BY MIKE BLACKERBY West looks to make history this high school football season as the Rebels aim for their third-consecutive state Class 5A championship in a row. Since the advent of 5A play in Tennessee in 1993, no state champion has … [Read more...]
Youth-laden Powell Softball picks up big District 3-4A win Thursday against Karns
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Powell’s young softball team got a big boost in confidence Thursday against one of its chief District 3-4A rivals. … [Read more...]
5STAR PREPS 2024 TRACK & FIELD PREVIEW: Storylines and Athletes to Know
East Tennessee athletes gracing the winner podium during TSSAA State Track & Field meets each May has become commonplace. Team titles. Individual championships. You name it. Now, it’s time to see which teams and athletes will excel this … [Read more...]
THE 5STAR PREPS 2024 SOFTBALL PRIMER: THE TEAMS AND PLAYERS TO KNOW THIS SPRING
BY MIKE BLACKERBY By lofty local standards, the 2023 high school softball season was a disappointment. For the first time since 2014, teams in the 5Star Preps coverage area were shut out in the state championship hunt in Murfreesboro. Also, after … [Read more...]
Last-second heroics by Kyle Cloninger lead Morristown East past Bearden, 54-52, and onto Class 4A state tournament
BY MIKE BLACKERBY MORRISTOWN – It was a situation Kyle Cloninger has likely simulated a thousand times or more in practice or on the playground over the years. One shot to go to the state tournament. But this time it was for real, and the pressure … [Read more...]
Morristown East Hurricanes net program’s first region tournament championship in 56-year history
BY MIKE BLACKERBY MORRISTOWN – A lifetime of memories were made Thursday night at jam-packed Isenberg-Siler Gym. Morristown East cut down the nets for the first time in the school’s 56-year history in a region championship game – and the Hurricanes … [Read more...]
REGION 1-4A BOYS SEMIFINALS: Morristown West and Morristown East set to meet Thursday for region championship
BY MIKE BLACKERBY MORRISTOWN – Get ready for Round 4 between rivals Morristown West and Morristown East. It should be a doozy. The Hamblen County schools both won Region 1-4A tournament semifinal elimination games Tuesday night at East to set up … [Read more...]
REGION 1-4A GIRLS SEMIS: Without coach, Sevier County tops Daniel Boone; Dobyns-Bennett ousts Morristown East
BY MIKE BLACKERBY MORRISTOWN – No coach, no problem. With head coach Jonathan Shultz sidelined due to an illness, Sevier County’s girls still managed to take care of business Monday night in the Region 1-4A semifinals at Morristown East. The … [Read more...]
POSTSEASON RIVALRY SHOWDOWN: Morristown East Lady Canes knock off Morristown West in District 2-4A semifinals
MORRISTOWN – Junior post Ella Wampler set the tempo early and Morristown East cruised past rival Morristown West 53-44 in the District 2-4A semifinals Thursday night on the Lady Hurricanes’ home court. It’s the first time since 2011-12 that East has … [Read more...]
Oak Ridge senior guard Brennen Scott staying involved though heart condition has ended his prep career
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Brennen Scott’s much-anticipated senior season was going about as planned. The veteran Oak Ridge guard was averaging 14 points a game for the Wildcats, who looked to be one of about 10 area Class 4A teams with a legitimate shot to … [Read more...]