BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Be it by a head coach or by a player from the Cocke County girls basketball team Friday night, every tear shed in the postgame was understandable. The Lady Red's historic season had just concluded at the hands of … [Read more...]
2024 Class 2A SEMIFINALS: Loretto denies Gatlinburg-Pittman’s bid to get to title game, 55-52, in overtime
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Trying to make history is never an easy task. The Gatlinburg-Pittman High School girls basketball team can attest to that. During Friday's Class 2A State Semifinal against Loretto, the Lady Highlanders held … [Read more...]
CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS: Upperman Lady Bees oust upset-minded Greeneville, 64-49
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Kyla Jobe made a big-time declaration Thursday night in the press room, following Greeneville's 64-49 loss to Upperman in the Class 3A state quarterfinals. The junior guard let it be known that the Lady Greene … [Read more...]
Class 3A QUARTERFINALS: Cocke County rallies past Heritage, 55-53, for program’s first state tournament win since 1958
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Karmine Carmichael, the freshman standout from Cocke County High School, isn't known as a keen free-throw shooter. At least, not at this point in her prep career. Entering Thursday's Class 3A state quarterfinal … [Read more...]
2024 Class 2A Quarterfinals: Gatlinburg-Pittman Lady Highlanders handle Smith County, 54-46
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Maddy Newman proved to be quite the safety net for the Gatlinburg-Pittman girls' basketball team Thursday. With the Lady Highlanders' lead in a Class 2A state quarterfinal dwindling by the minute, Newman provided … [Read more...]
2024 Class 2A Girls Quarterfinal: McMinn Central’s final shot doesn’t fall in 66-63 overtime thriller against York
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Shooters can just tell. The split second a ball rolls off their fingertips, they can tell if their shots are short. They can sense if they're long. So when Karina Bystry — one of East Tennessee's top … [Read more...]
GIRLS STATE QUARTERFINAL — Extra motivation keeps Sevier County in it, but Bearettes fall to Bartlett, 54-42
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Kinley Loveday, the senior point guard at Sevier County, fanned her face in order to fight back the tears beginning to rush forth with 28.5 seconds left to go in Wednesday's state quarterfinal against … [Read more...]
Former Vol basketball player JaJuan Smith named head boys’ basketball coach at Knoxville Catholic
BY JESSE SMITHEY For the better part of the last two months of the high school basketball season, JaJuan Smith led the Knoxville Catholic boys' basketball team as its interim coach. That tag has now been removed. … [Read more...]
BOYS STATE SECTIONAL WRAP: Fulton Falcons, Jellico Blue Devils, Austin-East Roadrunners secure 2024 state tourney berths
BY JESSE SMITHEY Fulton will get a chance to defend its title. Austin-East is headed back to Murfreesboro for the first time in five years. And Jellico, well — the Blue Devils will be state first-timers next week. Get some more … [Read more...]
2024 TSSAA STATE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES — March 6-9, March 13-16
2024 TSSAA State Basketball Tournaments BOYS: March 13-16, Murfreesboro Wednesday, March 13 All Times Central Class 4A Quarterfinals Cookeville 70, Maryville 60 Bartlett 51, Brentwood 45 Rossview 64, Morristown East 43 Independence 88, … [Read more...]