BY JESSE SMITHEY He has coached before at his alma mater. Now, Brad Taylor will do it once more. … [Read more...]
Neyland Williams, Farragut Admirals post 11-5 league win over host Bearden
BY JESSE SMITHEY Neyland Williams, admittedly, had been in a slump. The 6-foot-1 Farragut High School junior sure shed any sign of struggle Wednesday night before the Admirals played rival Bearden. … [Read more...]
5STAR PREPS 2025 BASEBALL SEASON OUTLOOK
As we turn the page from basketball season into spring sports, here's a glance across our six classifications in high school baseball. Get a 2025 outlook on some of the area contenders and top players... … [Read more...]
4A BOYS BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: Hillsboro defeats Oak Ridge for its first title since 1956
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Oak Ridge senior point guard Ray'Quan Watson gazed up at the Murphy Center scoreboard Saturday night, watching the last few seconds tick off of the Wildcats' 57-42 loss to Hillsboro in the Class 4A … [Read more...]
2A BOYS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Loretto (35-0) blocks Alcoa’s 3-peat bid with 68-66 overtime win
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Coaches will tell you: repeating as state champion is hard. And three-peating is even tougher. Alcoa sought on Saturday to be just the ninth boys' programin TSSAA history — and first from East Tennessee — to win … [Read more...]
BIG TAKEAWAYS: Oak Ridge survives 4A semifinal against Whitehaven, 59-53
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — The Oak Ridge boys basketball team (31-3) advanced to its first state championship game since 2014, knocking off Whitehaven, 59-53, at MTSU's Murphy Center on Friday night. Since the game ended late, here are the … [Read more...]
3A BOYS STATE SEMIFINAL: Greeneville rallies late but Upperman withstands for 55-47 win
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — In a matchup billed around two players who vied for Mr. Basketball honors, the Upperman-Greeneville state semifinal Friday night turned its spotlight towards two Greeneville role players late in the … [Read more...]
2A BOYS STATE SEMIFINALS: Alcoa Tornadoes to play for third consecutive 2A championship on Saturday
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — The Alcoa High School boys basketball team will get a chance at a three-peat and two-peat in the same day Saturday. A year ago, the Tornadoes defeated an undefeated team (Douglass) to win its second consecutive … [Read more...]
4A BOYS QUARTERFINAL: Oak Ridge cruises past Walker Valley again and into state semifinals
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Since the Region 2-4A Tournament began March 1, the Oak Ridge boys basketball team has faced, endured and survived nail-biter after nail-biter to cut its path to the TSSAA State Tournament. On Thursday, the … [Read more...]
4A BOYS QUARTERFINAL: Hillsboro fends off Maryville comeback for 53-47 win
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — The comeback attempt was a methodical and effective one. But the Maryville boys' basketball team just couldn't complete it in time. Jonathan Woodlee scored 13 and Brody Smith 10, but a bad start to Maryville's … [Read more...]