Alcoa vs West

Alcoa uses strong third quarter to avenge early season loss to West

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – Alcoa used a big third quarter to break open a game that was tightly contested early on, as the Tornadoes outscored West by 15 in the period and went on to preserve a 69-59 win. The win avenges a 73-71 loss in the Alcoa Thanksgiving Classic back in late November. It is worth noting that the Tornadoes were missing starters Eli Owens, Eli Graf and several other football players for that contest. “One of our key points to being successful was a fast start and a strong finish,” Alcoa coach Ryan Collins mentioned after the …

Gatlinburg-Pittman Smoky Mountain Winter Classic Champions

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 …

Sevier County - King of Smokies Classic Champion

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 vs Trion (GA)

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 …

Sevier County vs Rogers

Sevier County uses strong second half to defeat Rogers (AL) in King of Smokies Classic

BY BRIAN HAMILTON PIGEON FORGE – Sevier County got off to a slow start on Thursday morning, but was able to pull away comfortably in the second half, thanks to a stifling full-court press. The Smoky Bears outscored Rogers 40-21 in the second half to win 67-37 in the first round of the King of the Smokies Classic in Pigeon Forge. “We just played with no energy to start,” Sevier County coach Ken Wright said after the game. “You give them off four days and that’s just typical over the Christmas holidays. They stay up late when they have four …