Bearettes score 26 straight to finish game, spoil Hawk’s return

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEVIERVILLE – There were several storylines heading into this key district matchup for both teams. The major storyline being the return of senior Jefferson County star Madi Hawk. The Wofford signee went down with her second concussion of the season on December 29th at Carter and the Lady Patriots have been winless without her. “I heard that she’d been cleared, so I expected her to play,” Sevier County coach Jonathan Shultz said. “We let her get to the free throw line too much, but only allowed her to make two threes. Other than that, I felt we …

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 …

Cocke-Seymour

Lady Red pick up season sweep of Seymour despite 17-day layoff

BY BRIAN HAMILTON NEWPORT – Cocke County played its first game since January 6 on Tuesday night and the Lady Red showed no signs of rust, leading Seymour from start to finish for a 52-45 win. “It seemed like, tonight, every time they made a run, we were able to hit a big shot,” Cocke County coach Boddie Bible said after the game. “That’s huge. That’s how you win games. Credit Seymour, they made shots and they made us play until the buzzer.” “Our shots weren’t falling tonight, which is usually uncharacteristic, maybe it’s the time off, maybe it’s not,” …

‘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

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 …

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 …

Halle Bailey (3) drives against West during the Lady Tornadoes' 72-14 win over the Lady Rebels. Photo by Brian Hamilton

Lady Tornadoes throttle West 72-14 to open 2024

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – Alcoa jumped out on West early and never let up, as the Lady Tornadoes found themselves leading by 30 points at halftime, which resulted in Alcoa coach David Baumann playing his entire roster and cruising to a 72-14 win to start 2024. “It gets the right taste in their mouths, obviously (after New Year’s break),” Baumann said after the game. “It gets them back in shape a little bit. We talked about it before the game and during the game and we always want to work on ‘us’ and obviously it was good to get …

Gatlinburg-Pittman Smoky Mountain Winter Classic Champions

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 …

Gatlinburg-Pittman vs Riverside (SC)

Lady Highlanders hold off Riverside (SC) to advance to Winter Classic final

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – The Winterfest Shootout is the girls basketball tournament being played at Sevier County High School this week, but the Lady Highlanders found themselves in a winter shootout in the Smoky Mountain Winter Classic at Gatlinburg on Thursday night. The Lady Highlanders scored early and often, but so did Riverside (SC), as the two teams traded baskets throughout much of the first half. Gatlinburg-Pittman saw a 15 point lead almost evaporate before the half, due the Lady Warriors three-point shooting, but were able to push the lead back to 20 in the third quarter before having …