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) …

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 …

Yates

Scotts Hill no match for Lady Highlanders, as Gatlinburg-Pittman advances to second Final Four in school history

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MURFREESBORO – Gatlinburg-Pittman was slated with an early tip-off at 10 a.m. for their Elite 8 matchup with Scotts Hill, but the early tip didn’t affect the Lady Highlanders, as they never trailed, going on to a 68-32 win. “I think the biggest thing we saw on film, was that no one we saw them against really pressured the basketball very well,” Gatlinburg-Pittman coach Katie Moore said. “I think that was something that helped us tremendously. I don’t think they ever got into an offensive flow, just because we were changing defenses and they couldn’t handle our …

Kayle Yates

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 …