Hawks fall in semis, close strong season
Clinton Middle School’s Victor Barrett drives to the basket for a layup during the Hawks’ district tournament game against Maryville Middle School on Wednesday, Jan. 21. (photo:Tony Cox )
The Hawks were eliminated Wednesday, Jan. 21, after a 43-30 loss to Maryville at Sevier County Junior High.
“I would’ve liked to win one more game so we could’ve had a chance to go to the sectionals,” Clinton Coach Matt McGhee said. “I think we were playing some of our best basketball at the end of the season.
“When we played Webb School of Knoxville over there early in the year, they beat us by 30. When we played them here, we beat them by 11. That shows how much we improved.”
McGhee, who stepped in as head coach for the 2025-26 season, said the future is bright for the program.
“Our eighth-graders — some will go to Clinton, and some will go to Anderson County. They’ll move on to high school,” he said. “And our seventh-graders, who will be eighth-graders next year, will be good. So whoever the coach is next year will have some good players.”
