Senior guard Johnathan Stewart (2) and Oak Ridge faced Siegel in a TSSAA Class AAA state quarterfinal at Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on Thursday, March 18, 2021. The Wildcats won 68-57. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By JESSE SMITHEY
MURFREESBORO — Johnathan Stewart, the Oak Ridge senior guard, was already prepping for Round 2 of the Class AAA state tournament when he came to handle his media duties Thursday night following the Wildcats’ 68-57 win over Siegel.
Hydration. Check.
Thera-gun. Check.
The quarterfinal win over Siegel at MTSU’s Murphy Center proved taxing and what awaits Oak Ridge in Friday’s semifinals won’t be any easier.
The Wildcats (28-5) will take on tournament-favorite Memphis Houston (19-3) at 8:30 p.m. Central time.
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The Mustangs feature 6-8 guard Jonathan Lawson (Oregon signee), 6-10 forward Jerrell Colbert (LSU signee), 6-9 forward Mason Miller (Creighton commit), 6-7 forward Cal Greene (D1 prospect) and 6-4 point guard T.J. Madlock, the Region 15-AAA MVP.
“We’ve got tape on them,” said Oak Ridge coach Aaron Green. “Superstition wise, I took a peek but not really. I kept my focus on Siegel. I had some assistants get on them.
“We’ve been here before. When you get to the semifinals, you’re going to have to play some really talented teams regardless of who it is. They’re favored. You never know who’ll win the game. I know they got a lot of size, shoot it well and have three or maybe four D1 guys. … We’ll watch some tape tonight, try to cram in as much as we can into our guys and get them as educated as we can on whoever we play — and hopefully be ready to go when we tip it off tomorrow.”
Oak Ridge was the last one standing in a tit-for-tat game of runs Thursday against Siegel. They entered the fourth quarter knotted at 44-all, but Oak Ridge used a 9-0 run to take a 55-46 lead with 4 minutes, 58 seconds to play in the game.
Stewart punctuated the run with a 3-pointer and then celebrated the make with a mock bow-and-arrow shot into the rafters.
That elation proved short-lived, as Siegel’s Jaylan Wetzel hits two 3s in an 8-0 run.
“We got up nine, and I regret calling a timeout,” said Green. “I called timeout to let our guys know, ‘Hey, this is probably what you’re going to see. Can’t give up a bunch of 3s. Probably going to see press.’
“Next thing you know, they go on a 5-0 run after my timeout.”
Even after Jonathan Milloway’s big 3-point play at the 3:07 mark, Siegel bounced back with a 3 on the other end.
The Stars finally clanked a few in the final minutes, leading to easy run-out scores by Stafford Shanklin and Stewart.
Milloway led all Oak Ridge scorers with 20 points, nine rebound and three blocks. Stewart added 16 points. Shanklin had eight points and 10 rebounds.
And Jeremy Miller had 13 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wildcats held Siegel’s Mr. Basketball finalist, Matthew Schneider, to 4-for-12 shooting. Had 12 points and 16 rebounds.
Oak Ridge scorched the Murphy Center nets in the first quarter, racing to a 22-10 lead with 2:23 left in the opening period. The Wildcats made their first five shots from the floor and went 9-for-14 from the floor in the opening 5:37.
Miller started it all with his 3. Milloway, Lucas Searcy and Stewart added 3s, too.
And the Wildcats looked determine to blow the Stars out of the water.
But over the next 8:15 of clock, Oak Ridge scored just four points and fell behind 27-26.
Milloway’s free throws with 28 seconds left in the half allowed Oak Ridge to pull even with Siegel by the break, tied at 30-all.
“It was a great start. I’d be lying if I thought we were going to blow them out,” said Green. “They got a really great team. Great guards. Mr. Basketball finalist in Schneider.
“We talked about it before the game: (Siegel) was going to make a run regardless. We’ll have some runs during the game. But, obviously, getting off to a good start here helps.”
5STAR PHOTOS pres. by FCA: Oak Ridge Wildcats vs. Siegel (Class AAA state quarterfinals)