Lady ’Cats fall to Mo-East in championship
Senior Lady Wildcat center Jenna Johnson took top-scor- er honors during opening-round play of the Hammer’s Hardwood Classic on Thursday night. Johnson posted 14 points and five rebounds as the Lady Wildcats defeated Sevier County 44-42. (photo:Tony Cox )
Oak Ridge (9-1) fell 45-34 to Morristown East in the championship game of the Webb Bracket at the Hammer’s Hardwood Classic on Saturday.
The game was played at Webb School of Knoxville, concluding a three-day tournament that began Thursday at Wildcat Arena and featured some of East Tennessee’s toughest teams.
Tournament Recap
The Lady Wildcats opened the tournament with a 44-42 victory over Sevier County on Thursday
Center Jenna Johnson led Oak Ridge with 14 points, five rebounds, and one steal. Ayana Porter contributed nine points, four rebounds, and four assists, while Ze’Yana Stewart added eight points, three steals, and two rebounds.
In Friday’s semifinal, the Lady Wildcats faced the host Webb Lady Spartans in a battle of undefeated teams. Oak Ridge prevailed with a 55-51 victory, handing Webb (11-1) its first loss of the season.
Stewart was the standout performer, scoring 22 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the win.
In the championship game, Oak Ridge fell short against Morristown East.
The Lady Hurricanes held the Lady Wildcats to their lowest scoring total of the season, snapping their unbeaten streak.
Earlier in the Week
Oak Ridge began the week with a 66-44 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Wildcat Arena.
Stewart led the way with 17 points, while Porter added 16 points, and Evalya Mitchell chipped in 10.
The Lady Wildcats jumped out to a 14-9 lead after the first quarter and extended their advantage to 34-17 by halftime. They outscored the Lady Raiders 22-7 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
Looking Ahead
Oak Ridge will return to action on Thursday in the Andrew Johnson Ladies’ Classic, an annual tournament in Northeast Tennessee.
The Lady Wildcats are set to open against Cocke County.
