County programs build success across football, volleyball and beyond
by Ken Lay
As the calendar turns to 2026, it’s time for one final look back at 2025 and some of the top sports stories across the county. This installment revisits the fall sports season.
Football
At the high school level, Anderson County overcame injuries and adversity to post another memorable campaign. Although its eight-year Region 2-4A winning streak ended with a loss to Gibbs, the Mavericks still captured a ninth- consecutive league title and reached the state quarterfinals before falling to longtime nemesis Greeneville.
Anderson County finished 9-3 and clinched the region championship with a dramatic 31-30 comeback win over Alcoa in the regular-season finale at home.
The Tornadoes, a longtime Class 3A power entering the year with 10 consecutive state titles, went on to win the Class 4A championship with a 47-27 victory over Pearl-Cohn — the same team the Mavericks defeated for the 2022 state title.
Clinton faced a challenging transition year under new head coach Jake Dawson, the program’s third coach in three seasons.
Clinton’s Tristan Lundy had an outstanding performance against Bradley Central in the Hammer’s Classic. The senior had a double-double scoring 21 points and 12 rebounds - File Photo | Leah Gilbert
Clinton High School’s boys basketball team closed out its pre-Christmas schedule with a thrilling victory, escaping with a 68-67 double-overtime win against Bradley Central on Monday, Dec. 22, at the Hammer’s Classic Powered by 5-Star Preps at Christian Academy of Knoxville.
The Dragons sealed the win when Ben Tackett sank a free throw with 6.7 seconds left in the second overtime.
Clinton had to rally in the first extra frame to force a second, after the teams ended regulation tied at 52.
In the second overtime, Clinton built a three-point edge late and took a 63-60 lead when Eli Slaven buried a 3-pointer with 2:22 remaining. But the Bears stayed within striking distance before Tackett’s clutch foul shot proved decisive.
Clinton led 20-19 at halftime and surged ahead with a 16-4 third-quarter run to take a 36-23 advantage.
However, Bradley Central responded with a 29-point outburst in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
The Clinton Lady Dragons basketball team was unbeaten in the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational in the St. Pete Beach bracket. The Lady Dragons swept the tournament with wins over Lakewood (Florida) 63-43, Zephyhills Christian Academy 59-56, and Siverdale Academy of Chattanooga 61-43.
Clinton High School’s girls basketball team is off to a blazing start this season, winning 13 of its first 14 games.
The Lady Dragons (13-1) entered the holiday break riding an 11-game winning streak after sweeping three games in the Tampa Invitational, a showcase tournament held in Florida.
Clinton’s only loss came during the opening week of the campaign against Gatlinburg-Pittman in a Hall of Fame game played in Lenoir City.
Since then, the team has victories over Oak Ridge, Morristown East and Powell, while claiming a second tournament title in the Sunshine State.
The Lady Dragons previously won the Gibbs Thanksgiving Classic in Corryton with wins over Campbell County, Morristown East and Fulton.
In Florida, they swept the St. Petersburg Bracket, played Dec. 20-23.
Clinton claimed the championship with a 61-43 win over Division II-A power Silverdale Academy of Chattanooga on Tuesday, Dec. 23. The Lady Dragons reached the title game by edging Zephyrhills Christian Academy 59-56 the day before.
Senior point guard Addi Gamble, a Carson-Newman University signee, recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She also notched five assists and five steals. Caylin Taylor added 16 points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Josie Moody contributed 12 points, five boards, two assists and a steal. Lanee Carmichael posted seven points, seven rebounds and two assists. Kenzlee Hutchison added eight rebounds, two steals, one block and an assist.
Clinton opened the tournament with a 63-45 win over Lakewood (Florida) on Saturday, Dec. 20.
The Lady Dragons began play in the McDonald’s Classic at Carter High School in Strawberry Plains on Saturday. Results were not available at press time.
Clinton’s Tristan Lundy had an outstanding performance against Bradley Central in the Hammer’s Classic. The senior had a double-double, with 21 points and 12 rebounds - Tony Cox
Anderson County High School’s boys basketball team has entered its holiday break — and it couldn’t come at a better time, according to Coach Jordan Jeffers.
“We don’t play again until we face Lenoir City on Jan. 2, thank God,” Jeffers said. “We need a break and we need to heal up.
“We’re missing five players and three starters, and we’re just not very good right now,” he said. “Hopefully, we can get it together and get healthy by the time district starts.”
The Mavericks wrapped up their pre-Christmas schedule in the Hammer’s Classic Powered by 5Star Preps, hosting three games in the event.
But home court offered little advantage.
“We played three games and we lost all three,” Jeffers said.
The Mavericks opened tournament play Friday, Dec. 19, against a strong Pickett County team.
Despite a solid effort, they came up short, 74-56.
“We played pretty well against Pickett County, and we lost by 18,” Jeffers said.
“Man, they’re really, really good.”
Underclassmen Colton Lawson and Max Stanfill paced the Anderson County offense with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
On Saturday, Dec. 20, the Mavericks dropped a close 70-64 decision to Lenoir City.
Landry Sharp poured in 20 points, while Lawson added 11.
The Mavericks closed out the Classic on Monday, Dec. 22, falling 67-61 to Kingston.
Mason Tackett led Anderson County with 17 points, and Sharp contributed 13.
Gloria Rust is a third-year member of ORHS Sports Me- dia, having joined in fall 2023, her freshman year. She’s a fan of shooting crowds at big games and player celebrations. Her favorite photo in the gallery of Amaijah Bishop “because it really captures the hard work our athletes put in and the pain they go through to get where they are,” she said. Gloria is a varsity softball player and is an officer in FCCLA.
Oak Ridge High School’s boys basketball team, though in a bit of a rebuilding phase during the 2025-26 season, has faced one of the toughest schedules in East Tennessee.
The Wildcats closed out the pre-Christmas portion of their slate at the Hammer’s Classic Powered by 5-Star Preps on Monday, Dec. 22.
They competed in the Alcoa High School bracket, which longtime Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green called the toughest in the tournament, which was held across Knox, Anderson and Blount counties.
“We were in the toughest bracket and we played Sevier County, Fulton and (Knoxville) Catholic,” Green said. “The Smoky Bears, the Falcons and the Irish are always competitors for the state championship in their respective classifications.”
Macy Basford led the Lady Mavericks with 22 points in the championship game of Hammer’s Hardwood Christmas Classic. Basford was later named the game’s Most Valuable Player. Anderson County finished as the tournament runners-up after falling to Kingston 64-49. - Tony Cox
The 2025 calendar year has come to a close for the Anderson County High School girls basketball team.
The Lady Mavericks won’t return to the hardwood until Friday, Jan. 2, when they host Lenoir City.
Anderson County (6-6) capped the year by winning two of three games in the Hammer’s Christmas Classic Powered by 5Star Preps on its home floor. In the tournament finale at ACHS, the Lady Mavericks came up short in a 64-49 loss to Kingston on Monday, Dec. 22, falling just shy of a tournament title.
It was the second time this season Anderson County lost to the Lady Yellow Jackets. Kingston also won the teams’ season opener in November.
The 2025 portion of the schedule is now in the rearview mirror for the Clinton Middle School girls basketball team.
The Lady Hawks closed out the calendar year by winning three games and claiming the championship at the Concord Christian School Christmas tournament, held Saturday, Dec. 20, in Farragut.
Clinton (10-3) captured the title with a 41-37 overtime comeback victory over the host Lady Lions.
The Lady Hawks trailed 24-13 at halftime, but stormed back with a dominant third quarter, outscoring Concord Christian 16-4 to flip the momentum.
“Proud is not the right word to explain how I feel,” Clinton Coach Jason Love said in a Facebook post.
“The second half of the season is here, and this group of girls pushes through any adversity they face and just refuses to lose.
“The championship game was against a really good Concord team that finished in overtime,” he said. “As a coach, this is a team you dream about.”
Myla Queener led Clinton with 20 points. Tora Beeler added 10 points and three assists, while Shelby Carroll scored seven points and pulled down 14 rebounds.
The Lady Hawks return to action Monday, Jan. 5, when they host Jefferson at 6 p.m.
Despite bringing just eight athletes to the Bobby Bates Classic in Wise, Virginia, Anderson County High School’s boys wrestling team enjoyed a highly successful outing.
The tournament, one of the premier events in the Southeast, featured 38 teams from multiple states, including Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The Mavericks finished sixth overall — an impressive feat considering their small roster.
“There were some tough teams over there,” ACHS Coach Matt Slone said. “We took eight guys, and six of the eight placed. There were 38 teams from at least three states.”
The Mavericks crowned two individual champions, including senior Hayden Harrell, who won the 144-pound title for the second consecutive year.
Deameion Leavell, a 2024 Class A state champion at Clinton, won the championship at 175 pounds.
Anderson County had two medalists in that weight class as Evan Prewitt finished third.
Senior Max Wolfley was runner-up at 150 pounds, while Zed Hulet (138) placed third and Aiden Reed (113) took fifth.
The Mavericks were back on the mat Tuesday as they hosted a set of home duals. Results were not available at press time.
The Clinton High School wrestling team made quick work of its competition in its final outing before the holiday break.
The Dragons hosted a pair of dual meets on Thursday, Dec. 18, at Don W. Lockard Gymnasium and came away with two lopsided victories—without needing much mat time.
Clinton routed Karns 48-10, claiming six wins by forfeit. Hayden Durliat (113 pounds), Emmanuel Rangel (120), Connor Lemmon (126), Aaron Solberg (144), Marshon Matthews (150), and Roman Hollifield (175) all earned uncontested victories.
Keenan Hoskins (138) and Adam Gonzalez added to the tally with wins by fall.
Clinton then rolled past Union County, defeating the Patriots 54-6.
Durliat, Lemmon, Gonzalez, and Nathan Black (190) won by forfeit. The Dragons also notched five pins, with Rangel, Keenan Hoskins, Solberg, Jonah Hoskins (215), and Bryson Breeden all scoring falls to cap the dominant night.
