By MIKE BLACKERBY It’s hardly ideal to break in a new point guard in the pressure-packed Fulton and Austin-East rivalry, but Damin Holt never flinched Saturday at Jody Wright Arena. … [Read more...]
HORNETS HOOPS: Ty Hurst and Carter’s ‘horses’ take off against Karns
By MIKE BLACKERBY STRAWBERRY PLAINS -- Ty Hurst supplies the flash and scores in bunches, but Carter’s standout senior said there’s no question what drives the Hornets’ basketball team. Unheralded post players Colby Reynolds and Preston McNew … [Read more...]
Makayla Alvey ‘brings it every night’ and Jefferson County (11-3) advances to AJBLC finale
BY MIKE BLACKERBY GREENEVILLE – Jefferson County coach Rick Sinard has seen Makayla Alvey makes hundreds of hustle plays during her career. Like the one she made late in Monday’s 46-38 win over Upperman in the semifinals of the 31st annual Andrew … [Read more...]
5Star Preps Cross Country Coaches of the Year (2019): Chelsea Osborne, Bryan Brown
By Mike Blackerby Sometimes the hardest thing to do is to realize lofty expectations. But Farragut’s girls – led by 5Star Preps girls cross country coach of the year Chelsea Osborne – did just that during the 2019 high school … [Read more...]
5Star Preps Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year (2019): Seth Jinks, L&N Stem Academy
By Mike Blackerby Seth Jinks had no shortage of motivation entering his senior season at L&N Stem Academy. After cruising to the Small Schools state cross country individual championship as a sophomore, Jinks slid to fourth in the 2018 state … [Read more...]
5Star Preps Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year (2019): Callie Tucker, Catholic
By Mike Blackerby That black cloud that dogged Catholic’s Callie Tucker for the better part of her running career finally lifted. After two years of battling injuries, a finally healthy Tucker ascended to the pinnacle of high school cross country … [Read more...]
All-5Star Preps Cross Country Teams (2019)
5Star Preps girls cross country team Runner of the Year: Callie Tucker, Catholic Coach of the Year: Chelsea Osborne, Farragut Girls First Team Jara Marei Auf dem Berge (William Blount, junior): Posted a fourth-place (19:58) finish at the Region … [Read more...]
Graduation hit hard but Morristown West (7-4) girls’ basketball still facing challenges in 2019-20
Just 5 percent of Morristown West's team scoring came back for this girls' basketball season. They're three still three games above .500, though, and challenging themselves in Greenville during this holiday break. On Friday, they faced a 6-foot-3 … [Read more...]
King University commit Bri Dunbar becoming ‘more effective on offense’ for Oak Ridge Lady Wildcats
By Mike Blackerby GREENEVILLE – Oak Ridge point guard Bri Dunbar took it to heart when Lady Wildcats coach Paige Redman gave her some sage advice early in her career. “Like coach always says, we can be as good as we want to be,” said Dunbar. She … [Read more...]
Catholic thrives in D.C., Powell girls perfect, OR grows in Myrtle, Cosby’s W streak
By Mike Blackerby This week’s Flashback in the 5Star Preps coverage area takes a look at: · The buzz around Catholic boys basketball · Fast start for Powell girls · Oak Ridge girls hit the beach · Cosby’s boys hope for return … [Read more...]