BY JOHN BRICE TSSAA Correspondent Perhaps the earliest footnote in a career full of milestones and shattered records, Gary Rankin heeded the advice of his father as he first launched his prep coaching career decades ago at his high school alma … [Read more...]
Dustin Peels steps down as head football coach at Wartburg Central
BY JESSE SMITHEY The job posting hit the TSSAA website on Sunday. … [Read more...]
CLASS 3A GIRLS SEMIFINALS: Cocke County’s historic run meets an emotional end in loss to Dyersburg
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Be it by a head coach or by a player from the Cocke County girls basketball team Friday night, every tear shed in the postgame was understandable. The Lady Red's historic season had just concluded at the hands of … [Read more...]
2024 Class 2A SEMIFINALS: Loretto denies Gatlinburg-Pittman’s bid to get to title game, 55-52, in overtime
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Trying to make history is never an easy task. The Gatlinburg-Pittman High School girls basketball team can attest to that. During Friday's Class 2A State Semifinal against Loretto, the Lady Highlanders held … [Read more...]
CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS: Upperman Lady Bees oust upset-minded Greeneville, 64-49
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Kyla Jobe made a big-time declaration Thursday night in the press room, following Greeneville's 64-49 loss to Upperman in the Class 3A state quarterfinals. The junior guard let it be known that the Lady Greene … [Read more...]
Class 3A QUARTERFINALS: Cocke County rallies past Heritage, 55-53, for program’s first state tournament win since 1958
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Karmine Carmichael, the freshman standout from Cocke County High School, isn't known as a keen free-throw shooter. At least, not at this point in her prep career. Entering Thursday's Class 3A state quarterfinal … [Read more...]
2024 Class 2A Quarterfinals: Gatlinburg-Pittman Lady Highlanders handle Smith County, 54-46
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Maddy Newman proved to be quite the safety net for the Gatlinburg-Pittman girls' basketball team Thursday. With the Lady Highlanders' lead in a Class 2A state quarterfinal dwindling by the minute, Newman provided … [Read more...]
2024 Class 2A Girls Quarterfinal: McMinn Central’s final shot doesn’t fall in 66-63 overtime thriller against York
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Shooters can just tell. The split second a ball rolls off their fingertips, they can tell if their shots are short. They can sense if they're long. So when Karina Bystry — one of East Tennessee's top … [Read more...]
GIRLS STATE QUARTERFINAL — Extra motivation keeps Sevier County in it, but Bearettes fall to Bartlett, 54-42
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Kinley Loveday, the senior point guard at Sevier County, fanned her face in order to fight back the tears beginning to rush forth with 28.5 seconds left to go in Wednesday's state quarterfinal against … [Read more...]
Former Vol basketball player JaJuan Smith named head boys’ basketball coach at Knoxville Catholic
BY JESSE SMITHEY For the better part of the last two months of the high school basketball season, JaJuan Smith led the Knoxville Catholic boys' basketball team as its interim coach. That tag has now been removed. … [Read more...]