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Oak Ridge vs. Karns: Get ready for 'war' tonight

david clary
·2 min read

Most high school coaches will tell you tonight’s Oak Ridge High School Wildcats game is the most important game of the post-season and for the entire season for that matter. The region semi-finals winner not only sets a team up for a region championship, but it also earns them a berth to a sectional game.

The pressure is relived slightly too; with a win tonight it becomes double elimination for both teams that advance to the championship game. Tonight is a high-pressure game at Karns High School. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.

Oak Ridge's Kaden Brightharp (20) dribbles down the court as Karns' JJ Faulkner (1) defends during a basketball game in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.
Oak Ridge's Kaden Brightharp (20) dribbles down the court as Karns' JJ Faulkner (1) defends during a basketball game in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023.

This is the round that Oak Ridge lost last season at Farragut when the Wildcats lost to Bearden. Karns, tonight’s opponent, lost in the first round to that same Bearden team a year ago. Karns is trying to reach the region finals for the first time since 2016 when they lost to Oak Ridge. The Wildcats’ last Region 2 titlegame came in 2021.

Oak Ridge’s loss to Central at the District 3 Tournament made things tougher for the Wildcats as this put Oak Ridge on the road for what could be the remainder of the season. There are two possible scenarios to get Oak Ridge back to the Wildcat Arena, but the Wildcats have to take care of business tonight to startthose scenarios in motion; plus it would take some help.

Should Oak Ridge win tonight and William Blount loses to Bearden, the Wildcats would be at home forthe region championship game on Thursday night. If Oak Ridge wins tonight but William Blount wins, then the region championship game would be at William Blount. Scenario No. 2: to get Oak Ridge back home is if the Wildcats win the region championship game, then they would host an upper East Tennessee team in a sectional game. Home or away, the Wildcats need to win tonight to move on. That is no easy task considering how well Karns is playing.

Karns team

Karns enters tonight’s game with a 24 and 7 overall record and six straight wins, including a 30-point win over Central to win the District 3 Championship. Their last loss came to Oak Ridge, 54 to 49, on Jan. 31 at Oak Ridge. Before that loss they had won four in a row, that too following another lossto Oak Ridge, 67 to 64, at Karns. Oak Ridge is the only two losses over the past 18 games for Karns since before Christmas.

Wildcats cheer from the bench during the Jan. 31 game against Karns. The boys play Karns again Tuesday night at Karns.
Wildcats cheer from the bench during the Jan. 31 game against Karns. The boys play Karns again Tuesday night at Karns.

During their current six-game win streak they have wins over West-twice, Clinton, Central, Farragut and Sevier County. Karn’s only other losses were to Hardin Valley, Carter, Fulton and Farragut twice.

Coaches will also tell you that beating a team three times in a season is difficult to do and that’s what stands in front of Oak Ridge tonight. That and Karns is loaded with great talent.

This should be a war tonight.

Oak Ridge fans can watch the game on YouTube on Oak Ridge’s sports channel Prepradio and may also be heard on FM 92.7. David Clary is owner of Prepradio.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge vs. Karns: Get ready for 'war' tonight