Wildcats tame Bobcats in lopsided district 3-4A win
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Malik Howard (4) was one of five Wildcats to score in double digits during Oak Ridge’s 76-46 win over Central. - Tony Cox
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Shamar Greene (2) was a force in the paint for the Wildcats during last Saturday’s district matchup against Central. - Tony Cox
The Oak Ridge High School boys basketball team overcame a slow start to cruise to a dominant 76-46 District 3-4A victory over Knoxville Central on Friday night in Fountain City.
Midway through the first quarter, the Wildcats held a narrow 5-3 lead when Coach Aaron Green called a timeout to regroup his team.
The pep talk worked. Oak Ridge (5-1 overall, 2-0 district) closed the quarter on a 13-0 run and held an 18-3 lead after the opening frame.
“We weren’t finishing early,” Green said. “After the timeout, we started to do a better job. I think they only made five field goals in the first half, and that was a big difference in the game for us.”
Central’s only first-quarter points came from a three-pointer by Parker Hampton.
The Bobcats managed just four field goals in the second quarter as Oak Ridge’s post players Cooper Williams and Shamar Greene dominated the paint.
“We knew that we had the advantage inside, and we wanted to get the ball down there,” Green said.
The Wildcats capitalized, with Williams leading all scorers with 18 points. Oak Ridge also delivered from the perimeter, with Ray Ray Watson and Charlie Taubenheim each scoring 12 points.
Malik Howard and Garrett Giles added 10 points apiece.
Greene contributed eight points to the Wildcats’ inside effort.
Oak Ridge led 46-17 at halftime and extended the margin to 66-31 by the end of the third quarter.
The game’s final period was played with a running clock.
The win was the Wildcats’ third lopsided victory of the week. On Monday, Dec. 9, Oak Ridge defeated in-county rival Clinton 84-54 in a non-district game at Wildcat Arena.
The Wildcats opened District 3-4A play on Tuesday, Dec. 10, with a 75-50 road victory over Knoxville Halls. Williams scored 24 points against the Red Devils, Watson added 16, Greene had 12, and Giles finished with 11.
