Blaze basketball teams finish regular season with split at Coalfield
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Lanee Carmichael runs past two Rocky Top Shock defenders during the Lady Blaze’ last home game Saturday, Dec. 1. - Ken Leinart
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Brian Hall (35) runs interference for the Blaze’s Hayden Craig (11) as he makes a pass to an open teammate during the Clinton game against Caryville/Jacksboro. - Ken Leinart
The Clinton Blaze basketball teams concluded their regular season with a split at Coalfield Thursday night.
The Lady Blaze closed out the 2018 campaign with a victory thanks to 11 points from Bralee Hall. Clinton, coached by head coach Terry Kerley, finished the year with a 14-3 record after winning just one game in 2017.
The Clinton boys closed out their season with a 40-29 loss to a tough Coalfield squad.
Clinton, which won a makeup game against St. Mary’s 40-24 on Tuesday, Dec. 4, finished the season with an 11-6 record.
Point guard Hayden Craig, who averaged nine points per game this season, missed the game due to the flu.
Camden Nelson scored eight points and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. Jack Wilson added seven points and grabbed nine rebounds. Brian Hall scored four points, blocked four shots and had six rebounds.
Against St. Mary’s of Oak Ridge, Craig scored 12 points (including the first 10 of the game). Hall scored eight points and pulled down seven rebounds. Andrew McAmis had six points and six rebounds. Wilson was also on the force on the boards as he had five rebounds for, Clinton by Jeff Kite.
The game was postponed earlier in the season due to illness on the St. Mary’s squad.
Like the Lady Blaze, the Blaze had just one win in their inaugural season last year.
Upcoming Schedule: The season may be over for the Blaze and Lady Blaze but the teams will play exhibition games against the teachers and staff on Jan. 12 at the Clinton City Gymnasium.
Blaze Soccer Clinic: The Blaze Soccer Clinic will conclude this week. The clinic began recently. Both boys and girls can sign up before the next camp session.
Clinic sessions for players in Grades 1-3 are Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Clinton City Football Stadium. Camp sessions for players in Grades 4-6 are held on Fridays from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the football stadium. In the event of inclement weather, the clinic will be held at Clinton City Gym.
The clinic is run by professional soccer player Chris Carroll.
Clinton City Schools athletic director E.T. Stamey said that the Blaze is hoping to field both boys and girls soccer teams in the spring of 2019.
“We started doing the clinic to gauge interest in soccer in the community,” Stamey said. “We’ve been doing [Clinton Blaze Athletics] for a couple of years and we’re hoping to have soccer in the spring.”
For more information about soccer contact Stamey via e-mail at staymeye@clintonschools.org.
Bowling Season slated for March: The Blaze will field bowling teams in 2019. The recruiting effort will begin in January and competition begins in March.
Blaze Track Clinic set for April: The Blaze Track Clinic will be held on April 2 at the Clinton High School Track.
Blaze Academic Clubs: The Blaze has a reading club that is open to elementary school students at all three of the city’s elementary schools.
Clinton also has an H20 Science Club, which is open to first graders. It focuses on water sciences and is intended to spark interest in science at an early age.
