 16 points, including 12 in the first half, and junior Jada Guinn, who also scored 16. Senior Mykia Dowdell had 11. Senior Desiree Bates, who scored four points, also had at least three rebounds and three steals.

The Lady Hawks (22-8) were led by senior Abbey Cornelius with 15 points. Junior Kiara Inman added seven. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge-Farragut in Region 2-AAA championship

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Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

 

Oak Ridge will travel to Science Hill for a Class AAA sectional on Saturday after losing to Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship game at home on Thursday.

The Admirals beat the Wildcats 2-1 at the Pro2Serve Oak Ridge Soccer Complex at Oak Ridge High School.

Here are photos from the game by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge travels to Science Hill after Region 2 championship loss

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Oak Ridge will travel to Science Hill for a Class AAA sectional on Saturday after losing to Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship game at home on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Pictured above is junior midfielder Casey Nigh (12). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge will travel to Science Hill for a Class AAA sectional on Saturday after losing to Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship game at home on Thursday, May 18, 2017. Pictured above is junior midfielder Casey Nigh (12). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11 a.m. May 19.

Oak Ridge will travel to Science Hill for a Class AAA sectional on Saturday after losing to Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship game at home on Thursday.

The Admirals beat the Wildcats 2-1 at the Pro2Serve Oak Ridge Soccer Complex at Oak Ridge High School.

Science Hill, in Johnson City, was the the Region 1-AAA champion. The Hilltoppers beat Dobyns-Bennett of Kingsport 3-0 in the Region 1 championship on Thursday.

The winner of Saturday’s sectional game between Oak Ridge and Science Hill will advance to the state Class AAA soccer tournament. The season will be over for the loser. [Read more…]

Wildcats advance to Region 2 soccer championship

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Oak Ridge advanced to the Region 2-AAA soccer championship with a 3-1 win over Maryville in a semifinal elimination game at home on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge advanced to the Region 2-AAA soccer championship with a 3-1 win over Maryville in a semifinal elimination game at home on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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

Oak Ridge advanced to the Region 2-AAA soccer championship with a 3-1 win over Maryville in a semifinal elimination game at home on Tuesday.

The Wildcats will now play Farragut in the Region 2-AAA championship at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Oak Ridge and Farragut will both play at least two more games, the regional championship on Thursday and a Class AAA sectional on Saturday.

Here’s how the sectionals work: The Region 2 champion will host the Region 1 runner-up, and the Region 1 champion will host the Region 2 runner-up.

While the Region 2 championship features Oak Ridge and Farragut, the Region 1 championship, which will also be played on Thursday, features Dobyns-Bennett and Science Hill. [Read more…]

Soccer: Vinyard scores four as Wildcats advance to district championship

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Oak-Ridge-Austin-Vinyard-Goal-Halls-Soccer-May-10-2017-Slider

Oak Ridge senior forward Austin Vinyard (9), left, scored four goals and had one assist as the Wildcats advanced to the District 3-AAA soccer championship with a 6-0 win over Halls on Wednesday, May 10, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge senior forward Austin Vinyard scored four goals and had one assist as the Wildcats advanced to the District 3-AAA soccer championship with a 6-0 semifinal win over Halls on Wednesday.

Vinyard, who signed to play soccer at Maryville College on Thursday, said he also had four goals in a game last season, but his four goals and an assist on Wednesday may be a career high.

Oak Ridge, the number one seed, will play Central, the number two seed, in the District 3-AAA championship game, which starts at 7 p.m. today (Friday, May 12) at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex at Oak Ridge High School.

The Wildcats were undefeated in the district during the regular season, and they beat the Bobcats 2-1 on Monday, April 24. Central’s only district loss during the regular season was to Oak Ridge, according to records posted on CoachT.com.

Central advanced to the District 3-AAA championship with a 4-0 win over Powell on Wednesday. Oak Ridge and Central will both advance to the Region 2-AAA championship. [Read more…]

Boys basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Bearden

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Oak Ridge sophomore Herbert Booker (14) shoots the basketball against Bearden sophomore Drew Pember (3) during an 86-73 win for the Wildcats in the Region 2-AAA basketball championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge sophomore Herbert Booker (14) shoots the basketball around Bearden sophomore Drew Pember (3) during an 86-73 win for the Wildcats in the Region 2-AAA basketball championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge beat a young, talented Bearden team 86-73 in the Region 2-AAA championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Wildcats win Region 2 championship two years in a row

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Oak Ridge beat a young, talented Bearden team 86-73 in the Region 2-AAA basketball championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2017. The team is pictured above with coaches, cheerleaders, and the student section. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge beat a young, talented Bearden team 86-73 in the Region 2-AAA basketball championship at Wildcat Arena on Thursday, March 2, 2017. The team is pictured above with coaches, cheerleaders, and the student section. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones bounced back with 24 points and the Wildcats beat a young, talented Bearden team 86-73 in the Region 2-AAA championship at home on Thursday.

It’s the second consecutive regional championship for the Wildcats and their third in the past five years.

Oak Ridge (29-2) will now play David Crockett, the Region 1-AAA runner-up, in a sectional at Wildcat Arena at 7 p.m. Monday.

Bearden (21-9) will play at Science Hill, the Region 1 champion, in another sectional at 7 p.m. Monday.

The eight sectionals will determine which teams get to play in the Class AAA state basketball tournament from March 15-18 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said the Thursday night win over Bearden, which started four sophomores, was a collective effort. [Read more…]