Austin-East takes down rival Fulton 69-67 behind Cherry’s 41

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – Austin-East’s brotherly duo of Shane and Condis Cherry finished the game with a combined 58 points (Shane 41, Condis 17), outdueling Fulton’s twin tandem of Taj and Denaj Kimber, who combined for 35 points (Taj 18, Denaj 17) for a 69-67 win, as it was a packed house with standing room only inside Jody Wright Arena on Saturday afternoon. “When I took the job, I knew (the rivalry) was big, but I didn’t know it was this big,” said second-year Austin-East head coach Denard Bertram. “It’s a testament to see the stands packed with both …

‘It feels like it’s been forever’: Lady Cougars defeat Seymour for first time since 2021, end 7-game skid

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KODAK – Northview Academy appeared to be on a mission Friday night, as the Lady Cougars led from start to finish to defeat Seymour 61-50, ending a 7-game losing streak to the Lady Eagles that dated back to the 2020-21 season. “It feels like it’s been forever. It was really good for us mentally, especially this group of seniors, just knowing that we can do it,” Northview Academy coach Brooke Shelley said of the win. “It was such a great team win and such a balanced win. We came out and I thought our intensity was there …

Walters State - Motlow State

Motlow State spoils Senators’ unbeaten season in overtime

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MORRISTOWN – Walters State saw its undefeated season slip away on Wednesday night, as the Senators had an opportunity to close out the game, leading by seven with just under three minutes left, but a 7-0 run by Motlow State sent the game to overtime, where the Bucks won 91-85 to hand Walters State its first loss of the Jerry Nichols era. “We just folded at the end of the game,” First-year Walters State coach Jerry Nichols said. “We had the game won, despite all the stuff that was going on throughout the game. I thought we …

Walters State

Lady Senators blast Motlow State 68-32 after 10-day layoff

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MORRISTOWN – Motlow State hung with Walters State in the early going, but a big second quarter would give the Lady Senators the cushion it needed to cruise to a dominating 68-32 win. “Look, I’m just glad to play,” Walters State head coach Jasmin Coleman said after the game. “We haven’t played in a week-and-a-half (Georgia Community Christian College cancelled the January 6 contest), so I’m just glad to play. If you know anything about athletics, having big gaps like that, especially with a newer team, it can be a tougher time trying to develop chemistry.” Motlow …

Pigeon Forge-Gatlinburg girls

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 …