Maryville stuns Lady Wildcats

March 1, 2023 by Ken Lay

The 2022-23 season came to an end for the Oak Ridge High School girls basketball team in the Region 2-4A Quarterfinals.

The Lady Wildcats earned the No. 1 seed from District 3-4A by winning the league’s postseason tournament after completing a perfect regular-season run.

But they came up on the losing end of a 59-51 decision against Maryville Friday night at Wildcat Arena.

Oak Ridge (20-10) blew a 34-23 halftime lead en route to falling to the Lady Rebels (14-19), the No. 4 seed from District 3-4A.

The loss ends a season in which the Lady Wildcats won 16 of their last 18 games, including 13 in a row from Dec. 29-Feb. 6.

Oak Ridge got off to a slow start, going 3-8 out of the gate.

In Friday night’s season finale, Ze’Yana Stewart had 16 points to lead the Lady Wildcats.

Dimitria Strickland, who missed time in the district tournament due to injury, added 15 points.

Ayana Porter finished with nine.

Jada Edwards had a double-double for the Lady Rebels as she scored a game-high 24 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

She scored 12 over the final eight minutes of the contest to help Maryville notch the upset win.