BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — The standard has changed with McMinn County High School boys' basketball. No longer is it just trying to get the better of Cleveland. No more is it just beating Bradley Central. Nope. Expectations have … [Read more...]
DIVISION I BOYS STATE, Day One: Youth-laden Sevier County can’t match strengths of Hillsboro in 4A state quarterfinals
MURFREESBORO — Ken Wright, the longtime head boys basketball coach at Sevier County High, had been playing with house money for weeks. His Smoky Bears squad, the one with a 6-8 record heading into January and the one with freshmen littered across … [Read more...]
FCA FISHING FILES: Karns sophomores Hunter Owens, Clayton Kelley have ‘One-in-Million’ day fishing
BY DAVE LINK LENOIR CITY – Hunter Owens figured it might be a good day early Saturday morning (March 11) during the third stop of the Bass Pro Shops-Sevierville High School series on Fort Loudon/Tellico Lakes. He had no idea how good it would … [Read more...]
DIVISION I BOYS STATE: Fulton Falcons dispense of state-rookie Volunteer, 69-55, in Class 3A quarterfinal
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — You'll likely see a different version of Fulton's boys' basketball team come time for their Class 3A state semifinal on Thursday night. Not personnel wise. But effort. While head coach Jody Wright didn't … [Read more...]
Webb guard Lukas Walls, Bearden post Avery Treadwell win 2023 TSSAA Mr. and Miss Basketball awards, respectively
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Lukas Walls and Avery Treadwell capped their high school basketball careers in style Monday during the TSSAA Mr. and Miss Basketball award ceremony at MTSU's Murphy Center. Lukas Walls, a 6-foot-3 senior from … [Read more...]
DIVISION I GIRLS STATE: McMinn Central gets zoned out, 56-37, against defending-champion Westview in 2A Championship
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — By the most generous of estimates Saturday night, Westview High School girls basketball coach Brian Haskins figured that his team played man-to-man defense for maybe two minutes this entire season. Two minutes. … [Read more...]
DIVISION I GIRLS STATE: Karina Bystry (27 points) leads McMinn Central past Gibson County and into Class 2A Championship Round
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — When the McMinn Central girls' basketball team visited its area elementary schools earlier this week for a state-tournament sendoff, the Chargerettes received cards from some of the kids around Englewood. One … [Read more...]
DIVISION I GIRLS STATE: Elizabethton Lady Cyclones fall in DOUBLE OT to undefeated Jackson South Side (33-0) in 3A state semifinals
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Before both teams left the court Thursday following a 84-76, double-overtime thriller in the Class 3A state semifinals, Jackson South Side coach Brent McNeal sought out Elizabethton seniors Lina Lyon and Renna … [Read more...]
DIVISION I GIRLS STATE: McMinn Central free-throw shooting proves key in Class 2A state quarterfinal win over Gatlinburg-Pittman
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Johnny Morgan, the longtime McMinn Central coach with more than 1,000 wins to his credit, still got a little nervous before the Chargerettes' Class 2A state quarterfinal Thursday. But it had nothing to with the … [Read more...]
Greenback announces Zack Rayl as head football coach
BY JESSE SMITHEY The search for a new head football coach at Greenback concluded officially on Wednesday. The school announced Zack Rayl as its new head football coach. Here’s what we know. … [Read more...]