Lady Wildcats perfect in league play
Oak Ridge’s Jenna Johnson blocks a shot in the Lady Wildcats’ game against Fulton on Saturday night. (photo:Barry Houchin )
The Lady Wildcats completed another perfect run through their league schedule when they defeated Powell Thursday night at Wildcat Arena.
Oak Ridge (17-7 overall, 10-0 in the district) defeated the Lady Panthers 64-31. Ayana Porter scored 24 points and knocked down six 3-pointers.
Jenna Johnson added 11 points, Ze’Yana Stewart had 10 points, and Euleesha Mitchell finished with nine for the Lady Wildcats.
Theyhaven’t lost a district game since 2021-22, and have posed a 56-2 league record since 2019-20.
This season, ORHS, under the guidance of head Coach Paige Taylor, won nine of its 10 league games by double digits. The only time the Lady Wildcats were tested was in their District 3-4A opener against the Lady Panthers at the Jeff Hunter Gymnasium. They prevailed 47-45 in that game.
On Saturday, Oak Ridge outlasted Fulton, 53-40, at Wildcat Arena behind 26 points, six rebounds and four steals from Stewart.
Jenayah Pippins, a freshman, had seven points, seven rebounds and three steals. Porter had six points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Jenna Johnson, who returned this season after suffering a season-ending injury during the 2022-23 campaign, reached a pair of career milestones against the Lady Falcons on Saturday as she scored her 750th career point and pulled down her 500th career rebound.
The Lady Wildcats had one more regular-season game remaining at press time as they hosted Alcoa on Senior Night on Tuesday night. Results were not available at press time.
The district tournament opened Tuesday in Fountain City. Top-seeded ORHS and No. 2 Karns have opening-round byes.
The Lady Wildcats return to action Thursday at 6 p.m. when they play the winner of Tuesday’s contest between Powell and Knoxville Halls.
The Lady Wildcats and Lady Beavers have qualified for the Region 2-4A Tournament.
District 3-4A Tournament seeds: No. 1 Oak Ridge, 2. Karns, 3. Campbell County, 4. Powell, 5. Halls, 6. Central.