Oak Ridge Today

Boys basketball photos: Oak Ridge in state semifinal

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3), a Mr. Basketball finalist, scored 12 points during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats in a Class AAA boys' state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3), a Mr. Basketball finalist, scored 12 points during a 63-60 loss for the Wildcats in a Class AAA boys’ state semifinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Friday, March 17, 2017. (Photo by Kindell Moore)

 

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

It was one of two semifinal games in the Division I Class AAA BlueCross Basketball Championships at Middle Tennessee State University.

[Read more…]

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Basketball photos: Wildcats at Class AAA boys’ quarterfinal

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

OakRidge senior Tyshawn Young (4) led the Wildcats with 18 points and nine rebounds during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA boys' state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Young was 6-of-6 from the free throw line. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young (4) led the Wildcats with 18 points and nine rebounds during a 53-45 win over Brentwood in a Class AAA boys’ state quarterfinal game at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. Young was 6-of-6 from the free throw line. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

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. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge beats Brentwood to advance to state semifinal

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Photos: Wildcats beat David Crockett on way to state

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5) goes for a block against Paul Arrowood (44) of David Crockett during a 90-60 win for the Wildcats in a sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday, March 6, 2017. Also pictured is Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young (4). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Tee Higgins (5) goes for a block against Paul Arrowood (44) of David Crockett during a 90-60 win for the Wildcats in a sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday, March 6, 2017. Also pictured is Oak Ridge senior Tyshawn Young (4). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge beat David Crockett 90-60 in a Class AAA sectional at Wildcat Arena on Monday, advancing to the state basketball tournament in Murfreesboro next week. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Cool under pressure, Jones, Gibson lead Wildcats to state

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Boys basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Bearden

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Boys basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Maryville

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3) shoots form three-point range during a 46-43 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal elimination game at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Tajion Jones (3) shoots from three-point range during a 46-43 win over Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal elimination game at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Maryville senior guard Easton Upchurch scored 25 points and made seven three-point shots on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough to keep Oak Ridge from advancing to its fifth straight regional championship. Here are photos from the Region 2-AAA semifinal game by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Boys basketball photos: Oak Ridge-West

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10) became the single-season assist leader for Oak Ridge, with 187 assists this year, during a 68-38 Region 2-AAA quarterfinal win against West at home on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Tee Higgins (5) and Tajion Jones (3), who became only the second Wildcat to hit his 200th career three-point shot. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior point guard Levert Smith (10) became the single-season assist leader for Oak Ridge, with 187 assists this year, during a 68-38 Region 2-AAA quarterfinal win against West at home on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. Also pictured are Oak Ridge seniors Tee Higgins (5) and Tajion Jones (3), who became only the second Wildcat to hit his 200th career three-point shot. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson again led the Wildcats in a playoff win, this time in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal win against West at home on Saturday. Here are photos from the game by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Gibson again leads Wildcats, this time in quarterfinal win over West

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson (23) again led the Wildcats in a playoff win, this time in a 68-38 Region 2-AAA quarterfinal win against West at home on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson (23) again led the Wildcats in a playoff win, this time in a 68-38 Region 2-AAA quarterfinal win against West at home on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Note: This story was updated at 9 a.m. Feb. 28.

Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson again led the Wildcats in a playoff win, this time in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal win against West at home on Saturday.

Gibson, a 6-foot-1 guard, scored a game-high 18 points in the elimination game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday. He had four three-points shots for 12 of those points.

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, Gibson led Oak Ridge with 24 points as the Wildcats won their fifth straight District 3-AAA championship with an 86-58 defeat of Powell.

With the Region 2 quarterfinal win on Saturday, Oak Ridge advanced to play Maryville at Wildcat Arena at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in a semifinal elimination game. The winner of the Tuesday night Oak Ridge-Maryville game will move on to play in the Region 2-AAA championship. The season will be over for the loser.

“This is the toughest game of the year,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. “There’s a lot on the line across the state.” [Read more…]