BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Perhaps Maryville High School senior center Alex Akard, with that booming voice of his that emits from a 6-foot-9 frame, said it best Wednesday, following the Rebels' first-round loss in the Class 4A state … [Read more...]
TSSAA announces 2024 Mr. and Miss Basketball Winners
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — To say East Tennessee was well represented Tuesday at the 2024 Mr. and Miss Basketball Awards at MTSU would be a tremendous understatement. Not only was the list of finalists littered with area talents, but the … [Read more...]
Former Alcoa head football coach Gary Rankin to be inducted into National High School (NFHS) Hall of Fame
BY JOHN BRICE TSSAA Correspondent Perhaps the earliest footnote in a career full of milestones and shattered records, Gary Rankin heeded the advice of his father as he first launched his prep coaching career decades ago at his high school alma … [Read more...]
Dustin Peels steps down as head football coach at Wartburg Central
BY JESSE SMITHEY The job posting hit the TSSAA website on Sunday. … [Read more...]
CLASS 3A GIRLS SEMIFINALS: Cocke County’s historic run meets an emotional end in loss to Dyersburg
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...]