BY MONTANA FINDLEY SEVIERVILLE — The Sevier County Bearettes were on their home floor for the Winterfest Shootout, where they met the Lady Timberwolves of Spring Valley High School (West Virginia). The Bearettes dominated this one from the opening tip, pulling away to take a 71-51 win. The Bearettes have played in the Winterfest Shootout before, making it to the Championship round on several occasions, but this was the first time that they’ve walked away as champions. Bearettes’ head coach Jonathan Shultz said he told the team going into the game how important it was to win out on their …
Gatlinburg-Pittman dominates Monroe County (KY) 105-66 in Winter Classic final
BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Ty Glasper had a huge night for Gatlinburg-Pittman, finishing just a couple rebounds and steals shy of a quadruple-double. The junior phenom finished the game with 33 points, 12 assists, eight steals and seven rebounds, as the Highlanders defeated Monroe County (KY) 105-66 to win the Smoky Mountain Winter Classic. “I didn’t even know that I had eight steals,” Glasper said after the game. “I knew about the seven rebounds, but I had no clue about the eight steals. That was a shocker to me.” The Highlanders scored early and often, with Mason Harriss converting …
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 …
Sevier County gets big game from underclassman trio to win King of Smokies Classic
BY BRIAN HAMILTON PIGEON FORGE – Sevier County held off Jasper (13-3), one of the top teams in Alabama, 63-50 to win the King of the Smokies Christmas Classic on Friday afternoon. The Smoky Bears (12-5) were able to weather the hot shooting of Caden Steiner, who hit five three-pointers and scored all 17 of the Vikings’ first half points, thanks to the play of Reed Ownby, Jayden Barton and Parker Newman. The ‘Big 3′, as Sevier County head coach Ken Wright referred to the trio, scored every point for the Smoky Bears until a pair of Mason Ward free …
Gatlinburg-Pittman smothers previously unbeaten Trion (GA) 86-56
BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Trion (GA) came into the semifinals of the Smoky Mountain Winter Classic with a perfect 12-0 record, but left with its first loss of the season, as Gatlinburg-Pittman bludgeoned the Bulldogs 86-56. The game was never really close past midway through the second quarter, as stalwarts Carlos Orr and Ty Glasper imposed their will on the game early and often. Glasper got to the rim almost any time he wanted and Orr was a rebounding machine, finishing with a game-high 13 boards. “When we went and evaluated them, I felt good, but them I turned …