Blaze will host Grace Christian and FOE to close out 2019
The Clinton Blaze basketball teams had a tough go of things on the hardwood Thursday night as both fell to Knoxville Christian School.
The Lady Knights downed Clinton 30-17 while KCS outlasted the Blaze 36-26.
In the girls game, Jailie Rodd scored five points and Abby Phillips added four.
For the boys, Jaxson Alcorn had six points, five rebounds and three blocks, while Matthew Denton scored six points and Camden Nelson scored five points and had five assists.
Inclement weather played havoc with the schedule. The basketball teams had their games against St. Mary’s canceled due to snow on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The games will not be rescheduled.
In other action, recent games were packed with milestones and record-breaking performances for the Clinton Blaze and Lady Blaze basketball teams. Both squads had Thanksgiving week off, but returned to the hardwood with a vengeance.
Each team recorded three wins over the first week of December.
On Thursday, Dec. 5, the Blaze basketball programs reached a milestone and have now combined to win 50 games over the past two years, after struggling in their respective inaugural seasons in 2017.
The Lady Blaze routed Caryville 32-3 and the boys prevailed 41-10.
For the girls, Topanga Easterday scored 10 points and Phillips had eight, while Kenzlee Hutchison grabbed five rebounds.
For the Blaze in the boys game, Nelson scored 17 points and made three three-pointers. He also dished out five assists.
Kaden Webber chipped in with six points, and Jaylon Daniels had six rebounds.
The Blaze boys opened the week with a pair of record-shattering performances on Monday, Dec. 2, and Tuesday, Dec. 3, as their offense heated up from behind the three-point arc both nights.
First, Clinton set a single-game record when it combined to make seven three-pointers in a 51-24 victory over Episcopal School of Knoxville. Webber had 22 points and made five shots from long distance.
Nelson scored five points and had nine assists. Jaxson Alcorn pulled down six rebounds and Grant Hannah grabbed five.
That record didn’t stay in the books long as Clinton broke it 24 hours later in a 51-30 victory over Norwood Middle. Clinton hit eight three-pointers.
Denton and Daniels each scored 11 points, while Alcorn had eight rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Lady Blaze downed Norwood Middle 20-11 on Dec. 3 as Easterday scored 10 points and Phillips finished with five.
Clinton opened the week with a 34-7 win over Episcopal School of Knoxville the previous day.
Jailie Rodd led the Lady Blaze with 11 points, while Phillips and Bethany Lowe scored 10 points each.
The Blaze played Pine Knot from Kentucky and the Lady Blaze and the Lady Blaze played Grace Christian Academy Monday. The two teams hosted Norwood Middle on Tuesday, but results were not available at press time.
Upcoming Schedule: The Blaze basketball teams will close out their 2019 season Thursday night when they host Grace Christian Academy and FOE. The girls’ game against the Lady Rams begins at 6 p.m., and the boys’ contest against FOE will follow.
The Clinton Blaze Athlete of the Week for the week of Dec. 4 is basketball player Matthew Denton. The Blaze Athlete of the Week for the week of Dec. 11 is basketball player Bethany Lowe.
Blaze Academic Clubs: In addition to its athletics programs, CCS has invested in both a reading society and H2O science clubs. These programs were successful last year and Stamey announced that they will continue in 2018-19.
Track Renovations: CCS Athletics Director E.T. Stamey said that improvements on the Blazes’ home track at Clinton Elementary School are planned soon.
CCS Teachers to Compete in Blaze Teachers Bowling League: Area elementary school teachers will compete in a bowling league at Clinton Community Center. League play begins after the Christmas break.
Blaze Bowling: The Blaze will begin a second bowling season on March 4. 2020.