Oak Ridge Today

Oak Ridge shuts out Rhea County in first round of playoffs

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Oak Ridge shut out Rhea County 42-0 in a first-round Class 5A playoff game on Blankenship Field on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. Above, coach Joe Gaddis talks to the Wildcats after the game. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge shut out Rhea County 42-0 in a first-round Class 5A playoff game on Blankenship Field on Friday, Nov. 2, 2018. Above, coach Joe Gaddis talks to the Wildcats after the game. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10 a.m. Nov. 3.

Oak Ridge shut out Rhea County 42-0 in the first round of the Class 5A football playoffs on Blankenship Field on Friday.

“That was a complete game,” Oak Ridge Coach Joe Gaddis said. “It couldn’t have been more timely. No one has beaten them (Rhea County) like this.”

The Wildcats (9-2), a Region 3 team, advance to play at Soddy-Daisy (6-4), a Region 4 team, in the second round at 7 p.m. next Friday (November 9). Soddy-Daisy eliminated Clinton (a 4-7 Region 3 team) in another first-round game this Friday.

Winners of the second-round games advance to the state quarterfinals. The winner of the Oak Ridge-Soddy-Daisy game will play the winner of Catholic-Fulton in a quarterfinal game on Friday, November 16. [Read more…]

Updated: After trailing Powell in first half, Wildcats take lead in second

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Oak Ridge trailed Powell in the first half on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, but took the lead and a 28-21 win in the second half.

Oak Ridge trailed Powell in the first half on Blankenship Field on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, but took the lead and a 28-21 win in the second half.

 

Note: This story was last updated at 11:45 a.m. Oct. 20.

Oak Ridge trailed Powell in the first half on Blankenship Field on Friday but took the lead and a 28-21 win in the second half.

It was the second week in a row that Oak Ridge (8-1, 5-0 Region 3-5A) struggled in the first half but played better in the second. Last week, Oak Ridge led Clinton 24-21 at halftime but then scored 30 points in the second half to beat the Dragons 54-28.

The Wildcats will meet the only other undefeated team in the region, Fulton (also 8-1, 5-0), at 7 p.m. Thursday in Oak Ridge for the region championship. It’s the last regular-season game.

Powell (1-8, 1-5 after forfeiting six wins due to an ineligible player) had a 21-7 lead over Oak Ridge halfway through the second quarter on Friday. But the Wildcats narrowed the lead to 21-14 on a two-yard run by senior Jordan Graham with 1:20 remaining before halftime. The Wildcats then scored two more touchdowns in the second half while holding the Panthers scoreless. [Read more…]

Football photos at Sevier County by Houchin, Simmons

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Oak Ridge senior Jordan Graham (8) runs during a 41-13 win at Sevier County on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

Oak Ridge senior Jordan Graham (8) runs the football during a 41-13 win at Sevier County on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

 

The Oak Ridge football team is 6-1 so far this season. Here are photos from the September 21 game at Sevier County, courtesy of Barry Houchin and Luther Simmons.

Oak Ridge is off this week. They play next at Clinton on Friday, October 12. [Read more…]

Football: Oak Ridge Wildcats 6-1 so far this season

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The Oak Ridge Wildcats walk down the stairs at Jack Armstrong Stadium before a 41-12 win over Dobyns-Bennett on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

The Oak Ridge Wildcats walk down the stairs at Jack Armstrong Stadium before a 41-12 win over Dobyns-Bennett on Blankenship Field on Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (Photo by Barry Houchin)

 

The Oak Ridge football team is 6-1 so far this season.

The Wildcats have had three wins and no losses in Region 3-5A. They have defeated Campbell County at home and West and Karns on the road.

Their other three wins were in non-regional games, with victories at Hardin Valley, at home against Dobyns-Bennett, and at Sevier County.

Their one loss, a non-regional game, was to Farragut on Blankenship Field.

All three games remaining in the regular season are regional games: Clinton (1-5, 0-2); Powell (6-1, 3-1); and Fulton (5-1, 2-0).

Oak Ridge is off this week. They play at Clinton on Friday, October 12. Their final two games, against Powell and Fulton, will be at home on October 19 and 25.

Here is a summary of the first seven games. [Read more…]

Soccer: Undefeated in district, Wildcats play Karns in championship Wednesday

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Pictured above is Oak Ridge sophomore Jonathan Rodriguez (11) during a 3-2 loss to Hardin Valley at home on April 26, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Pictured above is Oak Ridge sophomore Jonathan Rodriguez (11) during a 3-2 loss to Hardin Valley at Oak Ridge High School on April 26, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Undefeated in the district this season, the Oak Ridge Wildcats will play Karns in the championship game in the District 3-AAA tournament at home tonight.

The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, at the Pro2Serve Soccer Complex at Oak Ridge High School.

Oak Ridge beat Powell 3-0 in a semifinal game on Monday to advance to the district championship. Nathan Kidder, Carson McGhee, and Jordan Snyder scored goals for Oak Ridge in that game. [Read more…]

Baseball: Regular season ends this week, district tournament begins

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Oak Ridge senior pitcher Seth Caldwell (0) is pictured above during a 9-1 win over Campbell County at Bobby Hopkins Park in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior pitcher Seth Caldwell (0) is pictured above during a 9-1 win over Campbell County at Bobby Hopkins Park in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, April 24, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 8:05 p.m.

The regular baseball season ends this week, and the district tournament begins.

As of Tuesday, Oak Ridge was 15-11 overall and 7-6 in District 3-AAA.

In their last district game, at home on Tuesday, the Wildcats beat Campbell County 9-1. They were scheduled to play their final regular-season district game, a rescheduled game, at Campbell County this afternoon (Sunday, April 29).

Oak Ridge will play a a non-district game at Walker Valley in Cleveland on Monday and a throwback game using wooden bats at Farragut on Tuesday.

The district tournament starts on Thursday, and games will be hosted by the top two seeds, which could be Karns and either Halls or Powell. [Read more…]

Sixty players at Oak Ridge-Grace Christian tennis match

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Oak Ridge High School tennis team introductions (Photo submitted by David Bowman)

Oak Ridge High School tennis team introductions (Photo submitted by David Bowman)

 

There were 60 players and more than 30 parents at Oak Ridge’s home tennis match against Grace Christian Academy on Monday, February 26. That’s the largest number of people at the site for any match the Wildcats and Lady Wildcats tennis teams have had during the past three years.

The Oak Ridge tennis team has 13 Wildcats and 25 Lady Wildcats. Grace Christian also had a large contingent available to play during the scrimmage, 16 girls and six boys, Oak Ridge Coach David Bowman said.

“As a result during the four-hour event, a total of 39 singles and 15 doubles matches were played by both teams,” Bowman said. “It was a perfect storm of competition on the courts for the novice and beginner players. They gained valuable experience while learning tennis rules and etiquette.”

Highlighting the day for Oak Ridge were singles wins by starters Archer Marlow, Haley Smallwood, and Elizabeth Lowman, Bowman said. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge tennis teams had first match Monday, play Catholic Tuesday

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Pictured above from left to right are Inna Diawara, Kaitlin Summers, McKenna Norris, Teagan Russell, Alexis Hammond, Anthony Filigenzi, Stephanie Romanoski, Christina Thomas, Morgan Loggins, Hyeji Bang, Audrey Chrisman, Jacky DeLeon, Elizabeth Lowman, Savannah Shropshire, Haley Smallwood, Abby Magee, Mily Vidal, Liza Williams, Archer Marlow, Joey Kelley, Justin Blanchard, Wilder Dodson, Ethan Brady, Anhaar Ajaz, Andrew Brady, Mikolaj Jakowski, Jina Jiang, Brigitte Turner, Levi Parish, and Rose Farahi. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above from left to right are Inna Diawara, Kaitlin Summers, McKenna Norris, Teagan Russell, Alexis Hammond, Anthony Filigenzi, Stephanie Romanoski, Christina Thomas, Morgan Loggins, Hyeji Bang, Audrey Chrisman, Jacky DeLeon, Elizabeth Lowman, Savannah Shropshire, Haley Smallwood, Abby Magee, Mily Vidal, Liza Williams, Archer Marlow, Joey Kelley, Justin Blanchard, Wilder Dodson, Ethan Brady, Anhaar Ajaz, Andrew Brady, Mikolaj Jakowski, Jina Jiang, Brigitte Turner, Levi Parish, and Rose Farahi. (Submitted photo)

 

The Oak Ridge High School Wildcat and Lady Wildcat tennis teams braved a recent 37-degree wind chill to start their 2018 season. They will host 12 home matches this spring on the public courts located Oak Ridge High School at 1450 Oak Ridge Turnpike, across from the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The 14 Wildcats and 26 Lady Wildcats worked hard to prepare for their first match this past Monday (February 26) with Grace Christian Academy, a press release said. The team had its annual pancake breakfast fundraiser at Aubrey‘s on South Illinois Avenue on Saturday, February 24. Funds raised during the breakfast will be used for items like the new storage shed located at the courts and ball machines purchased by the Tennis Booster Club.

“This equipment has provided quality teaching tools sorely needed to help a large number of players hone their skills and compete successfully on the courts,” said Coach Joanne Bowman. The ball machines have given students the opportunity to hit thousands of balls during the season, helping advanced and novice players build confidence in their ball striking skills, Bowman said.

You can see the season schedule below. All are home matches except for Halls and Powell. [Read more…]

Oak Ridge eliminates Catholic in Region 2 quarterfinal

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The 2018 Region 2-AAA boys' basketball tournament bracket.

The 2018 Region 2-AAA boys’ basketball tournament bracket.

 

Oak Ridge eliminated Catholic in a Region 2-AAA quarterfinal game at Wildcat Arena on Saturday.

The Wildcats (21-7) advanced to play Bearden (34-1) in a regional semifinal game at Bearden High School at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Oak Ridge was the District 3-AAA runner-up this year, and Bearden was the District 4 champion.

The winner of Tuesday’s semifinal will play in a state sectional game, which determines who goes to the state tournament, and the Region 2-AAA championship at 7 p.m. Thursday. The Tuesday night semifinal is an elimination game, so the season will be over for the loser.

The other semifinal Tuesday is between Powell (20-10), the District 3 champion, and Maryville (25-6), the District 4 runner-up. It’s scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, just before the Oak Ridge-Bearden game. [Read more…]

Basketball photos: Oak Ridge vs. Powell in boys’ district championship

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Josh Woods of Powell (12) is pictured above during the 60-58 District 3-AAA championship win over Oak Ridge at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Josh Woods of Powell (12) is pictured above during the 60-58 District 3-AAA championship win over Oak Ridge at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

HALLS—Oak Ridge hadn’t lost a district game in four years, but Powell ended the Wildcats’ long 70-game win streak during the district championship at Halls last week. The Panthers outscored the Wildcats 14-9 in the final quarter for a 60-58 upset victory to win the District 3-AAA basketball championship at Halls High School on Saturday, February 17.

Here are photos from the game.
[Read more…]

After district win streak ends at 70, Wildcats play Catholic on Saturday

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Oak Ridge senior Seth Caldwell (4) dribbles near the basket during a 60-58 loss to Powell in the District 3-AAA championship at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Oak Ridge senior Seth Caldwell (4) dribbles near the basket during a 60-58 loss to Powell in the District 3-AAA championship at Halls on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Note: This story was updated at 9:45 a.m. Feb. 25.

HALLS—Oak Ridge hadn’t lost a district game in four years, but Powell ended the Wildcats’ long 70-game win streak during the district championship at Halls last week.

It was a close game, and Oak Ridge (20-7) led after each of the first three quarters: 26-16 at the end of the first, 37-35 at the half, and 49-46 at the end of three.

But the Panthers (19-10) outscored the Wildcats 14-9 in the final quarter for a 60-58 upset victory to win the District 3-AAA basketball championship at Halls High School on Saturday, February 17.

The Wildcats missed 16 free throws, including 10 in the second half. That could have been the difference in the two-point game. Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said the missed free throws were uncharacteristic.

“It hurts to lose a game, especially a championship game,” Green said. [Read more…]

Basketball: Oak Ridge plays Blackman on Saturday

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The Oak Ridge boys’ and girls’ basketball teams will play Blackman of Murfreesboro at Wildcat Arena at Oak Ridge High School on Saturday afternoon.

The girls’ game starts at 3 p.m., and the boys’ game begins at 4:30 p.m.

The Blackman Blaze (17-0, 4-0 District 7-AAA) are undefeated. The Wildcats are 11-5 overall, and 7-0 in District 3-AAA.

Oak Ridge beat Blackman 57-53 last season, on December 10, 2016. The two teams had previously met in the Class AAA state championship game on March 15, 2014, when Blackman won 60-58. [Read more…]