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Turkey grab X 2

4th-quarter rally with lots of defense lifts FMS boys

December 18, 2024 by Alan Sloan

HARDIN VALLEY — Going the entire second quarter without a field goal, then seeing Hardin Valley Middle School bag a three-point jumper at the third quarter buzzer to go up 26-19, Shane Wells’ Farragut Middle boys team had work to do in the game’s final six minutes.

However, thanks to sticky defense down the stretch, and “really good defense” the entire game, these FMS Admirals held the Hawks to just three free throws in the fourth frame, grabbing a 33-29 win while taking home the Golden Turkey Trophy in this battle of Turkey Creek at HVMS Monday night, Dec. 16.

Offensively, “Henry Crecy hit a couple of big shots to get us back in it” early in the fourth quarter, “but ultimately I think our defense was really good,” said Wells, whose team avenged a loss to the Hawks at FMS earlier in the season.

“I think we forced 25 turnovers,” he added. “We should have been creating more offense off of it. But we made the buckets when it counted towards the end.”

Sweep of Lady Ads for HVMS girls

December 18, 2024 by Alan Sloan

HARDIN VALLEY — Although the second regular season game determined which team took possession of the Golden Turkey trophy, Hardin Valley Middle School’s girls ended up with a solid grip on the prize after sweeping rival Farragut this season.

A 37-27 triumph at HVMS Monday night, Dec. 16, saw Hardin Valley claim the Battle of Turkey Creek prize after these Lady Hawks won at FMS earlier this season 34-30.

“I think my girls were ready and engaged to play,” HVMS head coach Alex Oliver said. “They looked good and did everything we asked of them — and they played hard, what more can I ask for?”

As for Hardin Valley’s record, “I think we are now 9-3,” Oliver said.

Picking up the pace in 2nd quarter, Lady Ads take control at Lenoir City

December 18, 2024 by Alan Sloan

LENOIR CITY — Jumping out in front early at home, Lenoir City’s girls basketball team led Farragut 14-11 early in the second quarter when things began to change drastically.

The Lady Admirals (7-3 overall) finally kicked into a high gear, grabbing a 30-25 halftime lead that grew to 13 points in the third quarter before building the lead to 19, beating the Lady Panthers 56-40 Friday night, Dec. 13.

Offensively, K.J. McNealy, standout junior wing, led all scorers with a game-high 27 points, which including nailing four three-point jumpers.

“It took us a little bit to get adjusted, and (Lenoir City) made some shots,” said Lady Ads skipper Jason Mayfield, whose team improved to 7-3 overall entering the week.

But in the second half, “We settled in defensively — talked about some things at halftime. Our girls adjusted well without a real good scouting (report on LCHS),” the coach added.

“And obviously, K.J. was pretty dominant.”

Depth has sparked FHS dual triumphs in wrestling revival: Rohn

December 18, 2024 by Ken Lay, Correspondent

When Charlie Rohn took the reins for the Farragut High School wrestling program, he faced the challenge of not only a rebuilding project, he had to reboot the program, starting from scratch.

Rohn, who moved to East Tennessee from Maryland recently, expressed interest in becoming the Admirals’ head coach because his son, senior Dylan Rohn (144-pound weight class), was a high school wrestler who relocated with him.

Trouble was, Farragut had no team and no coach. Charlie took the job knowing it would be an uphill battle. He began roaming the hallways at FHS in search of students who wanted to compete on the mats.

“I went to the school at lunchtime every day for a month to recruit athletes,” he said. “My son wrestles and they didn’t have a coach.”

Coach Rohn’s sales pitch was a simple one.

“I told the kids that we could win half of our dual matches if I could field a whole team,” he said.

With that, coach Rohn was able to obtain athletes.

“We have 35 boys and that’s pretty good,” he said. “We have six girls.”

Well, not only do the Admirals have numbers, they’re winning dual meets.

Farragut began 8-2 in dual meets out of the gate in 2024-25.

Down 13-0, final 5-minute push propels FHS boys at L-City

December 18, 2024 by Alan Sloan

LENOIR CITY — Failing to score a point for the game’s first 5 minutes, 40 seconds, and unable to connect on a field goal for the first 6 minutes, 20 seconds, Farragut’s boys basketball team had a high climb against Lenoir City at LCHS Friday night, Dec. 13.

Finally catching — and passing — the Panthers when senior standout wing/post Dom VanAcker nailed a three-point jumper with 5:03 left in regulation, Farragut had its first lead of the game at 44-43.

From there, the Admirals went on a 10-0 run to lead 54-43 on VanAcker’s rebound basket at the 2:50 mark of the final period, which pretty much salted away this comeback victory, 58-47.

Farragut trailed 13-0 in the first quarter against the Panthers, who fell to 1-4 entering this week.

“A very horrible start,” said VanAcker, who scored a game-high 17 points in the victory as Farragut improved its overall record to 7-3 entering this week.