Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge boys, Etheridge are Region 2 champs, headed to state cross country meet

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Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge finished first in the boys’ race in the Region 2-AAA cross country meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge senior Jake Etheridge and the boys’ cross country team finished first in the Region 2-AAA meet in Knoxville on Thursday, and they will race in the state meet next Saturday.

It’s the third regional championship in a row for the boys’ team. It’s the second year in a row for Oak Ridge to have the top male racer. Gashaw Duhamel, who ran for Oak Ridge as a senior last year, was the top runner last year.

The boys’ cross country team finished as state runner-up in 2015. Brentwood, a Nashville area school, was state champion with two of the three top runners (one a sophomore and one a junior), and that team is considered a favorite again this year. Other top teams this year include Daniel Boone of upper East Tennessee, which has been a strong team, and Wilson Central of Nashville.

Etheridge led the entire 5,000-meter, or 5k, run during the Region 2-AAA meet at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville on Thursday.

“I got out hard, and I kept going,” said Etheridge, who finished with a time of 16:27.87. That was about 13 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Seth Bowden of Maryville High School. [Read more…]

Soccer: Lady Wildcats upset Powell to win district championship

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats upset the Powell Lady Panthers 2-0 in the District 3-AAA championship game at the Powell Soccer Complex on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 5:45 p.m. Oct. 15.

POWELL—Oak Ridge upset Powell 2-0 to win the District 3-AAA championship on Friday.

It was an especially satisfying victory for the Lady Wildcats after losing the district championship to the Lady Panthers last year. Powell won that one in a penalty kick shootout after two 10-minute overtimes and two five-minute sudden death overtimes. It was believed to be the first-ever district soccer title for the Lady Panthers.

The Lady Panthers also won the last two regular-season games 4-1 (one this year and one last year), and Oak Ridge last beat Powell in 2013. Powell (12-3-1) was the number one seed in the district tournament this year, and Oak Ridge (12-6-1) was number two.

“Our entire team was focused on winning, and we wouldn’t accept anything else,” said Lady Wildcats senior Olivia Hoyt, who played midfielder Friday. “It was kind of a grudge match.” [Read more…]

Volleyball photos: Oak Ridge-Hardin Valley

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Oak Ridge lost in three sets to Hardin Valley during the Region 2-AAA semifinal at Farragut on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. Pictured above is senior Alex Sherles (25). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

FARRAGUT—Oak Ridge kept it close through three sets during a Region 2-AAA tournament semifinal at Farragut High School on Tuesday, but their effort wasn’t enough to hold back Hardin Valley, which eliminated the Lady Wildcats and advanced to the regional championship volleyball game against Farragut. Here are photos from the Oak Ridge-Hardin Valley semifinal. [Read more…]

Volleyball: Region 2 tournament is Tuesday at Farragut

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats swept the Anderson County Lady Mavericks in three close sets to win the District 3-AAA volleyball championship at Karns on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Region 2-AAA volleyball tournament is Tuesday evening at Farragut.

The first matches, both semifinal games, start at 5 p.m. Tuesday, October 11. Court 1 will feature Farragut, the District 4-AAA champion, and Anderson County, the District 3-AAA runner-up. Court 2 will feature Oak Ridge, the District 3-AAA champion, and Hardin Valley Academy, the District 4-AAA runner-up. [Read more…]

Soccer photos II: Oak Ridge-Bearden in Region 2-AAA championship

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Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3) scored the one goal for the Wildcats during a 4-1 loss at Bearden in the Region 2-AAA championship on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Also pictured are Bearden senior Kelvin Garcia (10) and Oak Ridge senior Matt Warmbrod (5). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). Here are more photos from Thursday’s game.

The winner of today’s game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

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Bearden senior Jameson Elmore (21) goes for a shot during a 4-1 win over Oak Ridge at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Also pictured from left are Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner, junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6), and senior defender Blake Clowers (3). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6), at right), heads the ball past Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez during a 4-1 loss for the Wildats at Bearden in the Region 2-AAA championship on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/oak Ridge Today)

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Soccer photos I: Oak Ridge-Bearden in Region 2-AAA championship

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Jameson Elmore (21), who had an assist on the Bulldogs’ first goal, go for a header during the Region 2-AAA championship game at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). Here are photos from Thursday’s game.

The winner of today’s game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez (33), who scored two goals, battle for the soccer ball during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. Behind Alvarez is Bearden senior Spencer Smiley (7), who also scored two goals. Oak Ridge senior Blake Clowers (3), right, had the one goal for Oak Ridge. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

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Bearden kept Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner busy, peppering him with 31 shots, with 18 of those on goal during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs in the Region 2-AAA championship at Bearden on Thursday afternoon, May 19, 2016. Turner makes the save here against Bearden senior Spencer Smiley, who scored two goals for the Bulldogs. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

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Soccer: Wildcats finish as Region 2 runner-up, play Dobyns-Bennett this afternoon

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Oak Ridge junior midfielder Brent Robinson (6) and Bearden senior Gabe Alvarez (33), who scored two goals, battle for the soccer ball during a 4-1 win for the Bulldogs at Bearden on Thursday, May 19, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

KNOXVILLE—Oak Ridge finished as Region 2-AAA runner-up at Bearden on Thursday, and the Wildcats play Dobyns-Bennett in a sectional soccer game in Kingsport this afternoon (Saturday, May 21). The winner of that game will advance to the Class AAA state tournament in Murfreesboro next week.

The Wildcats (14-8) lost to the Bulldogs 4-1 at Bearden on Thursday. Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Joel Turner was busy the entire game, trying to keep a steady stream of Bearden shots out of the net. The Bulldogs finished with 31 shots, or about one shot every 2.5 minutes. Eighteen of those shots were on goal.

Bearden (19-3) scored in quick back-to-back goals less than three minutes apart late in the first half and about 30 seconds apart late in the second.

Oak Ridge scored its only goal with 1:14 remaining on a penalty kick by senior defender Blake Clowers.

Bearden seniors Spencer Smiley and Gabe Alvarez had two goals each for the Bulldogs. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge, Maryville in Region 2 semifinal

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Oak Ridge junior forward Austin Vinyard (9) had the corner kick that led to a Blake Clowers header for the game-winning goal during a 2-1 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Oak Ridge eliminated Maryville 2-1 in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at home on Tuesday. Here are photos by Julio Culiat.

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Oak Ridge senior forward Jose Rodriguez (11) scored the first goal for the Wildcats during a 2-1 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

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Oak Ridge scored its winning goal off a header by senior defender Blake Clowers that followed a corner kick by junior forward Austin Vinyard (9) during a 2-1 Region 2-AAA semifinal victory over Maryville at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

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Wildcats eliminate Maryville, move on to Region 2 championship

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Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3), pictured here in front of Maryville senior Luke Orren (11), scores the winning goal on a header off a corner kick by senior forward Austin Vinyard in a 2-1 Region 2-AAA semifinal win for the Wildcats at home on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:35 a.m.

Oak Ridge eliminated Maryville 2-1 in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at home on Tuesday, and the Wildcats advance to play at Bearden in the region championship on Thursday.

Oak Ridge scored the winning goal on a header by senior defender Blake Clowers off a corner kick by junior forward Austin Vinyard with 8:21 remaining in the playoff elimination game.

The Wildcats are guaranteed two more games: the Region 2-AAA championship and a state sectional. In the sectionals, the Region 1 champion plays the Region 2 runner-up, and the Region 2 champion plays the Region 1 runner-up.

The Region 2 championship game will start at 4 p.m. Thursday at Bearden High School in Knoxville. The sectionals are Saturday.

The Region 1 championship between Sevier County and Dobyns-Bennett starts at 6 p.m. Thursday in Sevierville.

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In rematch, Wildcats play Maryville in Region 2 semifinal today

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Oak Ridge senior defender Blake Clowers (3) scored the one goal for the Wildcats during a 4-1 loss to Maryville at home on Tuesday, May 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

They last played two weeks ago during the regular season, and Oak Ridge and Maryville will play again tonight (Tuesday, May 17) in a Region 2-AAA semifinal.

The game starts at 7 p.m. at Oak Ridge High School.

The Rebels beat the Wildcats 4-1 in a regular-season game on Tuesday, May 3.

But it was a tale of two halves, and Oak Ridge (13-7) won the second half, Wildcats Coach Jeff Trombly said. Maryville (13-5-2) picked up all its scoring, all four goals, in the first half. They were scoreless in the second, when the Wildcats scored one.

“The score was not as lopsided as it looks,” Maryville Coach Steve Feather said. [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…]

Led by Gee, Wildcats win Region 2 championship; Bush named MVP

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Oak Ridge senior point guard Geevantay Gee (12) led the Wildcats with a game-high 15 points, including three three-point shots, during a 70-40 win over Karns in the Region 2-AAA championship on Thursday, March 3, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 5:15 p.m.

Continuing a string of successes on the basketball court, the Oak Ridge Wildcats won the Region 2 championship in a 70-40 victory over Karns on Thursday. The boys’ regional win at home came one day after the girls won a Region 2 championship at Bearden.

This year, the two teams both won the District 3-AAA championships and the Region 2-AAA championships. It’s the first time that’s happened since 2008.

The Wildcats (34-2), the Region 2 champion, now move on to play David Crockett, the Region 1 runner-up, in a Class AAA sectional game on Monday. The winner advances to the state tournament. David Crockett (29-5) is one of only two teams that beat Oak Ridge this year.

“They are one of the better teams we’ve played all year,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. “It’s going to be a tough game. It should be a tremendous basketball game. There’s a lot on the line.”

The Pioneers eked out a two-point 89-87 win over the Wildcats on two free throws in double overtime in the Arby’s Classic on December 29. [Read more…]