Pitcher, outfielder to play at Carson-Newman University
by Ken Lay
Clinton Dragons left-handed pitcher Harrison Shelton has signed a letter of intent to play for Carson New- man University in 2025. Shelton celebrates the signing event with his family.
Harrison Shelton took a step to realizing his lifelong dream recently.
Shelton, a senior left-handed pitcher and outfielder for the Clinton High School baseball team, recently signed a national letter of intent to continue his academic pursuits and athletic career at Carson-Newman University.
“Carson-Newman is definitely my dream school,” said Shelton, who helped the Dragons share the District 4-AA regular-season championship with Knoxville Halls and crosstown rival Anderson County last spring.
“My dad went to Carson-Newman and he could’ve played sports, but he followed his faith in God. He wanted to be a preacher.
“My dad and I used to go to football games there and ever since I was a young kid, I wanted to go to Carson-Newman.”
Clinton High School has several ties to the university.
Clinton’s head basketball coach, Chris Lockard, is in his 23rd season leading the high school’s hoops program. - Tony Cox
Chris Lockard has long been a fixture in the Clinton High School boys basketball program.
Lockard, who has been the Dragons’ head coach for more than two decades, took the reins of the program in 2000.
Before that, he was an assistant under his father, Don Lockard, for whom the Clinton High gymnasium is named.
Christ Lockard, a 1988 CHS graduate, played for his dad and the Dragons.
In his time around basketball, Lockard has seen the landscape of education and basketball change.
But he’s back for a 23rd season on the sideline and eager to begin the new season.
He relishes the opportunity to teach the game he loves and the chance to be a competitor.
“I love being able to work with the young guys, and I’m very competitive,” Lockard said.
“I love all sports. I’ve coached football, golf and tennis. I just love all sports. I just love sports, in general. I go to the football games and the baseball games. My dad coached baseball in St. Louis.”
The Mavericks got a lot of action from shooting guard Brandon Dake. The 6-foot-3 junior scored 14 points against Campbell County in the Mavericks’ 63- 50 win over the Cougars. - Ricky Williams
After getting off to a 1-4 start and taking a brief break over Thanksgiving weekend, Anderson County High School’s boys basketball team returned to the court last week and notched a pair of victories.
The Mavericks (3-4) closed out the week with a 63-50 win over Campbell County in Jacksboro Friday night in front of a large and spirited crowd.
“That was a big win for us,” ACHS Coach Jordan Jeffers said. “It was a rivalry renewed. That game meant a lot to the people around here, and it was fun.
“It’s always fun when you play in front of a crowd like that in December,” he said. “It was loud, and their student section was about 12 rows deep.”
Brandon Dake paced the Mavericks’ offensive attack as he scored 14 points.
Xavian James, who joined the team following the end of the Mavericks’ football season, added 14 points against the Cougars.
Defending District 4-AAA Most Valuable Player Hayden Craig was a force on the boards as he pulled down 12 rebounds.
“We had a good week and we have our whole team together,” Jeffers said. “We played a lot better defensively, and we played a lot harder.
“We had a lot more [of our team] play hard, and we played with a lot of intensity.
“Xavian James has come out from the football team, and he’s playing well,” Jeffers said.
“He plays extremely hard.”
Anderson County opened the week on Tuesday, Nov. 28, with a 65-59 win at home against former league rival Knoxville Halls, which has now been reclassified to Class AAA.
Dake had 21 points against the Red Devils.
Cam Lawson finished with 12 points for the Mavericks.
Clinton’s Jeremiah Lee drives to the basket against Karns. - Tony Cox
As the 2023-24 high school basketball season continues, Clinton High School’s boys are continuing to have more than their share of troubles.
The Dragons lost two of their three games last week as they struggled to find their shooting touch.
“Our kids are playing hard, and I haven’t been mad about our effort,” said longtime Clinton Head Coach Chris Lockard.
“We’re just not making shots. We’re getting open shots and we’re getting shots from the right people.
“We’re just missing them, and hopefully, we’ll get it figured out before we play a district game,” he said. “But I use these games to get us ready for our district games.”
Clinton closed out last week with a 78-65 loss to geographic and one-time district rival Powell. It was the Dragons’ second loss to the Panthers this season.
“Against Powell, over there, we took the exact same number of shots as they did, but they made two more than we did,” Lockard said.
“They made more s free throws than we did, and a one-possession game turned into a 13-point loss,” he said.
Clinton Dragons Cheerleading placed second in the Large Varsity Non-Tumbling Game Day category at last Saturday’s UCA/UDA Smoky Mountains Championships in Sevierville. Pictured with the trophy are: Front row from left, Sarah Conatser, Sadie Haney, Olivia Marlow, AnnaKate Hackworth, Reese Rittenberry, Rylee Gann, Kendra Holbrook and Shelby Moore. Back row, Kaitlyn Campbell, Haileigh White, Jaylynn York, Addison Maddox, Ayana Miller, Gracie Williams, Hannah Cook, Hannah Whitley, Charli Riggs, Brooklin Wilkerson and Taylor Atkins.
Clinton’s Rily Silk won his match over Pigeon Forge’s Josiah Kelly by fall (3:14). - Ricky Williams
A short trip to West Knoxville netted the Clinton High School wrestling programs a total of 10 medals at last weekend’s Irish Invitational Tournament at Knoxville Catholic High School.
The girls tournament was held Friday night, and all six competitors for the Lady Dragons returned home victorius.
“All of our girls that wrestled medaled,” Clinton Coach Channing McDonald said.
“It was a good day for us for the girls, and our boys did well on Saturday, too,” he said.
Lady Dragons’ medalists included: Kayla Crutcher (who competes in the 132-pound weight class and finished second); Emma Murphy (165 pounds, second); Ace Johnson (185 pounds, third), Alyssa Gonzales (120 pounds, third); Janelle Cassado (235 pounds, third) and Maggie Lloyd (107 pounds, fourth).
On Saturday, the Dragons took to the mats and earned four medals as a team.
Justice Snyder, who competes in the 120-pound division, came in second).
Caleb Kendall (132 pounds) also posted a runner-up finish in his bracket.
Parker Sanchez (138) and Hayden Harrell (145) each finished third in their respective weight classes.
Anderson County was the host team to Clinton and Pigeon Forge high schools at the Anderson County Dual Meet last Thursday night. - Ricky Williams
Anderson County’s wrestling team finished second in the Irish Invitational, hosted by Knoxville Catholic High School on Saturday.
The Mavericks had six medalists in West Knoxville.
“It was a good day for us,” ACHS Coach Matt Slone said.
“Overall, we did really well to take second place in the tournament,” he said,
“We had wrestlers in some of our weight classes that didn’t wrestle quite as well as they could have.
“But overall, we were pleased,” Slone said.
Jefferson County won the event, but Anderson County had two of its wrestlers reach the finals in the 175-pound division. Senior Kyle Buckner and junior Josh Bingham each made the championship match.
A coach’s decision awarded the title to Buckner.
“We decided to have a forfeit and Josh forfeited to Kyle,” Slone said. “He was our scorer and it wasn’t like Josh didn’t want to wrestle. It was a coach’s decision.”
In the 190-pound weight class, senior Aiden Derry was runner-up. Senior Morgan Dye finished second in the 215-pound weight class.
ACHS had a pair of third-place finishers in the Irish Invitational as Tripp Haire (113 pounds) and Emery Presson both came in third in their respective weight classes.
A pair of area girls high school basketball teams were in action last week as Clinton played three games and Anderson County had two.
Oak Ridge (3-0) opened District 3-4A play Tuesday at Powell. Game results were unavailable at press time.
The Lady Dragons kept their perfect record intact with three victories as they defeated Powell on the road on Friday night.
They beat the Lady Panthers for the second time this season, a 53-44 victory at Powell’s Jeff Hunter Gymnasium.
On Thursday, Clinton edged Meigs County 60-51 at the Don W. Lockard Gymnasium. On Tuesday, the Lady Dragons (8-0) notched a 54-49 win over Karns at home, avenging two losses to the Lady Beavers (coached by former Oak Ridge assistant Lauren Trent) last season.
Clinton hosted Hardin Valley Academy Tuesday, but results were not available at press time.
The Lady Dragons will open District 4-AAA play when they host league newcomer Union County. They’ll continue league play on Friday when they travel to host crosstown rival Anderson County.
Tipoff for both contests is slated for 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, Anderson County (4-3) defeated Knoxville Halls on Tuesday, Nov. 28, a 46-37 victory over the Lady Devils at home. On Friday, the Lady Mavericks dropped a 63-40 decision to Campbell County in Jacksboro.
ACHS hosted Northview Academy, but results were unavailable at press time.
The Lady Mavericks will open district play at Scott on Dec. 12. They’ll host the Lady Dragons on Dec. 15.
The Lady Wildcats will host Knoxville Central on Friday at 6 p.m.
