3A, 4A football all-state teams announced by TSWA

December 28, 2016 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its all-state football teams for Classes 3A and 4A today, which includes five players from Knoxville Catholic and four from Knox Central in 4A and six players from Alcoa and four from Liberty in 3A.

Class 4A
OFFENSE
QB – Chase Cunningham, Knoxville Catholic
QB – Trey Mitchell, Knoxville Central
RB – Timothy Taylor, Memphis East
RB – Antwuan Branch, Kenwood
WR – Amari Rodgers, Knoxville Catholic
WR – Tre Crutcher, Marshall County
WR – Zack Dobson, Fulton
OL – Cade Mays, Knoxville Catholic
OL – McClendon Curtis, Chattanooga Central
OL – Evan Grooms, Greeneville
OL – Brody Gregory, Hixson
OL – John Wrister, Memphis East
ATH – Jimmyrious Parker, Pearl-Cohn
K – Jake McClure, East Hamilton

DEFENSE
DL – Isaac Buell, Knoxville Central
DL – Timmarious Jefferson, Memphis East
DL – LaTrell Bumphus, Hardin County
DL – Rutger Reitmaier, Lipscomb Academy
LB – Cain McWilliams, Marshall County
LB – Brayden Devault-Smith, Pearl-Cohn
LB – Jadarius Sackie, Knoxville Central
LB – Chaton Mobley, Fulton
DB – Rondrow Peebles, Knoxville Central
DB – William Phillips, Lipscomb Academy
DB – Takeem Young, Greeneville
DB – Joseph Newberry, Ridgeway
ATH – Chase Kuerschen, Knoxville Catholic
P – Brent Cimaglia, Page

Class 3A
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Smith, Christian Academy of Knoxville
QB – Corey Newble, Liberty
RB – Traneil Moore, East Ridge
RB – Jermaine Mason, Goodpasture
WR – Tykee Ogle-Kellogg, Alcoa
WR – Conner Johnson, Elizabethton
WR – Rodney Castille, Liberty
OL – Cade Evans, Alcoa
OL – Rook Young, Christ Presbyterian Academy
OL – John Higgins, Sequatchie County
OL – Andrew Cole, Fayette-Ware
OL – Jacob Rimmer, Milan
ATH – Corey Russell, Elizabethton
K – Ben Smith, Alcoa

DEFENSE
DL – Caleb Unkefer, Christian Academy of Knoxville
DL – Jamel Davis, Red Bank
DL – Elijah Harris, Liberty
DL – Cameron Coleman, Elizabethton
LB – Jack Warwick, Alcoa
LB – Jacob Phillips, East Nashville
LB – Hunter Davenport, Sequatchie County
LB – Kalynn Grandberry, Raleigh-Egypt
DB – Terran Cox, Alcoa
DB – T.J. Carter, Stratford
DB – Alec Long, Liberty
DB – Bradley Miller, DeKalb County
ATH – Jaylen Myers, Alcoa
P – Andrew Howard, Christ Presbyterian Academy

TSWA announces all-state football teams for Classes 5A, 6A

December 27, 2016 Forrest Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Sports Writers Association announced its all-state football teams for Classes 5A and 6A today, which includes five players from Oakland and four from Maryville in 6A and five players from Farragut and four from Independence in 5A.

Class 6A
OFFENSE
QB – Cole Copeland, Bradley Central
QB – Dylan Hopkins, Maryville
RB – Kylan Watkins, Whitehaven
RB – Master Teague, Blackman
WR – Lameric Tucker, Bradley Central
WR – Edward Johnson, Cordova
WR – Trey Knox, Blackman
OL – Max Wray, Franklin
OL – D.J. Delfendahl, Mt. Juliet
OL – Elijah Dobbins, Oakland
OL – K’Rojhn Calbert, Warren County
OL – Anthony Geter, Whitehaven
ATH – Jordan Ervin, Maryville
K – Jacob Smith, Siegel

DEFENSE
DL – Chris Onwumere, Oakland
DL – Ellis Chapman, Hardin Valley
DL – Matt Young, Maryville
DL – Quinton Bohanna, Cordova
LB – T.D. Blackmon, Maryville
LB – Aubrey Miller, Whitehaven
LB – Jackson Cauthen, Oakland
LB – Bryson Tolley, Science Hill
DB – Theo Jackson, Overton
DB – Kaleb Oliver, Oakland
DB – Gentry Bonds, Riverdale
DB – Rayshad Williams, Whitehaven
ATH: JaCoby Stevens, Oakland
P – Adam Williams, Wilson Central

Class 5A
OFFENSE
QB – Jacob Murphree, Dickson County
QB – Adam Fulton, Farragut
RB – Daymion Blevins, Morristown West
RB – Jordan Mason, Gallatin
WR – Tee Higgins, Oak Ridge
WR – Kendrell Scurry, Independence
WR – Braden Collins, Farragut
OL – Trey Greene, Stewarts Creek
OL – Zaire Bruner, Ooltewah
OL – Jared Edwards, Rhea County
OL – Oliver Lane, Gibbs
OL – Eli Katina, Centennial
ATH – Gus Antoine, Northeast
K – Tucker Day, Brentwood

DEFENSE
DL – Trevis Hopper, Memphis Central
DL – Mike Rhoades, Campbell County
DL – David Demke, Independence
DL – Xzayvier Beckingham, McMinn County
LB – Cooper Hardin, Farragut
LB – Kyndall Clark, Oak Ridge
LB – Hunter Dupree, Independence
LB – Maleik Gray, LaVergne
DB – Landon Guidry, Independence
DB – Brandon Lewis, Cane Ridge
DB – Jack DeVault, Farragut
DB – Devious Christmon, Centennial
ATH – Caden Harbin, Knox Halls
P – Joe Doyle, Farragut

Gates, Leonard, Stone selected for TSWA enshrinement

December 22, 2016 Forrest Freeman

The late Nick Gates is one of three TSWA Hall of Fame inductees in the Class of 2017, announced this week.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Seating at one press box is named in honor of one sports writer, and another co-wrote a book with the late Fred Russell. The third man spent 66 years at his newspaper. The trio of Nick Gates, George Leonard and Dean Stone are the newest members of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame and will be inducted July 13 during a ceremony at Cumberland University.

The late Nick Gates worked for the Knoxville News-Sentinel from 1971 until his death April 2, 2010. The press box at Smokies Park named the seating “Nick Gates Press Row’’ in his honor as an authority on Knoxville’s minor league baseball and hockey franchises. Gates also covered the University of Tennessee and high school athletics after turning down at least one SEC scholarship offer to walk on at UT to attend journalism school where he graduated in 1971.

Dean Stone worked for more than 60 years at The Maryville-Alcoa Daily.

Leonard, who died in 2001 at the age of 86, was assistant sports editor at the Nashville Banner for years and briefly was sports editor before retiring. Leonard covered both Vanderbilt and Tennessee and also covered the Nashville Vols for years. Leonard helped develop youth leagues in Nashville and co-wrote the book “Big Time Football” with Russell, a charter member of the TSWA Hall of Fame. Leonard also worked for The Associated Press, the San Diego Tribune and the Chattanooga Times.

Stone got his start in journalism as co-sports editor of the school paper at Everett High School in Blount County, where he played on the 1941 undefeated football team. Stone went to Maryville College before being activated from the Army Reserve to fight in Italy during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was assistant sports editor of the campus newspaper. He worked part-time for The Associated Press as a campus correspondent while working at The Maryville-Alcoa Daily Times during the summers. Stone became Sunday editor of the paper in February 1949 and became managing editor and sports editor of the paper five months later. Stone died in October at the age of 92.

Memphis' Lawson, Belmont's Maggard garner Player of the Week honors

December 20, 2016 Forrest Freeman

Belmont's Darby Maggard earned TSWA Player of the Week accolades, posting 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in two games for the Bruins.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Memphis’ Lawson named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis sophomore Dedric Lawson earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Tuesday, registering 22.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in a pair of contests for the Tigers.

The Memphis, Tenn., native posted 18 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists against Monmouth, hitting 5-of-13 shots overall and 7-for-9 at the foul line. He followed that with 26 points, 12 boards and four assists in an overtime victory at Oklahoma, playing 43 of the game’s 45 minutes versus the Sooners.

Lawson made 10-of-17 shots in the contest and all five free throws for his ninth double-double of the season, tied for most in Division I. He is averaging 20.9 points and 11.2 rebounds along with 3.7 assists per outing.

2016-17 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Matthew Butler, UT Martin
November 22 – Josh Robinson, Austin Peay
November 29 – Dedric Lawson, Memphis
December 6 – Evan Bradds, Belmont
December 13 – Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Maggard earns TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont University’s Darby Maggard garnered Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, recording 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a pair of games for the Bruins.

The Larwill, Ind., native knocked down a season-high seven 3-pointers, including three in the fourth quarter, netting 23 points with eight assists in a 75-74 loss at Minnesota. The sophomore guard posted 15 points, six rebounds and four assists in an overtime victory over IUPUI.

Maggard leads the Bruins with 14.4 points and 5.7 assists per game in 12 outings this season.

2016-17 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Jada Smith, Union University
November 22 – Bella Taylor, University of the South
November 29 – Jada Smith, Union University
December 6 – Whitney Mitchell, King University
December 13 – Samantha Reeves, Christian Brothers

Lipscomb's Mathews, Christian Brothers’ Reeves named TSWA Players of the Week

December 13, 2016 Forrest Freeman

Lipscomb's Garrison Mathews averaged 30.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in a pair of games for the Bisons to earn TSWA Player of the Week accolades.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Lipscomb’s Mathews named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb University’s Garrison Mathews earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades for games played November 28-December 4, averaging 30.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in pair of contests for the Bisons.

The Franklin, Tenn., native connected on 13-of-18 attempts at the foul line and finished with 25 points in a two-point overtime loss to Belmont. The sophomore guard followed that with a career-best 36 points against Morehead State, hitting 8-of-10 from 3-point range. Mathews added eight rebounds and three assists in the victory, coming within two points of the Lipscomb Division I-era record for points in a single game.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Christian Brothers’ Reeves earns TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Christian Brothers senior Samantha Reeves garnered Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors for games played November 28-December 4, posting 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists and helping the Bucs end a pair of long losing streaks.

The Somerville, Tenn., native hit a pair of 3-pointers and recorded 15 points and four assists in 27 minutes in a 67-66 victory over Harding University, ending a 13-game losing streak to the Bisons. She followed that with 23 points, eight boards and four assists in a 63-53 win over Union University, netting 16 points in the second half and 10 in the final period.

The victory ended a 23-game losing streak to the Bulldogs and also marked the first Top-25 victory for CBU since 2010.