BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Many thought that this would be a very tough matchup for the Gatlinburg-Pittman. After all, the Lady Highlanders had to scratch and claw to get a tough 54-52 win over Moore County on Friday night. Many thought they would see a rematch of the GP-Cookeville championship game in the 2023 Christmas Classic. Lincoln County used hot shooting to thwart those plans and defeated Cookeville 69-56. The difference on Saturday evening was that Gatlinburg-Pittman’s threes were falling and the hot shooting from Friday night did not carry over for the Lady Panthers. The Lady Highlanders hit …
Lady Highlanders weather slow start to defeat Pigeon Forge 61-21
BY BRIAN HAMILTON PIGEON FORGE – Gatlinburg-Pittman had trouble getting shots to fall early on, as senior Maddy Newman started the game on the bench. Pigeon Forge was able to stay within striking distance in the first quarter, trailing only 8-4, but Newman began to make her presence felt once she entered the game, as the Lady Highlanders cruised to a 61-21 win in the ‘Battle of the Tunnel’ on Tuesday night. “She missed shootaround and didn’t go to the game Friday (at Oneida) because she was sick,” Gatlinburg-Pittman coach Katie Moore said of Newman coming off the bench. Makaylee …
Lady Highlanders win third tournament of season with 57-44 win over Lebanon in Winter Classic
BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – For the second consecutive game, the Gatlinburg-Pittman had to stave off a fourth-quarter comeback, but the Lady Highlanders were able to take care of business to defeat Lebanon 57-44 in the Smoky Mountain Winter Classic championship. The win improves Gatlinburg-Pittman to 9-0 on the year in tournament play. “I think this is such a good experience for us, because when you go to the state tournament you have to be able to play on back-to-back nights usually and that’s ultimately where we’re trying to get to, our number one goal,” Gatlinburg-Pittman coach Katie Moore said …
Gatlinburg-Pittman takes down Happy Valley 70-47 in regional semis
BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Leah Stinnett has been having a district tournament for the ages with the first triple-double in school history against Chuckey-Doak on Friday night. The sophomore guard followed that up by leading Gatlinburg-Pittman in scoring — with 20 points — and helping propel the Lady Highlanders to the district finals with a 70-47 win over Happy Valley. Gatlinburg-Pittman got off to a great start in the fourth quarter and lead after the Lady Warriors pulled to within six early in the second quarter, GP went on a 10-0 run and never looked back. “I thought that …