Clinton senior standout Josie Moody scored a game-high 16 points in the Lady Dragons’ 53-46 win over Oak Ridge on Friday, Dec. 12. - Tony Cox
The Clinton High School girls basketball team extended its winning streak to seven games last week, picking up a pair of non-district victories.
Clinton (9-1) edged Oak Ridge 53-46 on Friday night for its second win over the Lady Wildcats in the past three seasons.
Lady Dragons Coach Alicia Daugherty welcomed the rivalry result against the long-time cross-county foe and former district opponent.
“Anytime you play against Oak Ridge, it’s a big game,” Daugherty said. “They have a young team, and they have one really good player who was there last year. She’s a really good player, and I think she averages in the high 20s.”
That player is Eviyah Mitchell, who scored 15 points to lead Oak Ridge (1-3). She was the lone Lady Wildcat to reach double figures. Paige Lawing and Jenayah Pippins, both returners from last season, finished with seven points each.
Clinton’s Camden Nelson looks for an opening as Oak Ridge’s Eli Peters applies tight defense during Friday night’s rivalry matchup at the Donnie Dome. - Tony Cox
Longtime rivals Clinton and Oak Ridge renewed their rivalry on the hardwood Friday night.
And while the game didn’t earn many style points, at least offensively, it was another classic between the two teams. In fact, it was a defensive struggle.
When the dust had settled, the Wildcats manufactured enough offense to nab a 51-46 win in a key non-district game.
While Oak Ridge (4-3) made enough big plays down the stretch to escape with the narrow hard-fought victory, the Dragons (6-4) grabbed the upper hand early, opening a slim 10-9 lead by the end of the first quarter.
By halftime, Clinton held a 27-20 at halftime.
“I don’t think we played very well, especially offensively,” Oak Ridge Coach Aaron Green said. “But Clinton had a lot to do with that.
“In the second half, we played a lot better offensively, and we made a few big shots.”
Anderson County’s Elijah Johnson scored 18 points in the Mavericks’ 60-58 win over Northview Academy on Dec. 9. - Ace Dunegan
Despite enduring its share of offensive struggles, the Anderson County High School boys basketball team managed to split a pair of games last week.
The Mavericks opened the week with a dramatic 60-58 victory over Northview Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 9, as Justin Bunch drilled a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer. The shot accounted for three of Bunch’s 14 points.
Colton Lawson posted a double-double, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds for Anderson County. Elijah Johnson also scored 18 points in the win.
On Friday, the Mavericks faced Heritage, one of the area’s top teams, and fell 60-48 to the Mountaineers.
“They are very, very good,” Anderson County Coach Jordan Jeffers said. “We just couldn’t score. That’s something we need to work on.”
One of the Mavericks’ top scorers, Cam Lawson, missed both games due to injury and is not expected to return until early January.
“When you get Cam back, that will help you,” Jeffers said. “He was out last week, and he probably won’t be back until the first week of January.”
Against Heritage, Eli Dorton was the lone Maverick to reach double figures, scoring 11 points while connecting on three 3-pointers.
Anderson County High School girls basketball Coach Mitch Cupples knew his team was facing a daunting challenge last week.
The Lady Mavericks squared off against both Class AAA state finalists from a season ago, hosting Northview Academy on Tuesday, Dec. 9, before traveling to Heritage on Friday. Heritage went on to win the state championship in Murfreesboro last March.
“We played the state championship game last week,” Cupples said. “We played both teams that were in the state championship game last year.”
Anderson County dropped both contests, including a 52-32 loss to Heritage on Friday.
“We gave up too many offensive rebounds against them, but we but shut down their best player,” Cupples said. “But they had a girl who made seven 3-pointers. She had made two all year.
“That’s 21 points, so that was the difference in the game.”
Bethany Lowe led the Lady Mavericks with 12 points against Heritage.
Earlier in the week, Anderson County fell to Northview Academy, 58-51, despite a strong start. The Lady Mavericks endured a prolonged scoring drought late, managing just two points over the final eight minutes and failing to make a field goal during that stretch.
“We got off to a good start and we had a lead,” Cupples said. “But we only had two free throws in the fourth quarter.
“We battled hard in both games.”
Macy Basford scored 25 points against Northview, while Khloe Johnson added nine and Addison Grooms finished with seven.
Ace Dunagen | The Courier News
Anderson County’s Elijah Johnson scored 18 points in the Mavericks’ 60-58 win over Northview Academy on Dec. 9.
Anderson County swimmer Donovan Rainey posted a state-qualifying time of 2:19.83 to finish the women’s 200-yard individual medley at the Ray Bussard Invitational on Saturday, Dec. 13. Rainey also placed fourth in the women’s 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.55 seconds and finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:12.85. - Tony Cox
Senior Donovan Rainey and junior Kady Terry posted strong performances for Anderson County High School at the Ray Bussard Invitational Swim Meet over the weekend at the University of Tennessee’s Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatics Center in Knoxville.
Both Lady Mavericks swimmers lowered their previous best times in multiple events.
“I had two swimmers, and both of them swam really well,” Anderson County Coach Stephanie Coker said.
Rainey qualified for the state championships in three events, while Terry recorded personal-best times in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle.
“All of my swimmers have done well throughout the season, and they’ve dropped their times every time they’ve swum,” Coker said. “Donovan made three state cuts, and Kady had personal bests in both of her events.
“All of my swimmers, particularly Kady, have continued to improve their times throughout the season.”
Rainey finished second in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2 minutes, 19.83 seconds. She also placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:12.85) and finished fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (25.55).
Terry placed 100th in the 50-yard freestyle (38.02) and finished 78th in the 100-yard freestyle (1:31.13).
Clinton junior Ryan Keller completes the 100-meter breast stroke race at Saturday’s Ray Bussard Invitational meet. Later, Keller competed in the 500 freestyle placing sixth overall. Keller is on pace to hit a state qualifying time this season. - Tony Cox
Competing in the Ray Bussard Invitational Swim Meet, Clinton High School’s swim teams turned in several strong performances over the weekend.
The meet was held at the Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatics Center on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.
“Our kids did really well, and some of our younger swimmers got to experience Allan Jones, which was phenomenal,” Clinton Coach Laura Knott said. “Our kids have dropped their times every time they’ve swum. The entire team did well.
“We have two meets left before the KISL championships, and I’m hoping to get some state-qualifying times at the city meet.”
Ryan Keller placed sixth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5 minutes, 22.87 seconds, shaving four seconds off his previous best. Keller also competed on Clinton’s boys medley relay team with Max Bostrom, Richard Jackson and Wesley Hill. The relay team finished 11th in 1:58.06.
For the Clinton girls, Nancy Estill competed for the first time this season and placed 21st in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 1:35.00.
Clinton Middle School’s Nathan Jackson finished sixth in the 50-yard freestyle (36.15) and placed ninth in the 100-yard freestyle (1:02.30).
Clinton three-sport standout Bryson Maddox is surrounded by coaches as he signs his letter of intent to continue his academic and athletic career at Middle Tennesse State University.
Bryson Maddox recently finalized his college plans, signing a national letter of intent to play football at Middle Tennessee State University.
Maddox, a senior and three-sport athlete for the Clinton Dragons, will continue his academic and athletic career at MTSU in Murfreesboro. He will suit up for the Blue Raiders after weighing offers from Appalachian State, Ball State, West Virginia, Chattanooga and Louisville.
A standout wide receiver, Maddox was named the Region 2-5A Wide Receiver of the Year and earned all-region honors. In addition to football, he is a standout basketball player for the Dragons and also competes in track and field.
While staying in Tennessee was not a deciding factor during the recruiting process, Maddox said he is pleased to remain close to home.
“I was kind of all over the place,” Maddox said. “It really didn’t matter about staying close to home. But I’m glad to be staying close because it’s important for my family to get to see me play. I’m glad I can come back to Clinton.”
Maddox said the coaching staff at MTSU ultimately sealed his decision.
“Quite honestly, it was the coaching staff that appealed to me,” he said.
At MTSU, Maddox will play for Head Coach Derek Mason, who previously led Vanderbilt.
“I really liked Coach Mason and I liked my position coach,” Maddox said.
Maddox will enter the university as an undeclared major, but plans to pursue a degree in business. He also cited class size as another positive factor.
“I’ve already met with some of the business professors there,” Maddox said.
The Clinton Middle School girls basketball team won two games last week on the road.
The Lady Hawks (8-4) outlasted Horace Maynard 31-25 on Thursday night in Maynardville.
Shelby Carroll led the Lady Hawks with 12 points against the Lady Patriots. Kailyn Martin added eight points and Tori Beeler had five.
On Monday, Dec.8, the Lady Hawks routed Union Grove 38-18 as two Clinton players, Carroll and Myla Queener, posted double figures in the scoring column. Carroll scored 14 points, while Queener finished with 13 points.
Clinton Coach Jason Love issued a challenge to his team early in the season and the Lady Hawks have answered of late, having won their last three games.
“Going in to Christmas break, we are 7-3, picking up some big wins,” Love said. “I challenged the girls to prove to me that they are good. All we hear is that we are good and have a good group.
“But we were falling short of that,” he said. “They took the challenge head-on and proved to everyone they were a force to be reckoned with. The season looks bright and we have our eyes on the games after Christmas break, as well as the district tournament. We are not satisfied.”
Clinton Middle School’s boys basketball team picked up a pair of victories last week and entered the new week riding a three-game winning streak.
The Hawks (4-1) rolled past Union Grove, 50-17, on the road Monday, Dec. 8.
Clinton used a balanced scoring effort to pull away, as Levi Braden scored 10 points. Bryce Slaven added nine, Pearson Lollar finished with eight and Deacon McGhee chipped in six points. McGhee also grabbed six rebounds in the win.
On Thursday, the Hawks outlasted Horace Maynard, 50-42, in Maynardville.
Stone McKenzie led Clinton with 20 points against the Red Devils. Slaven added 10, Canyon Long scored eight and Braden finished with six.
Coach Matt McGhee said he has been encouraged by his team’s steady improvement.
“Slowly but surely, we’re getting better,” McGhee said. “We’re getting better every day.”
The Norris Middle School girls basketball team played just one game last week, but the Lady Senators made the most of it, rolling to a 29-9 victory over Jefferson on Thursday.
Addie Blevins led Norris with 14 points and five rebounds against the Lady Eagles.
Kaylee Matchette added eight points, while Addison Willoughby and Esa Minor chipped in two points apiece.
Willoughby and Minor each finished with five steals as the Lady Senators forced 19 turnovers in the contest.
The Clinton High School wrestlers made a trip to Maynardville for a pair of dual meets last week, and the Dragons picked up a pair of lopsided victories without having to do much.
Clinton defeated the host Patriots 57-12, and defeated Fulton 51-15 at Union County High School.
Against Union County, Hayden Durliat, who wrestles in the 113-pound weight class, won by forfeit.
Emmanuel Rangel (120), Connor Lemmon (126), Marshon Matthews (150), Roman Hollifield (175) and Nathan Black won by forfeit. Keenan Hoskins (138), Aaron Solberg (144), Adam Gonzalez and Bryson Breeden (285) all recorded pins, while Jonah Hoskins (215) won a decision.
Against the Falcons, Durliat, Rangel, Lemmon, Keenan Hoskins. Black all won by forfeit. Jonah Hoskins and Breeden won by pin and Matthews earned a decision.
Despite seeing his squad pick up a pair of impressive wins, Clinton Coach Carl Nielsen said he was a bit disappointed.
He was happy to see his team win, but would’ve liked to have seen the Patriots and the Falcons both have full rosters.
“I was telling the kids in the locker room, they were happy because we won, but I told them that you never want to see schools not have enough wrestlers to field a full team,” Nielsen said. “We were like that earlier this year, and if I didn’t have four new freshmen and the one new sophomore, that would’ve been us.
“You have to have at least four new freshmen in your program every year, or you’re going to be in trouble.”
Taking just five athletes to a premier tournament in North Carolina, the Anderson County High School boys wrestling team delivered an impressive performance over the weekend.
The Mavericks captured three individual championships and added a runner-up finish at the Falcon Frenzy.
Despite the limited roster, Anderson County placed fifth in the overall team standings.
“We ended up going to the Falcon Frenzy in North Carolina and we just took five guys,” Mavericks Coach Matt Slone said. “We had some injuries, a couple of guys who were sick, and others with prior commitments.
“But to come away with three champions, a runner-up and a fifth-place team finish, you have to be pleased with how we wrestled.”
Aiden Reed claimed the title in the 113-pound weight class, while Hayden Harrell (144 pounds) and Ethan Prewitt (175) also earned championships in their respective divisions. Zed Hulet added to the Mavericks’ strong showing with a second-place finish at 138 pounds.
