Kayle Yates signing

Gatlinburg-Pittman’s Yates signs with Bryan College

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Kayle Yates transferred to Gatlinburg-Pittman after spending the first three years of her high school career at Lakeway Christian Academy and will play for her third school in as many years, but this time at the collegiate level. Yates signed her letter of intent to play basketball for NAIA Bryan College on Friday afternoon at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School. “I am definitely blessed that I have this opportunity,” Yates said. “Not a lot of people get this opportunity. I’ve been working a very long time, trying to get this opportunity. Me and (Bryan College) Coach (Bryon) …

Emma Watson

Seymour’s Watson signs to play basketball at Roane State

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – After missing most of her junior year with injuries and COVID-19, Emma Watson had a stellar senior season, helping lead Seymour to a district and region championship, as the Lady Eagles finished with 29 wins and fell just one short of a berth in the state tournament. Watson said she thought her senior year would be her last on the hardwood. “I went into my senior year without any offers, and no one had asked me anything or reached out because I was out all of last year, being hurt and then with COVID, so …

Alcoa-Westview

Alcoa’s magical run ends with 44-32 loss to Westview in Final Four

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MURFREESBORO – Alcoa got off to a fantastic start in its first Final Four game since 1984, as the Lady Tornadoes led Westview 12-5. Jada Harrison got hot early, however, scoring all nine points in the first quarter, as Alcoa could only muster two points in the second quarter. The Lady Tornadoes would retake the lead early in the third, but Harrison and Westview would be too much in the end, as the Lady Chargers would go on to win 44-32 and advance to the Class 2A state championship game. As far as playoff experience is concerned, …

Newman

Lady Highlanders lose heartbreaker in overtime to York Institute despite Newman’s 31 points

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MURFREESBORO – Sometimes a bad bounce can determine the outcome of a basketball game or be the difference between rewriting a program’s history. The Gatlinburg-Pittman players and fans saw that first-hand on Thursday night, as the Lady Highlanders’ star center Maddy Newman saw her layup bounce off the front rim with a chance to send GP to its first championship game in school history. “I didn’t know how much time I had left, so I just kind of tried to get it up there, but I missed it,” Newman said. Newman didn’t sulk after missing the potential …

Macie Ridge

Alcoa snaps Westmoreland 25-game win streak to advance to Final Four

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MURFREESBORO – Alcoa came into the game as an underdog in the eyes of many, as the Lady Tornadoes were matched up with Westmoreland, winners of 25 straight. The Lady Tornadoes didn’t view themselves as an underdog, however, as they led for all but 21 seconds of the game and handed the Lady Eagles their first loss since December 3. The Final Four berth will be Alcoa’s first since in 38 years, when the Lady Tornadoes made it to the championship before losing to York Institute 65-34 in 1984. “Dawn Marsh’s team back in 1983-84 made it …