Webb and Bearden lead way in victories
(Win-loss records in this story are based on games through Dec. 26)
By Steve Williams
Webb School has stood out as one of Knoxville’s top teams in the first half of the 2024-25 boys basketball season.
Playing in The Classic at Tennessee High in Bristol, Coach Ricky Norris’ Spartans upped their record to 14-1 with an 85-52 win over Virginia High Thursday at Viking Hall.
Webb (0-0 in DII-AA East) came into the holiday tourney ranked No. 2 in the state.
The Spartans’ lone loss was 71-50 to Moravian Prep National, a sports school in North Carolina that provides training, education, and an arena for players to prepare for the NBA draft. Moravian Prep won a national title in 2020.
Webb’s victories this season include 65-44 over Alcoa, 63-60 over Tyner Academy, 68-33 over Cookeville, 74-41 over Farragut and 67-49 at Maryville.
Next game: Jan. 7 at home against Tri-Cities Christian.
Bearden (14-1, 2-0 Dist. 4-4A)
Coach Jeremy Parrott guided Bearden to 12 straight wins before falling to Nashville Hillsboro 54-50 in a holiday matchup on Dec. 20. The Burros were ranked No. 7 in the state.
The Bulldogs bounced back with a 64-55 win over Independence and then after their Christmas break rolled past Sullivan East 88-32 in their opening game in The Classic.
Bearden notched two victories in one of the state’s toughest districts (4-4A) earlier in the regular season, beating HVA 76-50 and prevailing on the road at West 64-56.
The Bulldogs also have road wins over perennial state powers Alcoa 65-63 and Fulton 79-56.
Next game: Jan. 7 at William Blount.
CAK (13-1, 5-0 in DII-A East)
Christian Academy of Knoxville was 13-0 when it lost to Bell County, KY, 48-43 in holiday action in Kentucky on Dec. 23.
Non-district wins for Coach J.D. Johnson’s squad this season include 51-47 over Karns and 48-30 at Grainger. Two of CAK’s district wins were 44-42 at Grace Christian and 47-43 over Lakeway Christian.
Next game: Friday at CCS.
Catholic (9-2, 0-0 DII-AA East)
In his first full season as head coach at Knoxville Catholic, JaJuan Smith has the Fighting Irish off to a 9-2 start.
Their home wins include 81-62 over Greeneville and 66-61 over Bradley Central. They won on the road at Hardin Valley 76-70. Their two losses were on the road at West 76-65 and Alcoa 87-71 on Dec. 20.
Cade Murphy, a junior, has led the way for the Green and Gold with a 25.2 scoring average and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Next game: Friday at Walker Valley.
Circle on your calendar: Webb at Catholic on Jan. 25.
Carter (8-4, 3-0 in Dist. 3-3A)
Could this be a season that Carter unseats Fulton in the district?
Coach Tyler Cate’s Hornets lost three of their first four games, but have turned things around.
Their wins include 73-49 at Powell, 79-76 in double overtime over visiting Cocke County and an 82-50 district win at Seymour.
Next game: Friday vs. Central.
Circle: Jan. 14 at Fulton.
HVA (8-5, 0-1 in Dist. 4-4A)
For you statistic junkies, Hardin Valley has scored 743 points, while its opponents have scored 744.
Coach Andy Arendt’s Hawks opened eyes across the local scene with a 63-58 win over Fulton in their season opener. They also logged a 59-57 victory over Bradley Central on Dec. 20.
Two of their losses came against tough opposition – 76-50 at Bearden and 66-43 at Webb.
Next game: Friday vs. Mo. East.
West (7-2, 0-1 in Dist. 4-4A)
The Rebels under new head coach Tommy Eggleston own victories over Catholic 76-52 and Fulton 61-49.
West came up short against Sevier County 69-68 and Bearden 64-56.
Next game: Jan. 6 vs. Mo. West.
Farragut (7-5, 0-0 Dist. 4-4A)
The Admirals opened the season sizzling with five straight wins.
Their victories include a 63-45 decision against Science Hill and a 58-47 win at Lenoir City.
They’ve lost to Catholic 83-74 and Stone Memorial 73-65.
Next game: Host winless Karns Friday.
GCA (7-6, 1-2 in DII-A East)
Grace Christian is just above the .500 mark overall.
Wins include 61-56 over South-Doyle and 67-25 over Concord Christian.
The Rams lost a close game (44-42) to CAK and bowed at The King’s Academy 64-55.
Next game: Jan. 7 versus Providence Academy in Johnson City.
Fulton (6-6, 2-0 Dist. 3-3A)
Two-time defending state champion Fulton has four new faces in its starting lineup this season.
The Falcons tasted defeat in their first game, coming up short against Hardin Valley 63-58.
They continue to play perennial powers but lost decisions to Greeneville 58-57 and Science Hill 75-70.
One of their wins was notched against district foe Cocke County at home 62-54. Fulton also handed Trinity Christian Academy a 67-61 defeat.
Next game: Friday at Cocke County.
Gibbs (6-6, 1-1 in Dist. 4-3A)
The Eagles have one of the state’s top scorers in Zack Turner, who scored a school record 48 points against HVA.
Gibbs lost its first three games, including a 95-50 decision to Bearden.
They have beaten Central twice 70-58 and 63-60 plus won a runaway at Cumberland Gap 86-42.
Turner is averaging 24.8 points and shooting 46 percent from the field.
Next game: Rival Halls at home Friday.
TSD (4-2 overall)
Coach John McMahon’s Vikings are playing some new deaf schools this season.
They won at Louisiana School for the Deaf 44-28, lost at Mississippi 49-28 and won at Georgia 35-21.
Louisiana will host the new Mason-Dixon Deaf Conference basketball tournament in Baton Rouge this season.
TKA (5-6, 3-0 in DII-A East)
The King’s Academy is undefeated in district play so far with a 64-55 win over Grace and a 69-52 win over Concord.
One of the Lions’ losses this year was at Catholic 77-60.
Next game: Friday at Clayton-Bradley.
Berean (5-8, 2-2 in DII-A East)
Jason France is Berean Christian’s new head coach.
The Eagles have notched wins at Concord 64-58 and at Clayton-Bradley 84-30. Two of their losses were 66-43 at Lakeway and 76-64 to Seymour.
Next game: Friday at Providence.
Halls (4-5, 0-2 in Dist. 3-4A)
The Red Devils won at Anderson County this season 65-61, but lost at Oak Ridge 75-50 in a district game.
Next game: at Gibbs Friday.
Powell (4-7, 2-0 in Dist. 3-4A)
The Panthers enter the second half of the season with a 2-0 district record. That’s the good news.
Powell beat Halls 69-52 and Karns 62-41.
The Panthers, however, are three games under .500 outside district play. One of the losses was against McMinn County 63-59.
Next game: Powell visits MW Friday.
Seymour (4-7, 0-3 in Dist. 3-3A)
The Eagles are still looking for their first district win.
Seymour has four wins outside the district, including a 60-49 victory at county rival Pigeon Forge and a 76-64 win versus Berean Christian. Two of their losses included a 37-33 low-scoring game with Central and a 62-54 defeat at the hands of South-Doyle.
Next game: District home contest against Cocke County Jan. 7.
Central (4-9, 1-1 in Dist. 3-4A)
The Bobcats notched a tough road win at Campbell County 52-51 and got past South-Doyle 69-58, but Central has lost nine games.
One of those was an 86-52 defeat at the hands of Alcoa.
Next game: Another tough one Friday at Carter.
Austin-East (3-8, 0-1 in Dist. 2-2A)
Austin-East reached the state tournament last season, but it appears the Roadrunners have a lot of work to do to make a return this season.
An 81-63 win at Morristown West is a highlight on A-E’s schedule and a 66-56 loss at highly-regarded Bearden was encouraging.
Next game: A tough test at Alcoa Friday.
S-D (2-9, 1-1 in Dist. 5-3A)
The Cherokees had a strong finish last season. Can they get it going again?
They split their two district games in the first half of the season, winning at Lenoir City 50-44 and losing at Heritage 75-68.
Next game: Jan. 6 vs. Powell.
Concord (0-7, 0-4 in DII-A)
Two of the Lions’ losses this season were 52-48 to Sequoyah and 66-56 to Providence Academy.
Next game: Home Friday vs. CAK.
Karns (0-10, 0-2 in Dist. 3-4A)
Veteran Coach Lee Henson probably hasn’t ever been winless this far into the campaign, but his Beavers have been outscored 748-461. That probably explains it.
The Beavers lost their first game of the season 51-47 at CAK, a team that is currently 13-1.
It’s been downhill ever since.
Next game: Friday at Farragut.
