Barton scores 29 in second-half to fuel Highlanders’ win over Northview

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – The Highlanders used 29 second-half points from senior Jayden Barton to take down Northview Academy 82-68 on senior day in Gatlinburg. The win felt like retribution for a 65-59 loss in Kodak one week after Gatlinburg-Pittman got its football players back following the state championship game. “First and foremost, I’m thankful for Northview being willing to reschedule it,” Gatlinburg-Pittman head coach Rashid Moore said of the game’s rescheduling due to inclement weather. “They could have gotten out of it if they didn’t intentionally make it a point to play. It was one that we had …

Gatlinburg-Seymour boys

Gatlinburg-Pittman takes down Seymour behind Barton’s 40 points and 10 assists

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Gatlinburg-Pittman picked up their 12th win in the last 13 games with a 73-54 drubbing of Seymour on Thursday night, as Jayden Barton went off for 40 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, along with three steals and three blocks. Seymour kept the game close and had an early lead, as the teams were tied at 16-16 after one quarter, but Barton scored 33 of his 40 in the final three quarters, as the Highlanders pulled away. “(Barton) had 35 earlier in the year but that’s definitely been his most in a while,” Gatlinburg-Pittman head coach …

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 …