Bradley Central Bears, McCallie Tornado tourney dates separate

All-District 5-A footballBoyd-Buchanan: Grant Mathis, Austin Hall, Steven Ingram, Rance Harden, Malik Brewer, Colton Robinson, Austin Bailey (defensive player of year), Jim Cardwell, Cody Payne.Silverdale Baptist: Spencer Mossburg (offensive player of the year), Kendall Shoemaker, Josh Rogers, Matt McCulley, Lincoln Phillips, Colton Rogers, Tyler Gibson.Copper Basin: Dylan Boggs, Denzel Brown, Chris Phelamn, Levi Franklin, Stephen Spargo, Bryce Nicholson.Grace Academy: Jake Simpson, Austin Powell, Aaron Tisdale, Josh Smith.All-District 6-AA footballBrainerd: William Womack, Kaylen Stewart, Sedric Jordan Jr., Jacoby Ramsey (co-running back of the year).Central: Jaylon Hobbs, Michael Ray, Demonte Bibbs.East Hamilton: Logan Jackson (MVP), Austin Gatewood (linebacker of year), Dallas Hammond, Francisco Rodriguez (defensive lineman of year), Harrison Warren, Camron Carter (kicker of year), Ryne McCoy (academic athlete of the year), Cody Knox (co-defensive back of year), Hunter Parker, Fielder Dennis, Tre Herndon (co-defensive back of the year), David Hughley, Hunter Moore (quarterback of year), Demetrious Morgan, Bailey Lenoir, Price McGinnis.East Ridge: Robert McAvoy, Torrey Hughes, JoJo Tillery, C.J. Baker, Tad Whitaker (punter of year).Hixson: Allante Novene (wide receiver of year), Chance Loy, Kedrick Bradley, Charles Franklin, T.C. Cunningham, Gill Brown, Eric Jones, K.C. SheltonHoward: Brandon Walters (defensive player of year), LaWayne Ruffin, Antonio Woodall, Rashad Brummitt, Christopher Walton (special teams player of year)Red Bank: Hagen Wilkey (offensive player of year), Jake Parker, Nick Burnette, Mike Robinson, Chris Tucker, Trevor SkylesTyner: Joseph Sturkey (co-running back of year), David Powell (offensive lineman of year), Haasan Miller, Sadil Spence, Kalan Hardley, Lamonte Solomon, Willie Stewart, Antonio Walton.

For the first time, wrestling tournaments at Bradley Central and McCallie are no longer on the same weekend.

Bradley is hosting its tournament this weekend, and McCallie's is next Friday and Saturday.

"We're both usually always the third weekend of December, but the way the calendar fell it made the school calendar a little off," Bradley coach Ben Smith said. "I believe their finals schedule at McCallie is what made them have to move their tournament."

McCallie coach Mike Newman confirmed that and also said there is a possibility that his Blue Tornado and the Bears could begin competing in the other's tournament in years to come.

"We can't compete this weekend because of exams, so our tournament is later," Newman said. "We have talked about trying to keep dates separate and entering each other's tournaments in the future. We will have to get special permission to compete that weekend, though."

There are 27 teams entered in Bradley's tournament, which begins at 5 this afternoon and resumes at 9 Saturday morning. Championship finals are expected to start between 4:30 and 5.

"The field is up a little, but some of the teams that we've added will have just partial teams," Smith said.

Area teams joining the host Bears are Soddy-Daisy, Ooltewah, Central, Signal Mountain, Hixson, Walker Valley, Notre Dame, East Hamilton, East Ridge, Sonoraville, Southeast Whitfield and Dalton.

Other Georgia representatives are Woodward Academy and North Cobb, while Alabama teams are Scottsboro and Hoover. Whitley is the lone Kentucky representative, while other Tennessee teams are Blackman, Maryville Heritage, Tennessee High, William Blount, Halls, Farragut, Maryville, Eagleville and Mount Juliet.

East Ridge ends skid

As the fourth-quarter clock wound down in Monday's girls' basketball game at East Ridge, Lady Pioneers coach Travis Olinger described the setting as "very exciting." And when it hit zeros, East Ridge's more-than-a-year-long losing streak came to an end with a 64-48 defeat of Sweetwater.

Ieashia Taylor led the victory with 27 points. Justice Halfacre scored 17 and Brianna Epps added 11.

"I was tickled pink for the girls," Olinger said. "They deserved it. They've been trying hard, and I'm not the easiest person to play for."

Although the Lady Pioneers lost to unbeaten Howard the next night, they battled back from 26 down in the second half and lost by 11. East Ridge plays Ridgeland in the Golden Eagles Classic at Grace Academy today at 3:30 p.m.

"I think we can be competitive," Olinger said. "This was what we needed around here for a while. It's a big confidence boost when you win a game, no matter who you're playing. That's something we haven't had around here in a long time.

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