By MIKE BLACKERBY SEVIERVILLE – Late-season pushes are nothing new for the Gatlinburg-Pittman girls’ basketball team. For the second season in a row, longtime Lady Highlanders coach Katie Moore has her team peaking at the right time. … [Read more...]
The NEW QB1s: Morristown East football set to replace its record-setting passer
By MIKE BLACKERBY There are record setters, and then there are record setters like Cole Henson. With Henson directing the show at quarterback, Morristown East set 23 team or individual school records during the 2020 high school football … [Read more...]
Maci Pitner’s play (34 points) raises Seymour Lady Eagles ‘to another level’
By MIKE BLACKERBY STRAWBERRY PLAINS -- Just 12 seconds into Tuesday’s game, Carter coach Bo Lewis signaled for a quick timeout after watching standout Seymour guard Maci Pitner drill a wide-open 3-point shot with cool confidence from about 30 … [Read more...]
Alex Doerger, Yesan Warren complement B.J. Edwards, Blue Cain perfectly in Catholic win at Oak Ridge
By MIKE BLACKERBY OAK RIDGE – B.J. Edwards and Blue Cain had their usual stellar games, but Catholic needed a helping hand to get over the hump Saturday night against Oak Ridge at Wildcat Arena. Alex Doerger and Yesan Warren played key roles as the … [Read more...]
Morristown East boys’ basketball secures home court, District 2-AAA regular-season title
By MIKE BLACKERBY MORRISTOWN – The pecking order for the District 2-AAA tournament is set. Now, the homecourt advantage is Morristown East’s to lose in the postseason, all the way through to the Region 1 championship game. The Hurricanes (19-4, … [Read more...]
Tori Rutherford puts defensive and winning mindsets first in career at Grainger
By MIKE BLACKERBY RUTLEDGE – Tori Rutherford recently broke the 1,500-point barrier for her career. Ironically, scoring is way down the list of priorities for Grainger’s two-time senior all-state standout. “Many players are more offensive-minded," … [Read more...]
NEW QB1s: 2020 Class 5A runner-up Oak Ridge football moves into new quarterback era
By MIKE BLACKERBY The loss is significant, but Oak Ridge football coach Joe Gaddis is confident the Wildcats will find a capable replacement for record-setting quarterback Mitchell Gibbons in 2021. It won’t be easy, though. Gibbons leaves quite … [Read more...]
Clinton’s 57-52 comeback win over Powell all but clinches the 2-seed for the Dragons
By MIKE BLACKERBY Clinton coach Chris Lockard said he has never had a team shoot so poorly from long range yet still win a basketball game. The usually dead-eye Dragons were 3 of 23 from 3-point range, but found an unlikely path to a 57-52 victory … [Read more...]
Not Your Typical Freshman: Sammy Taylor helping Lady Falcons return to contender status
By MIKE BLACKERBY Sammy Taylor beguiles defenders. Fulton’s standout basketball player is already a master of luring the opposition closer and then blowing past them with her uncanny blend of physicality, quickness and crafty moves off the … [Read more...]
Marcellus Jackson’s motor, Falcons’ shooting lift Fulton basketball past rival Austin-East, 67-55
By MIKE BLACKERBY High-energy sophomore Marcellus Jackson is emerging as a team leader for Fulton. On a night when the Falcons didn’t have their usual pep in their game overall, Jackson was a live wire from the opening tap as Fulton knocked off … [Read more...]