Christopher James

Here’s a quick look at the five remaining area challengers in the state wrestling tournament:
Greenback
Jeremy Miller, 145 pounds: The junior captured Greenback’s only individual wrestling state title as an eighth grader (103 pounds in 2007) but has finished second (135 in 2009) and third (119 in 2008) the last two years. His 3-2 loss in the state final last year was probably the match of the tournament.
Tyler Dailey, 285 pounds: The senior has never made it this far, losing in the first round the last two years. He’s been money this season, though, losing just once to Bradley Central’s Patrick Benson. Benson is also through to the quarters, but the pair wouldn’t meet until the championship match.
Heritage
Keagan Matlock, 152 pounds: The freshman is through to the second day of championship play in his first appearance for the Mountaineers. The rookie shouldn’t look like on today, though. Matlock was 65-9 as an eighth grader for Heritage Middle last year, winning the Tennessee State AAU title at 145 pounds.
Nathaniel Molina, 135 pounds: Molina went out in the first round last year at this weight, so it’s new territory for the junior. He gets a familiar face in Seymour’s Michael Raimondi this morning. Seymour defeated Heritage, 54-22, in the Region 3-AAA duals earlier this season
Maryville
Tyler Wilson, 215 pounds: Wilson fell in the second round last year. Not an easy draw today, as he gets Hendersonville’s Brett Jaeckel who was sixth at this weight last year.

A couple quick notes for Heritage’s Smyrna-bound girls bowling team:

All the attention the last couple years has been on Brittney and Breanna Endsley, and rightly so. The pair are headed to their third straight individual state tournament. Just as impressive may be Tracy Berna, who narrowly missed out on her third trip to the Smyrna Bowling Center. Lady Mountaineers’ coach Mark Rowland said Saturday that Berna was the most dangerous bowler he had, capable of “blowing up” at any time.

She showed that skill in the sectional against Chuckey-Doak going from 159 in game 1 to 225 in game 2.

Speaking of those Endsley sisters, they each had their own reasons for Heritage’s team success this year. It seems it’s all been about chemistry under first-year coach Mark Rowland.
“Last year we didn’t have many bowlers and this year we picked up the Walton sisters (Jessica and Jackie), and they’re really good,” Brittney Endsley said.
“We actually just had a full team, a full good six players. I think that’s what helped us this year.”
Added Breanna: “We actually are a lot closer this year. Last year there was a lot of tension I guess, like not all the girls were close as we are this year. We’ve all been friends for such a long time we just seem to get along, which makes it easier. We have a good time and are relaxed whenever we bowl.”

Lady Rebels win their second straight county title, unbeaten in this event for the second straight year.

Maryville now the only unbeaten. A win over Heritage clinches another BC title.

The second round matchup with Maryville and Alcoa could decide things.

Alcoa pulls out another come from behind win. Grace Stubblefield provides the power with a sky spike and some slick serves.

Maryville dominating Game 2.

M breaks open a 15-all first game to take it. Alcoa rebounds from 20-17 down behind strong spikes and serves by Abigail Walker.

Heading over to Heritage here in a minute for the Blount County volleyball tourney. Tonight’s matches, scheduled for 5, 6 and 7 p.m., have been moved from Alcoa after a fire in the gym last night.
Here’s how this shindig works: It’s a round robin format, so each of the four teams plays everyone else once. Best record wins. Games count in a team’s overall record, but not as district matches.
Maryville won this event last year, going unbeaten in three matches to edge past the Lady Tornadoes, who finished 2-1.
You can follow along here with standings on the Big Board. I’ll also try to keep you posted on matches in progress. It all starts up at 5 p.m.

Completed Matches: Maryville def. WB, 25-16, 25-8. Alcoa def. Heritage 25-21, 25-22. Maryville def. Alcoa 25-16, 25-17. Heritage def. WB 25-18, 25-23.

It may be near impossible for a Blount County golfer to find a way into this year’s class AAA state tournament.
All three county teams struggled Tuesday at the District 4 tournament, played on Heritage’s home course at Lambert Acres Golf Club. Consider for a moment that the six individual qualifiers for the region tournament Sept. 22 at Tennessee National in Loudon is less than half the 14 Blount County sent to the same round a year ago. Last year’s haul included three teams and a district championship for the William Blount girls.
The WB boys dropped from third in the District, and a spot in the regionals, last year to eighth this season. The top County boys squad was Maryville, who finished sixth and failed to qualify an individual golfer.
“I can’t tell you (what happened),” Govs first-year coach Jason Rowe said. “We’ve played this course and our scores were higher than usual. Maybe it was, some of our younger players aren’t used to walking 18 holes. They’re used to walking nine at a time.”
Whatever the reason, Rowe saw just two WB golfers make the next round, senior Alaura Brogdon and freshman Kinsley Vincent. They’ll be joined by the Lady Rebels’ Cassie McCracken and Angela Long. Only two male golfers made it from the County: Heritage’s Logan Vaughn and Travis Nichols.

Inconsistent greens were the biggest complaint Tuesday, but what McCracken described as “links-style” bunkers will make the Region tournament a real challenge.
Just ask Maryville coaches Tom Stinnett and Mike Driver.

LENOIR CITY —

Andy Eldridge 24 yd Pick six.

Jon luc Click scores from a yard out after Hartley’s 30 yard pass on 4 th and 20 kept the drive going.

Hall tackled in the end zone for a safety.

H forces a punt than pins LC at it’s own 3.

LC down to the H 30 to start the fourth.

Chase cline runs in from four yards out.

Hartley to Shell, 76 yd TD.

45 yd Hall pass followed by a fumbled exchange gives H the ball.
Heritage has a Chase cline TD run nullified by a penalty but Noah Bachman nails a 35 td FG.

Heritage will get the ball to start the second half. We’ll get to see what coach Brint Russell’s offense can do right away.

Halftime and H has two first downs to LC’s four. Only big play is Hall’s big pass to Tanner Wilson that set up the FG. Drops are the story at Half.

Couple more drops force H to punt. Hartleyi is 4 for 15 for 35 yds.

Chris Johnson drops a sure TD but LC gets a 25 yard FG from Daniel Cook.

Injury timeout for LC tailback Elijah Cook. Panthers are at the Heritage 24 thanks to a 30 yard pass play from freshman qb Jordan Hall.

Heritage gets a first down on fake punt, then Hartley throws four incompletions.

Game’s first first down is LC’s on a H Personal Foul. LC then goes 3 and out.

LC 3 and out followed by teams trading turnovers on downs. H will punt to start second quarter. Hartley is 1 for 8 including a Clayton Shell drop that would have been a TD.

HHS misses FG

A minh Tran pick sets Heritage up a the LC 25. Now 4th and 9 at the 24 and the Mountaineers call time. Tyler Hartley is 0-for-4.
Heritage spoils good field position, going 3 and out at the LC 40 after forcing a 3 andout on LC’s first drive

Lenoir City wins the toss and will receive.

Twenty minutes before kick and the Lenoir City marching band hits the field before the home opener. I spoke to Wilhite and he said he loves coaching here closer to home. Remember his only victory as Govs coach was against the Mountaineers.

Live here in Lenoir City where Heritage seeks it’s best start since at least 2001. The Panthers boast a famaliar face in defensive coordinator Richie Wilhite, former head coach at William Blount. Wilhite’s D gave up 43 points to Loudon last week.

Some notes from Egwani Farms Thursday:

• Alcoa’s Lindy McGuire may have just shot even-par, but the junior hit an amazing 8-of-9 greens in regulation. McGuire said she missed a couple five-foot putts for birdie that seemed to cost her. It may have been the difference in a match that ended in a one-stroke win for Maryville. She said she shot a 32 on the back nine at Pine Lakes in practice the other day and her strong start has been thanks in large part to work on “hinging” on her down swing. (Hear McGuire explain how she’s worked on her swing)
• Maryville’s Nick Bridgman appears to have surprised all his teammates this season, but not his coach. Rebels coach Tom Stinnett said he knew the freshman would be plenty competitive this season.
  “Nick’s played a lot of summer golf and stuff,” Stinnett said. “He’s a great golfer.”
  (Hear Stinnett on Bridgman)
• Former Farragut coach Mike Driver is now an assistant with the Rebels. Stinnett was bragging on his new helper inside the clubhouse, hinting that Driver could be poised to take over Maryville when Stinnett does step down. Driver coached Ole Miss junior Jillian Brodd, the 2008 and 2009 Knox Area Women’s Golf Association Champ, and Mercer junior Carolyn Levy at Farragut. The Lady Admirals were Class AAA State Champs in 2004 and finished second in 2005.
• Heritage’s Brittney Endsley shot a 49 in her first action in more than a week. Endsley, who finished third in the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s Division I bowling tournament as a sophomore last winter, is also a motocross rider and was on the bike instead of the course last week.”She’s just a really good athlete,” Lady Mountaineers’ coach Chris Clift said.  “She’s a competitive person and she wants to get better. So, I hope she sticks with it and puts some time in. She could be very competitive if she worked on it.”

It’s been a busy week with teams in action from Sevierville to Harriman in the district basketball tournaments. Some thoughts as we move to the region openers.

Greenback: I saw both the Cherokees and Lady Cherokees drop games to Harriman this week. In both cases, coach Ed McCollum seemed confident Greenback would’ve won had suspended point guards Sarah Walker and Chris Sabo been in those games. Sabo will be back Saturday night at Oliver Springs but McCollum said Wednesday he hadn’t decided if Walker’s suspension would include Friday’s region opener with Coalfield at Greenback High School.

Heritage: The Lady Mountaineers will have to go the rest of the way without forward Lanie Brimer, whose out for the season after going down with a fractured tibia in the district semis, as they welcome Clinton to town Friday. Heritage won that semifinal against Farragut despite a sluggish start. I would expect to see Kat Morris and particularly freshman Miranda Maples asked to step up and fill that void.

Other Games: Maryville girls travel to Powell Friday; Rebels host Central Saturday; Alcoa travels to Stone Memorial Saturday.

I’ll be in Oliver Springs Saturday to see Greenback.