The King's Academy-Berean Christian

Lady Lions blast Berean Christian 89-17

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The King’s Academy came back from an 11-day layoff due to winter weather and laid an egg at Grace Christian on Tuesday, as the Lady Lions lost their first district game in 64-61 in overtime. “We were a little salty about that and we had to get back out and get a win and get our motor going,” TKA head coach Dante Turnipseed said after the game. “I think we needed that, to be punched in the mouth by Grace (Christian) and to know that we’ve still got to play basketball. Nobody is scared of …

Lady Lions outlast Maryville in overtime to pick up season sweep over Maryville

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The King’s Academy saw a late seven-point cushion evaporate, as Maryville’s Jada Edwards nailed a game-tying three with 20 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Lady Lions were able to outscore the Lady Rebels 9-3 in the overtime period to come away with a 54-48 win on Friday night. “I thought that fighting back as much as we did, we were definitely missing legs (in the overtime period),” Maryville coach Taylor Clark said. “They did a good job of getting it inside and I think we were a little bit timid in there, more timid …

Heritage Northview

Smoky Mountain Sports Girl’s Top-10 (11/26)

Week 2 Top-10 Rankings Gatlinburg-Pittman (5-0) (11) Bearden (4-0) (8) Heritage (5-0) (1) Sevier County (4-1) Northview Academy (4-1) Seymour (3-1) The King’s Academy (2-2) Farragut (4-2) Morristown East (4-1) Pigeon Forge (3-0)

Glasper

Smoky Mountain Sports Girl’s Top-10 (11/19)

Week 1 Top-10 Rankings Gatlinburg-Pittman (2-0) (13) Bearden (1-0) (7) Heritage (2-0) Sevier County (2-0) Northview Academy (3-0) The King’s Academy (0-1) Seymour (2-0) Alcoa (2-1) Farragut (2-1) Morristown East (3-0)    

The King's Academy Lady Lions

Back in the saddle again: Lady Lions outlast Providence Christian to earn Final Four berth

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – They were partying like it was 2020 in Tibbets Gymnasium on Friday night, as the TKA girl’s basketball team earned its first trip to the Final Four since 2020. TKA defeated Providence Christian 71-62 on Friday night, in a neck-and-neck game that was much closer than the final score indicated. Seniors Juleigh Anne Tucker and Leah Thornton were freshmen on the 2020 team and the only two players on the roster who have experience playing in a state tournament, as reserves. This time, Tucker played a much bigger role than 2020, as her 28 points and six …

The King's Academy

Youth gone wild: Eighth-grader and fellow underclassmen propel Lady Lions to region championship berth

BY BRIAN HAMILTON WHITE PINE – The King’s Academy has often been led by seniors Juleigh Anne Tucker and Leah Thornton, but on Friday night the Lady Lions needed someone else to step up, as the two stalwarts didn’t have their best games. TKA relied on an eighth-grader, a freshman and a sophomore to guide the Lady Lions to a region championship berth. Walden finished with a game-high 21 points, hitting three from downtown and a buzzer-beating shot at the end of the third quarter. “I just shot a few and they just started going in and so I just …

Lady Lions trounce Notre Dame 56-23 to advance to first region semifinal since 2020

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – TKA advanced to its first region semifinal since 2020 on Tuesday night, as the Lady Lions put their foot on the gas early and never let up, ending Notre Dame’s season with a 56-23 win in the region quarterfinals. “We just punched them in the mouth first and it gave us some cushion on the back end,” King’s Academy head coach Dante Turnipseed said after the game. The King’s Academy scored immediately to start the game, as freshman guard Bailey Tidwell caught the opening tip and sprinted down the court for a layup and a …