BY JESSE SMITHEY History made in Maynardville. Expectations met in Coalfield. And more big wins, player performances and postseason situations unfurled Wednesday night in the TSSAA playoffs for baseball, softball and soccer. Hurry up and … [Read more...]
SPRING PRACTICE REPORT: What We Learned About the Alcoa Tornadoes in the May 2023 Scrimmage against Powell
BY JESSE SMITHEY What we learned about Alcoa: yeah, they're still really good. Eight consecutive state titles. Remember? But if you want to go more in depth with the Tornadoes and what they'll look like for the 2023 season, you've come to … [Read more...]
SPRING PRACTICE REPORT: What we learned about the Powell Panthers in the May 2023 scrimmage at Alcoa
BY JESSE SMITHEY ALCOA — The Powell Panthers won it all in Class 5A in 2021 and then reached the state semifinals last year. But many of the pillars from those two successful campaigns have graduated and landed on college football … [Read more...]
What Coaches Are Saying about the NFHS Foul Totals and Free Throw Administering Changes
BY JESSE SMITHEY With Douglass holding a 58-57 lead over Alcoa in the final minute of 2023 Class 2A boys' basketball state championship, the Tornadoes had to foul five times in a 7-second span to force Douglass into the bonus and put Douglass on … [Read more...]
Union County High School promotes Noah Malicoat to head football coach, Brian Sommer to associate head coach
BY JESSE SMITHEY Union County High School is reversing the trend. With its last few football coaching hires coming from a candidate pool of the experienced, the school has gone in the opposite direction this time — opting for a more youthful … [Read more...]
KOC Postseason Tracker (2023): Heritage Softball outlasts and ousts Karns; Gibbs and Halls softball to meet for region title; Union County softball stays alive
BY JESSE SMITHEY Softball took the main stage Monday in area high school postseason play, as soccer awaits its next stage on Tuesday and baseball on Wednesday. Get caught up on some of the area's top games and individual softball performances … [Read more...]
KOC Postseason Tracker (05.12.23): Karns wins District softball, Vols signee Dylan Loy pitches perfect game, Oak Ridge baseball stuns HVA
BY JESSE SMITHEY A perfect game by a Tennessee signee. An upset by some Oak Ridge Wildcats. And a championship headed to Karns. Plenty happened on Friday night. Let's get you caught up. … [Read more...]
Union County baseball wins first-ever region tournament championship with 5-3 win over Pigeon Forge
BY JESSE SMITHEY Driving over three hours away to play a region championship wasn't ideal for the Union County baseball team. But it sure was worth it Friday. … [Read more...]
SPRING PRACTICE REPORT: Bearden Bulldogs vs. Clinton Dragons – Thursday, May 11, 2023
BY JESSE SMITHEY Here's what we learned Thursday in the Clinton versus Bearden football scrimmage, from top plays to players and more. Turned out to be quite the scene, with some vibes akin to a normal fall Friday night. Even college coaches … [Read more...]
The KOC Postseason Tracker (05.11.23): Coalfield Baseball wins Region, Farragut Softball wins District 4-4A, Powell Softball still alive for district title
Farragut and Alcoa claimed District Tournament championships Thursday night while Powell remained in the hunt for one. Coalfield baseball already captured a region crown, and Pigeon Forge and Union County are set to rematch for region supremacy on … [Read more...]