Oak Ridge Today

Playoffs today: Volleyball regional tournament, girls soccer district tournament

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats volleyball team will play in the Region 2-AAA tournament at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge volleyball)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats volleyball team will play in the Region 2-AAA tournament at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge volleyball)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats volleyball team will play in the Region 2-AAA tournament at home today, and the girls’ soccer team will play in the District 3-AAA tournament, also at home.

The volleyball team (24-9) won the District 4-AAA championship on Tuesday, October 3. With a 6-0 district record, the girls were undefeated in District 4-AAA and the top seed in the district tournament.

Oak Ridge, the District 4 champion, will play Heritage, the District 3 runner-up, in a regional semifinal in Wildcat Arena at 5:30 p.m. today (Tuesday, October 10).

The two teams met twice during the regular season. The Lady Mountaineers won the first one 3-0 at Heritage on September 25. The Lady Wildcats won the second game 2-1 in the Courtside at Concord Tournament on September 30. [Read more…]

Volleyball: Lady Wildcats win District 4 championship

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the District 4-AAA volleyball championship in Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the District 4-AAA volleyball championship in Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge won the District 4-AAA volleyball championship on Tuesday, sweeping Bearden in three straight sets. It’s the second year in a row the girls have won a district championship and the fourth district championship for Oak Ridge in five years.

The District 4-AAA tournament was played in Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School on Tuesday. The Lady Wildcats (24-9, 6-0 District 4-AAA) advanced to the championship game by beating Halls in three straight semifinal sets.

The scores of the Oak Ridge-Halls semifinal sets were 25-14, 25-17, and 25-18.

The scores of the Oak Ridge-Bearden championship sets were 25-12, 25-23, and 25-17.

Lady Wildcat senior Olivia Milloway was named most valuable player of the district tournament. Seniors Emily Lawless and Reagan Dickens were named to the All District Tournament Team. [Read more…]

Volleyball: If they beat Halls on Tuesday, Lady Wildcats will be undefeated in district

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The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play their last regular-season district game against Halls at home at Wildcat Arena on Senior Night, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge High School Volleyball)

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats will play their last regular-season district game against Halls at home in Wildcat Arena on Senior Night, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge High School Volleyball)

 

If they beat Halls on Tuesday, the Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats volleyball team will be undefeated in the district during the regular season.

The Tuesday evening game at home is the last district game of the regular season. The junior varsity match starts at 5 p.m., and varsity play begins at 6 in the Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School. It’s also Senior Night, and the last regular-season home game.

The Lady Wildcats (20-4) are currently 5-0 in District 4-AAA, and they are ranked 12th in the state, according to MaxPreps.com.

The girls’ five district wins started late last month: at Powell (3-0) on August 31, at home against Karns (3-0) on September 5, at Bearden (3-0) on September 7, at West (3-1) on Tuesday, and at home against Campbell County (3-0) on Thursday. [Read more…]

Volleyball: Undefeated in district, Lady Wildcats win 12 straight

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Pictured above during a 3-0 district win at Bearden on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, is Oak Ridge senior Olivia Milloway (13). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Pictured above during a 3-0 district win at Bearden on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017, is Oak Ridge senior Olivia Milloway (13). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

Undefeated in their district, the Oak Ridge volleyball team has won 12 straight games. They’ll play another district game, their fifth of the season, at home today (Thursday, September 14) at Oak Ridge High School.

The Lady Wildcats (19-4, 4-0 District 4-AAA) have played four district teams since August 31. They won in three sets at Powell on August 31, at home against Karns on September 5, and at Bearden on September 7.

In their most recent district game, they beat West 3-1 at West on Tuesday.

Oak Ridge will play Campbell County in a district match this evening in the Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School. The junior varsity games start at 5 p.m., and varsity play begins at 6 p.m.

Under this year’s classification, Oak Ridge is in District 4 in Class AAA’s Region 2 along with Bearden, Campbell County, Karns, Halls, Powell, and West. [Read more…]

Harlem Ambassadors basketball show to benefit Habitat for Humanity

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Habitat for Humanity Harlem Ambassadors March 17 2017

Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County will host the Harlem Ambassadors basketball show at Oak Ridge High School on Friday evening. Oak Ridge firefighters have volunteered to be the opposing team.

The show is a benefit for Habitat for Humanity. It starts at 7 p.m. Friday, March 17, at Wildcat Arena.

“Please join us for an evening of entertainment, fun, and zany basketball,” organizers said. “The Ambassadors also bring the message ‘Stay in School, Stay off Drugs and Don’t be a Bully.'”

Tickets are only $5, and there will be plenty of food at the concession stand, organizers said. Advance tickets are available in Oak Ridge at TNBank at 401 South Illnois Avenue and at the Habitat ReStore at 105 Randolph Road. They can be purchased at the door on Friday night. [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…]

Photos: Lady Wildcats win Class AAA sectional over Daniel Boone

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Oak Ridge junior point guard Jaymi Golden (32) started the attack against Daniel Boone in the second half of a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4, 2017. Golden is defended here by Daniel Boone sophomore Bayleigh Carmichel (30). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge junior point guard Jaymi Golden (32) started the attack against Daniel Boone in the second half of a 61-44 win for the Lady Wildcats in a Class AAA sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday, March 4, 2017. Golden is defended here by Daniel Boone sophomore Bayleigh Carmichel (30). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats are going back to the state basketball tournament in Murfreesboro. It’s the second year in a row that the girls have made it to the Class AAA tournament. They made it there this year by beating Daniel Boone 61-44 in a sectional game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday.

Here are photos from the Saturday night game by Luther Simmons. [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…]

Girls basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Hardin Valley

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Oak Ridge senior Courtney Ellison (10) made three three-point shots during a 71-42 win over Hardin Valley in the Region 2-AAA championship at Wildcat Arena on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. She is defended here by Hardin Valley junior Abbey Cornelius (25). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Courtney Ellison (10) made three three-point shots during a 71-42 win over Hardin Valley in the Region 2-AAA championship at Wildcat Arena on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. She is defended here by Hardin Valley junior Abbey Cornelius (25). (Photo by Luther Simmons)

 

The Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats won the Region 2-AAA championship for the second year in a row on Wednesday, crushing Hardin Valley 71-42 in their best overall game. Here are photos by Luther Simmons. [Read more…]

Boys basketball photos: Oak Ridge-Maryville

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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…]

Upchurch scores 25, but Maryville can’t stop Oak Ridge

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Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson (23) led the Wildcats with 13 points during a 46-43 win against Maryville in a Region 2-AAA semifinal elimination game at Wildcat Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017. (Photo by Luther Simmons)

Oak Ridge senior Anthony Gibson (23) led the Wildcats with 13 points 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.

The Wildcats were held to their lowest offensive output of the season in the 46-43 Region 2-AAA semifinal win over the Rebels at Wildcat Arena. No Oak Ridge player scored more than 13, which is unusual.

Maryville Coach Mark Eldridge said Oak Ridge has better players than the Rebels, so his team tried to limit the number of possessions. More possessions mean the better team wins, Eldridge said.

The Wildcats probably had about half as many possessions as they normally do, Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. Maryville has guards who are good enough that the Rebels could run time off the clock—and they did.

“Sometimes you have to find ways to grind them out,” Green said. “Our guys haven’t had a lot of close games, and our guys kept their composure.”

Oak Ridge (28-2) advances to play Bearden (21-8) in the Region 2-AAA championship at Wildcat Arena at 7 p.m. Thursday. The season is over for Maryville (24-6). [Read more…]