Oak Ridge Today

Baseball: Wildcats play Halls again in district tournament at Karns

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Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

 

KARNS—Oak Ridge stayed alive in the District 3-AAA baseball tournament with a 7-5 win over Clinton at Karns on Monday, and the Wildcats advanced to play Halls in a losers bracket today (Tuesday, May 9).

It’s the second time in three days that Oak Ridge will play Halls. The Wildcats lost to the Red Devils 8-0 in a first-round game on Sunday.

Halls (17-12) was bumped into the losers bracket of the double-elimination tournament with a 2-1 loss to Karns on Monday.

Today’s game starts at 5:30 p.m. on Coach Dwight Smith Field at Karns High School. The season is over for the loser. The winner advances to play Karns (25-8) at 8 p.m. today.

The Monday night game between Oak Ridge and Clinton was scoreless until the third inning, when the Wildcats opened up a 5-0 lead.

Two innings later, the Dragons responded with five runs of their own, tying the game at 5-5 in the top of the fifth inning. [Read more…]

After loss to Halls, Oak Ridge plays Clinton in elimination game today

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Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today

 

KARNS—After an 8-0 loss to Halls on Sunday, Oak Ridge will play in a district tournament elimination game today (Monday, May 8).

The season will end for the loser. The winner will move on to play the loser of the Halls-Karns game in the District 3-AAA baseball tournament on Tuesday. The Halls-Karns game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. today at Karns High School.

The Oak Ridge-Clinton game is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. today at Karns High School.

Oak Ridge (13-15) beat Clinton (13-21) twice during the regular season. The first was an 8-0 win at home on Monday, April 17, and the second was a 5-1 victory at Clinton two days later, on Wednesday, April 19.

Before the Sunday loss to Halls (17-11), the Wildcats had lost once to the Red Devils during the regular season, a 7-2 defeat on Thursday, April 20. [Read more…]

Soccer: Oak Ridge beats Maryville, plays Farragut on Senior Night today

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Oak Ridge Soccer Karns April 20 2017

The Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ soccer team is pictured above during a break in play at Karns on Thursday, April 20, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Oak Ridge beat Maryville 2-0 on Tuesday. The Wildcats play the last regular-season soccer game at home against Farragut at 7 p.m. today (Wednesday, May 3). It’s also Senior Night, and a varsity only game.

The Wildcats are 11-3-2 overall and 8-0 in District 3-AAA.

Maryville and Farragut are both District 4-AAA teams, meaning it’s possible the Wildcats could face one or both teams in the Region 2-AAA tournament, depending upon what happens in the upcoming district tournaments.

Like Oak Ridge, Maryville is 11-3-2 overall and, at 5-0, undefeated in its district, District 4-AAA, according to information posted on CoachT.com. [Read more…]

Soccer: Wildcats play AC, Clinton, Gibbs possibly for last time—at least as district rivals

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Christian Avila (14) of Oak Ridge breaks away from a Gibbs defender during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Christian Avila (14) of Oak Ridge breaks away from a Gibbs defender during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The Oak Ridge Wildcats boys’ soccer team has played the Anderson County Mavericks, Clinton Dragons, and Gibbs Eagles for what could be the last time—at least as district rivals during the regular season.

It is possible, though, that the teams could meet as non-district foes in regular season games, such as in regular-season soccer tournaments.

The Anderson County, Clinton, Gibbs, and Central boys’ soccer teams will be in the smaller Class AA classification for the 2017-2021 seasons.

Teams that will still be in District 3 (Region 2) in Class AAA are Oak Ridge and Campbell County, Halls, Karns, and Powell.

The Wildcats beat Anderson County 7-3 on Tuesday, March 28. They defeated Clinton 5-0 on Friday, March 31. [Read more…]

Soccer photos: Oak Ridge-Gibbs

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Masa Kato (5) of Oak Ridge and Curtis Russell (8) of Gibbs battle for the soccer ball during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Masa Kato (5) of Oak Ridge and Curtis Russell (8) of Gibbs battle for the soccer ball during a 5-0 win for the Wildcats at the Oak Ridge Soccer Complex on Tuesday, April 4, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

In what could be their final meeting, the Oak Ridge boys’ soccer team beat Gibbs 5-0 in a district game on Tuesday, April 4. Here are photos by John Huotari. [Read more…]

Wildcats celebrate team win over Walker Valley

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After an 11-0 loss to Walker Valley on Tuesday, Oak Ridge squeezed past the Mustangs 9-8 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. It was considered a big team win. Oak Ridge junior Jacob Ownby (44) scored the tying run, and senior Brice Mlekodaj scored the winning run on a two-strike "squeeze," or bunt by freshman Donovan Black. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

After an 11-0 loss to Walker Valley on Tuesday, Oak Ridge squeezed past the Mustangs 9-8 with two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning at home on Thursday, March 30, 2017. It was considered a big team win. Oak Ridge junior Jacob Ownby (44) scored the tying run, and senior Brice Mlekodaj (6), front left, scored the winning run on a two-strike “squeeze,” or bunt, by freshman Donovan Black. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

After an 11-0 loss to Walker Valley on Tuesday, Oak Ridge squeezed past the Mustangs 9-8 at home on Thursday.

It was considered a big team win. Down by one late in the game, the Wildcats (5-7) scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to take the victory. They had already battled back from an 0-4 deficit earlier in the game.

“It was a great team effort,” Oak Ridge Coach Mark Garrison said.

The Wildcats tied the Mustangs 7-7 in the sixth inning with help from a two-run double by Logan Williams. The junior was 4-of-5 at bat and he didn’t give up any runs on the mound, Garrison said.

Walker Valley (7-4) took a one-run 8-7 lead in the top of the ninth inning. [Read more…]

Soccer: Wildcats fight back to beat Halls

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By Oak Ridge Soccer Coach Jeff Trombly

The Oak Ridge Wildcats traveled to Halls on Thursday to face the Red Devils.

Halls scored first to take a 1-0 lead in the district soccer game.

The Wildcats fought back to answer with four goals to take the lead 4-1 at halftime.

Goal scorers included senior Austin Vinyard, junior Carson McGhee, and sophomore Nathan Kidder. [Read more…]

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

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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

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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

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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

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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…]

Oak Ridge to play Brentwood in boys’ state quarterfinal on Wednesday

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2017 Class AAA State Boys' Basketball Tournament Bracket

Oak Ridge (30-2) will play Brentwood (26-8) in a quarterfinal game in the Class AAA boys’ state basketball tournament on Wednesday.

The Oak Ridge-Brentwood game starts at 2:45 p.m. Central time (3:45 Eastern) on Wednesday, March 15, in Murphy Center at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

Here are the other three quarterfinal games on Wednesday: [Read more…]