West HS continues domination of Panthers

Lenoir City will face Farragut in tournament consolation game

The third meeting of Lenoir City and West High had the same result as the first two, even though the most recent contest was a 66-65 barn-burner on Jan. 24. Friday night wasn’t nearly as close in the AAA-District 4 tournament at Bearden HS, with West finishing on top 71-49.

The Rebels jumped out to an early 23-16 first quarter lead and increased the margin to 15 at the break, going up 40-25. After three in the books, the Panthers had drifted even farther behind at 59-37, and West cruised down the stretch for the easy win. 

Photo by Bryan Lynn © 2012 

Terrance Hall drives around a West 
defender in the Panthers game Friday.

Photo by Bryan Lynn © 2012 

Lucas Hamilton goes up to block the shot of West's top scorer Carson Brooks.

The Panthers struggled on offense. Only Terrance Hall cracked into double digits on the score sheet with 11. Four players, including Nathan Lester, Camion Patrick, Jordan Hall and Bill Ault, matched one another with seven points. Lucas Hamilton banged in six from the paint, while Tyler Jones dropped three in from the free-throw line. Micah McCrary was good from the line with one. Lester, Patrick and Jordan Hall each found the net with one basket from beyond the arc.

The Panthers play Farragut on Tuesday in the district tournament consolation game at Bearden High School. They are scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m.  Lenoir City has defeated the Admirals in both of their prior meetings this season.

Panthers knock Catholic out, advance to face West in district tournament

Lenoir City traveled to Bearden High School Wednesday for the AAA District-4 contest against Knoxville Catholic and knocked the Irish out with a 50-41 win.

The Panthers jumped out to a good lead at the start. After one period the score was 15-7. Camion Patrick set the tone with his first basket, a 3-point shot while Lucas Hamilton banged in a pair of field goals. Nathan Lester added a pair of long-range aerials in the second quarter. At the break, the score was 24-13 with Lenoir City in command, or so it seemed. Catholic had other ideas, making half-time adjustments that sparked a 17-point third quarter rally. At the start of the final frame, the Panthers were still up, but only by one at 31-30.

Down the stretch, the Panthers made their own adjustments, with determination to not bow out early. Jordan Hall and Terrance Hall each ripped the net from long-range. Alex Hatfield was a perfect three-for –three from the foul line and banged in a couple of field goals from the paint to keep the Irish at bay in the end. 

Photo by Bryan Lynn © 2012 

Lenoir City's Alex Hatfield works for position to put up a shot

.

Photo by Bryan Lynn © 2012 

Camion Patrick goes up for a layup in the Panthers' game against Catholic.

All total, eight Panthers inked the score sheet, with Jordan Hall earning top honors at 10. Hamilton tallied nine, with Hatfield hitting for seven points, all in the fourth quarter. Lester and Tyler Jones each scored six, while Terrance Hall and Patrick had five each.

Lenoir City will play West High School on Friday at 7:30 p.m. All district tournament games are at Bearden High School in Knoxville.

Rest in peace. Remembering Greg Carter and the 1986 World Series

by Ambler Brown 

I've never been to a World Series, but I got close once. I was in New York in October 1986 when catcher Greg Carter was one of several Mets heroes of game six. Down 3-2 on the scoreboard that night, with Boston up 3-2 in the series, Carter hit an eighth-inning sacrifice fly that tied the game.

Boston came back to take a 5-4 lead in the 10th inning. In his next at bat with two outs, Carter reached on a single that brought the tying run to the plate. The rally that followed gave the Mets a come-from-behind win that forced game seven. New York's winning run scored on a single by Mookie Wilson, a ground ball that went through Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner's legs. The game is still considered one of the greatest comeback wins in World Series history.

I was staying with a friend at East Hampton, Long Island the Saturday night it all started, with game one at Shea Stadium. My friend John Riddell had season tickets and loved the Mets. He had put his name in the lottery and received two tickets each for game one and game seven, if the series went that far. He took his wife to game one. Can't fault John for that.

I went to a restaurant that night with my traveling companion Tim Cooper. Tim and I watched game one on television. The next day we drove into "The City", right past Shea and marveled at the excitement and drama that we knew would unfold over the next few days. The Mets were playing Boston and the Red Sox had won the night before. Would the Mets come back and win or get swept, as most sports prognosticators were predicting? Only time would tell.

It was an odd series. The home team lost the first four games. Boston won game five at Fenway Park to go up 3-2 in the series. Games six and seven were back at Shea Stadium, with New York the winner of both games and the Series title. John and his wife were there for game seven to see the Mets crowned World Champions.

I had another connection to this series, from the Boston side, which I didn't learn about until I returned home. A couple of close friends had attended one of the games in Boston, Aubrey Harwell being the guest of George Gillett, to help George celebrate his birthday. At the time George owned WSMV-TV Channel 4 in Nashville. I had introduced them to one another through our mutual efforts to raise money for the Boy Scouts. Aubrey is a distinguished Nashville attorney and George had engaged him to help with some legal stuff.

Aubrey was like a little boy telling me with great glee about flying to Logan International Airport in George's private jet along with some other Nashville businessmen. Aubrey said the group was whisked over to Fenway Park in a limousine and rode an elevator up to sky boxes, where they walked in and sat down in Commissioner of Baseball Peter Ueberroth's private box to watch the game. I would have been excited too. What a great way to enjoy your birthday!

I learned last night that Greg Carter had passed away from brain cancer at the age of 57. Rest in peace Greg. You were one of my heroes of the baseball diamond not so very long ago.

Loudon loves a sweet pair of wins over Wildcats

Monday closed out Loudon's regular season at home with Sweetwater proving to be a good tune-up heading into the start of district tournament week at Loudon. The Lady Redskins downed the Lady Wildcats 67-50 and the boys pounded the Wildcats 60-43.

The girls contest allowed Coach Bryant Collins to clear his bench, with 10 of the Lady Redskins inking the score sheet before the night was over. Senior post player Chelsey Moore shared the top scoring total at 19 with Sweetwater’s Raven Jefford. Loudon’s Zoe Grimes added 11, followed by Jara Gasper with nine and Savannah Berry hitting eight. Freshman Aspen Jordan was good with five points, while Julie Waddell and Bre Snow each dropped four through the hoop. Jodi Dailey drained a long-range bucket for three. Bekah Campbell and Haylee Henry each scored early field goals for two points apiece. Joining Dailey with baskets from beyond the arc were Berry with one and Moore with two.

Loudon started slow and allowed the Lady Wildcats an early lead. After one period, the visitors were up 13-12. The Lady Redskins turned up the intensity on defense in the second period, holding Sweetwater to only three points. They also dialed up more offense to the tune of five players scoring a combined 13 to jump on top 25-16 at the half. 

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Savannah Berry takes it to the hoop through a pair of Lady Wildcats.

By the time the third quarter clock wound down, the Lady Redskins’ Moore and Grimes were wound up, each hitting three field goals in the 19-point period for a 44-28 thrashing. Loudon gave no quarter down the stretch. In the fourth, 23 points by seven different Lady Redskins put the game out of reach, even though Jefford hit three 3-point baskets in a valiant 22 point comeback bid by Sweetwater.

A marked difference in free throw shooting could have spelled doom for Loudon had the score been closer. The Lady Redskins only hit seven-of-16 for 43.7 percent from the charity stripe. Sweetwater connected on 15-of-21 for 71.4 percent of their foul shots.

The Lady Redskins won the regular season title and earned a bye in the District 4-AA tournament at Loudon this week. They will hit the hardwood Saturday at 7 p.m. against the winner of Thursday’s CAK/Kingston game. The district championship is scheduled for Feb. 21 at 6 p.m.

Coming off a thrilling come-from-behind double overtime win over cross-county rival Lenoir City last week, the Redskins continued both their comeback and winning ways at the expense of Sweetwater.

Sweetwater started strong, going up 14-6 on their hosts in the first period. The second quarter saw a complete reversal as Loudon scored 19 to the Wildcats eight for a 25-22 Redskin advantage. Loudon’s defense got even stingier in the third. The Redskins held the visitors to only five, while thrilling the home crowd with 3-point shots by Jordan Belvin (two) and Andrew Hendrix (one), to ink 19 more points in the period. The 44-27 score at the third quarter buzzer had the fans roaring their approval. Both teams put 16 through the hoop in the fourth, keeping the final score margin right where Loudon wanted it with a 17-point advantage.

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Andrew Hendrix puts up a shot in Loudon's 60-43 win over Sweetwater.

Hendrix led the Redskins with 15 points, while Ty Hairston was close behind at 13. Belvin and Jaden Bailey each ripped the net for nine. Jon Dorsett was good with six and Jake Blankenship banged in four. Clay Jenkins and Justin Shell each added a pair on fourth quarter field goals. Bailey hit a long-range basket in addition to Belvin and Hendrix’s third quarter heroics from outside.

The Redskins play Scott County Friday at 8 p.m. in district tournament play at Loudon High School.

2012 Lenoir City Junior Varsity Basketball Tournament

Pool “A”                                                Pool “B”

                                      Lenoir City                                         North Middle

Jefferson Middle                               Rockwood

Midway                                              Harriman

Wartburg                                            CAK (Boys)

Greenback                                          Oliver Springs (Girls)

                                                            Cherokee (Girls)      

(B) = boys             (G) = girls

Saturday Feb 18                                                                  Saturday Feb 25

(G)  9am    Oliver Springs vs North                    (G)  9 am                9^th & 10^th place

 (B) 10am  CAK vs North                                    (B)  10 am              9^th & 10^th place                    

(G)  11am  Harriman vs Rockwood                     (G)  11 am              7^th & 8^th Place

(B)  12pm  Harriman vs Rockwood                    (B)  12 pm              7^th & 8^th Place

(G)  1pm    Lenoir City vs Jefferson                   (G)  1 pm                5^th & 6^th Place

(B)  2pm    Lenoir City vs Jefferson                   (B)  2 pm                5^th & 6^th Place

(G)  3pm    Midway vs  Wartburg                       (G)  3 pm                3^rd & 4^th Place

(B)  4pm    Midway vs Wartburg                       (B)  4 pm                3^rd & 4^th Place

                                                                                (G)  5 pm                Championship Game

Monday Feb 20                                                    (B)  6 pm                Championship Game

(G)  4:15pm    Greenback vs Jefferson

(B)  5:15pm    Greenback vs Jefferson

(G)  6:15pm     Lenoir City vs Midway

(B)  7:15pm     Lenoir City vs Midway                         Admission: $3     Children under 5 is free

(G)  8:15pm     Cherokee vs North                                  

                                                                                     * 8 minute quarters with running clock

Tuesday Feb 21                                                         * Clock will only stop on timeouts or the

(B)  4:15pm          North vs Rockwood                            last 2 minutes of 2^nd & 4^th quarters.

 (G)  5:15pm         North vs Rockwood                    *Overtime will be 3 minutes with running clock.

 (B)  6:15pm         CAK vs Harrimanr                        Clock will only stop last minute of overtime.

(G)  7:15pm          Oliver Springs vs Harriman         Each team gets one extra timeout in overtime.

(G)  8:15pm          Cherokee vs Rockwood

                                                                                       * 5 timeouts per game in regulation

Wednesday Feb 22                                                     * Seeding for final Saturday is based on:

(G)  4:15pm          Midway vs Jefferson                                          1^st record

(B)  5:15pm          Midway vs Jefferson                                          2^nd Fewest points allowed

(G)  6:15pm          Greenback vs Wartburg                                     3^rd coin toss

(B)  7:15pm          Greenback vs Wartburg                 * Halftime will be 5 minutes

                                                                                               

Thursday Feb 23                                                  

(B)  4:15pm          Rockwood vs CAK                     

(G)  5:15pm          Rockwood vs Oliver Springs    

(B)  6:15pm          North vs Harriman

(G)  7:15pm          North vs Harriman

(G)  8:15pm          Cherokee vs Oliver Springs

Friday Feb 24

(G)  4:15pm          Lenoir City vs Greenback         

(B)  5:15pm          Lenoir City vs Greenback            

(G)  6:15pm          Jefferson vs Wartburg                

(B)  7:15pm          Jefferson vs Wartburg

* First team listed will be home team

Lenoir City Middle School Lady Panthers win championship!

CHAMPIONS!

They had met three times already, twice in the regular season and a third time for the District 4 title. Could they take the section title facing the Midway Lady Green Waves a fourth time? Their second meeting on Dec. 15 was the closest, with a 37-32 victory. The district title game was a 60-23 blowout on Feb.2. “They’ll be coming after us,” a nervous Lenoir City Middle School girls coach Rachel Gray said.

The Lady Panthers knew they were in a fight from the opening whistle. At the end of one the score was tied 12-12. The Lady Waves rallied for a 16-13 edge at 4:35 to go in the second period. The Lady Panthers were undaunted and came back with a seven-point run to go in front 20-16. At the half Lenoir City had pushed out to a 25-21 lead.

In the third, strong defense and their best scoring quarter took some of the anxiety away. Maegan Hudson ripped a three at 1:28 and Jaila Arnwine matched it with one of her own with 45 seconds on the clock. With Amberlee Zeller hitting a pair of baskets in the paint, Lenoir City increased the margin to 41-29.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012

Jaila Arnwine goes up for a shot 

with Midway defenders in her face.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012

Maegan Hudson rips a 3-point shot 

in the first quarter Saturday. 
Hudson was named tournament MVP.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
Amberlee Zeller drives the lane to put up 
a shot over Lady Wave defenders.

Good defense in the fourth held Midway to only five points, while the Lady Panthers continued to pour in points. Jermeria Dortch had the hot hand down the stretch, with six of her 11 points in the final frame. Ashlynn Zeller banged in a field goal and a free throw for three and the Lady Panthers coasted to the final buzzer with a victory and the sectional title in hand. The score at the final horn was 55-34 in favor of the Lady Panthers.

Hudson had the game-high scoring total of 23 points. She was good from long-range with four baskets. Dortch scored 11 and Arnwine netted 10, including the three in the third. Ashlynn Zeller hit a long-range basket early plus her fourth quarter points for a total of six. Amberlee Zeller added a fourth quarter free throw to her pair of baskets in the third for a combined five points.

Jubilation reigned as Lenoir City Middle School fans stormed the court to congratulate the Lady Panthers on winning the championship. Post-game ceremonies included the naming of all five Lady Panthers’ starters to the all-tournament team, with Hudson receiving the award as tournament Most Valuable Player.

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012
Lady Panthers win 55-34 over Midway to take section title!

Photo by Ambler Brown © 2012

From left, Ashlynn Zeller, Jaila Arnwine, Amberlee Zeller, Jermeria Dortch and Maegan Hudson started and were each named to the All-Tournament team. Hudson was named tournament Most Valuable Player.

Follow this linke to view and purchase more photos from the sectional championship.

Loudon sweeps second round of bridge series, handing Lenoir City a pair of losses.

Boys battle through two OTs – Redskins upset Panthers 77-75.

With winter weather moving in outside, the cross-county action was heated inside Loudon High School Friday as the Panthers of Lenoir City came calling. The Lady Redskins showed why they are AA-District 4 champions as they handed the Lady Panthers a 59-46 loss. Their Dec. 2 contest had been closer with Loudon winning 45-44.

The boys’ game in December was as expected, with Lenoir City on top 59-48. Friday, it was everything but the expected as the 9-16 (2-8) Redskins dealt the visiting Panthers 15-11 (8-6) a surprising double-overtime 77-75 defeat. 

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Loudon's Jordan Belvin goes up with a shot as Lenoir City's Jordan Hall defends.  
The Redskins won 77-75 in double overtime.

In the ladies’ contest, Loudon jumped out to an early 15-4 lead in the first period. Lenoir City mounted a bit more offense in the second, but Loudon was consistent and posted a 29-13 first half advantage. The two teams played closer in the third as the Lady Panthers’ scoring leader Tyler Powers dropped in a pair of threes and Kelsey Marriott added another. Unfortunately for the visitors, the late surge was too little, too late. After three the score was 42-24 Loudon. A strong 22-point fourth quarter by Lenoir City made the contest respectable, but Loudon’s consistent scoring produced their best quarter of offense with 17, allowing them to coast in with the win.

Loudon’s Savannah Berry and Jara Gasper combined for 13-of-15 from the free-throw line down the stretch, making it impossible for the Lady Panthers to edge closer.

Gasper notched a game-high 21 points for Loudon. Post player Chelsey Moore banged in 18, including one from long-range. Berry netted nine, also hitting one from outside. Zoe Grimes scored seven and Bre Snow inked the score sheet for two. Haylee Henry and Aspen Jordan each were good with a free throw for one point.

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Kara Steil launches a three for 
the Lady Panthers.

Photo by Sammie Dunlap © 2012.
Loudon's Chelsey Moore drives 
around Lady Panther Kristi Brackett.

Powers was top-gun for the Lady Panthers with 14. Kristi Brackett scored six from the paint. Cailin Hurley and Katie Smartt each dropped in four, while the trio of Kelsey Marriott, Ally Latham and Kara Steil each scored three. The quartet of Dawn Radford, Teela Thomas, Angel Varner and Haley Morris each had two points ink the score sheet. Lindsey Jones was good with one free throw.

The boys contest delivered plenty of heat to counter the falling temperatures outside. Lenoir City screamed to a 20-10 first quarter lead. Loudon ramped up on offense and defense in the second, pulling back within six for a 34-28 score at the half. Loudon took a 47-46 lead to close out the third period. The game went to overtime after regulation with the score tied at 58 and was still knotted at 67 when the third potential game ending horn sounded.  Another extra period was needed to settle it and the home team fans were jubilant with the 77-75 victory after the second overtime.

Loudon’s Jordan Belvin had the game-high hot hand with 25 points, including five 3-point baskets. His inside the paint teammate Jaden Bailey was good for 24, including one from long-range. Andrew Hendrix scored 14, with two buckets from beyond the arc. Ty Hairston netted eight. Bryston Hardy scored five, also hitting a three. Christ Chennault sealed both the scoring for the Redskins and the game, with a key free throw in the final seconds.

For the Panthers, Camion Patrick racked 22 points and Lucas Hamilton banged in 17. Loudon held Lenoir City’s usual sharpshooter Jordan Hall to seven points. Alex Hatfield and Tyler Jones were each good with six points. Bill Ault and Nathan Lester had five each. Terrance Hall scored four while Steven Halcomb hit a 3-pointer. Joining Halcomb with long-range baskets were Patrick with three, Lester with one and Jordan Hall with one.

Loudon will host the AA-District 4 tournament next week. The Lady Redskins 21-4 (8-2) won the regular season AA-District 4 crown and look forward to advancing higher this year. They lost to Pigeon Forge in the regional semi-final on a last second buzzer beater to end their 2011 season. “We want the trophy this time,” senior Chelsey Moore said. “I think we can do it. We should go to state. We’re deeper this year.”

Lenoir City will travel to Bearden High School in Knoxville for the AAA-District 4 tournament. Tournament brackets and schedules will be posted when announced.