Alcoa vs Maryville

Alcoa defeats Maryville 28-21 for third win in four years

BY BRIAN HAMILTON ALCOA – It was the 97th edition of the Battle of Pistol Creek. Like many of the previous editions, everyone in attendance knew what you could expect, a close game with several climactic, pivotal moments. Friday’s rendition of the bitter rivals proved to be just that. For the second consecutive year, Alcoa came away with a crucial stop in the red zone to hold on a late lead and come away with a close victory, winning 28-21. The Tornadoes seniors will go out 3-1 against Maryville, a team that it had only beaten once between 2011 and …

NVA vs Pigeon Forge

Northview Academy sweeps Pigeon Forge to open district play

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KODAK – The 2025 season arrived with high expectations for Northview Academy, as the Lady Cougars bring back most of their core and the fact that the region is much more favorable now. The last two teams to defeat NVA and deny them a shot at state were Anderson County and Gibbs, who are both now in Class 3A. Pigeon Forge opened the season hoping to turn the corner, after a 10-13 2024 campaign and 4th place district finish. The Lady Cougars did not disappoint on Tuesday night, however, sweeping the Lady Tigers 25-16, 25-17, and 25-19. …

GP vs South-Doyle

South-Doyle hands Lady Highlanders second loss in TKA tri-match

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – South-Doyle had to rally from a 25-23 loss to Gatlinburg-Pittman in the first set to win the second set 25-15 and the third set 15-7, but the Lady Kees overcame the deficit to win 2-1 and hand the Lady Highlanders an 0-2 start to the season. “We came in with one game plan and one girl said she didn’t feel good, so we were like, ‘if she goes down, we’ve got to switch things around,’ and that’s what happened that first game,” South-Doyle head coach Allison Jacobs said after the match. “She played through it …

TKA vs Gatlinburg-Pittman

Lady Lions down Gatlinburg-Pittman in season opener

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The King’s Academy took down Gatlinburg-Pittman on Monday evening, winning the season-opening match 2-1. The Lady Lions won the first set 25-20, then lost the second set 25-22, and took the third set 25-19 to win the first game of the tri-match. The season opening win showed promise for a team that went 7-19 a year ago, during head coach Lauren Patterson’s first season. “I think the biggest part was actually just building up relationships,” TKA head coach Lauren Patterson said. “There’s always been athletes (at TKA), but it was just me getting to know …

Noel Meza-Flores

Eagleton escapes after Pigeon Forge second-half rally falls short

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MARYVILLE – Eagleton picked up a crucial district win on Monday night, as the Royals held off a Pigeon Forge comeback for a 70-63 win. Eagleton saw a 14-point lead midway through the third quarter dissipate to a 1-point lead early in the fourth quarter, but resiliency was what helped the Royals come away with the win. “We didn’t cover the middle, but Pigeon Forge did a lot of stuff to make that happen,” Eagleton College & Career Academy head coach Scott West said after the game. “They spaced it well and (Chris) Fudger’s a real nice …