Category: Sports

Westwood’s Rockets pushed Elkmont Middle School to the brink on Wednesday.

But in the end, the Rockets fell just short.

On Wednesday afternoon in Alabama, Westwood fell to Elkmont 40-37 in the winner’s bracket finals to fall down into the loser’s bracket finals. The Rockets bounced back and beat Highland Rim 39-33 to move to the championship of the double elimination tournament. The Rockets beat Elkmont 35-30 to force a deciding game, where the Rockets fell 38-29.

Westwood 37

Elkmont 40

The Rockets exploded for 16 points in the fourth quarter after a slow offensive start, but couldn’t complete a comeback and fell to Elkmont in the winner’s bracket finals. Jayden Carter led the way with 16 points, including 5 in the fourth quarter.

Westwood 39

Highland Rim 33

Rocket Jaiden Warren put in a steady performance to lead the Rockets with 10 points in a 39-33 win. Cayden Trail and Jayden Carter each pitched in 8 to get the Rockets out of the loser’s bracket finals and into the championship game.

Westwood – 35

Elkmont 30

In their third game in a row, the Rockets used 14 points from Jayden Carter and 7 from Caiden Warren to beat the same Elkmont team that they fell to earlier in the day. Cayden Trail and Blake Hillis each pitched in five points for Westwood to force a third game with Elkmont.

Westwood 29

Elkmont 38

In the decisive championship game, Westwood finally ran out of gas and fell to tournament host Elkmont 38-29. The Rockets could only muster 4 points in the final period.

Blake Hillis finished with 9 points to lead the way for the Rockets. Cayden Trail added 6.

The Rockets are now 9-10 overall on the season with one tournament left – scheduled for next weekend at Webb School.

The Nashville Predators will open the hockey season in January with no fans at Bridgestone arena. You can hear the Predators on Thunder Radio (brought to you by Charlie Gonzales, realtor with Weichert Realtors Joe Orr and Associates).

See the team’s statement below:

First and foremost, our top priority is always the health and safety of our fans. As COVID-19 cases reach record-high numbers, we want to be a supportive member of the Nashville community, not a detriment.

Over the past few months, we have continued to shape, frame and revise our plan for reopening, and we couldn’t be more thankful to the Metro Board of Health, Mayor Cooper’s Office, the NHL and many others in helping us do so.

We know by now that the landscape in these times can change by the day. While we don’t want to articulate our plans too far ahead of time, we will make every effort to detail our arrangements with as much notice as possible.

Therefore, as we drop the puck on Jan. 14, we have decided to begin the season without fans in attendance at Bridgestone Arena. Over time, we will work toward allowing limited numbers of fans into the arena while finding new ways to engage our fanbase and steadily grow the number of fans permitted in the building.

Reopening our arena and getting back to playing hockey won’t be the same without our Loyal Legion cheering us on in person, but we will continue to build toward what we have come to know and appreciate in Smashville – 17,159 of the best fans in sports cheering the Nashville Predators to victory night after night.

The Westwood Rockets have advanced to the semi-finals of the Elkmont Christmas Tournament in Elkmont, Alabama with a 38-26 win over Lexington Tuesday afternoon.

The Rockets held a slim 23-18 lead entering the fourth quarter before pulling away behind 9 fourth quarter points from Jayden Carter, who finished with a game-high 12 points.

Rocket Blake Hillis did most of his damage in the second half, as well, putting up 5 of his 7 in the third quarter.

Cayden Trail added 6 points for the Rockets, Caiden Warren and Jaiden Warren 4 apiece, Lane Fann 3 and Brayden Trail tacked on two points from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. The win improves the WMS Rockets to 7-8 overall on the season.

The Rockets will play the Elkmont 8^th grade team at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30 in the tournament semi-finals. A win would put the Rockets in the championship game at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday night. A loss would send them to the 3 p.m. loser’s bracket finals .

Coffee County Central High School athletics has released its plan to move forward with basketball and wrestling while ticket sales are restricted by the governor and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.

Governor Bill Lee’s executive order 70 and the TSSAA restrictions prohibit the general public from attending school-sanctioned athletic events until at least Jan. 20. However, athletic events and games can continue.

According to CHS, moving forward: Only family members whose names have been provided by the coaches will be allowed to attend games/matches.

Those family members will be able to purchase tickets at the gate or show a pass to enter. Tickets will NOT be sold on GoFan for home games.

Central High School will honor season passes and TSSAA/TACA passes for those who have them.

Only Coffee County Schools employees who are on the player family list will be able to use their badges to get in the event.

These rules apply to people whose athlete is participating in that night’s game/match.  For example: for a varsity contest, only varsity family can attend. Freshman games, only freshmen.

CHS requires a face covering to enter facilities and encourages social distancing in bleachers.

Visiting teams will receive a private GoFan link, which limits sales.

CHS athletics stated that it does not know what restrictions and ticket sales will be like for away games. Interested fans should check those school websites, social  media or call for that information.  

 As always, if you cannot attend Central High School basketball games or are restricted from attending, you can listen to every game live on Thunder Radio – your home for all Red Raider and Lady Raider sports. Listen at 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM, on the Manchester Go smartphone app and at thunder1320.com.

Wrestling match results will be posted at www.thunder1320.com at the conclusion of each match.

The Titans have placed punter Brett Kern on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list.

The move comes one day after the Titans placed kicker Stephen Gostkowski on the COVID list.

A three-time Pro Bowler, Kern has punted 36 times for a 45.8-yard average in 2020, with a 41.4-yard net. He’s put 21 punts down inside the 20-yard line this season.

The Reserve/COVID-19 list was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. Clubs may not disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19. Under the rules for Reserve/COVID-19, teams are required to address the player’s roster status once that player has fulfilled the protocol for their circumstance.

The Titans face the Texans on Sunday in Houston. You can hear the game live on Thunder Radio – your home for the Tennessee Titans in Coffee County: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM and 106.7 FM.

In there first game in two weeks, the Westwood Rockets didn’t show any rust Monday.

Rocket eighth grader Jayden Carter piled up 23 points – 15 coming in the first quarter – and the Rockets blew past Elkmont in the first round of the Elkmont Middle School Christmas tournament in Alabama, winning 58-25.

The Rockets held a controlling 30-13 lead at the halftime break.

In total, 10 different Rockets contributed on the offensive end of the floor Monday. Blake Hillis and Lane Fann each added 6 points, Jaiden Warren 5, Neyland Grant 5, Cayden Trail 4, Blake Cummings 3, Matt Moore, Matthew White and Dylen Trail all added 2 points.

The win improves Westwood to 6-8 on the season. The Rockets will play Lexington at 1:45 p.m. in Alabama on Tuesday, Dec. 29. With a win, the Rockets will advance to the tournament semi-finals at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. All games in Alabama.

The Titans have placed kicker Stephen Gostkowski on the team’s Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Gostkowski has made 18-of-26 field goals for the Titans in 2020, and he’s hit on 46-of-48 extra point attempts.

The Reserve/COVID-19 list was created for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been quarantined after having been in close contact with an infected person or persons. Clubs may not disclose whether the player is in quarantine or is positive for COVID-19. Under the rules for Reserve/COVID-19, teams are required to address the player’s roster status once that player has fulfilled the protocol for their circumstance.

The Titans face the Texans on Sunday in Houston. You can hear the game live on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM. Kickoff at noon.

Westwood Middle School’s Rocket basketball team is traveling to Elkmont, Ala. To open the Elkmont Boys Christmas tournament on Monday.

The Rockets will take on Elkmont at 5:30 p.m. With a loss, the Rockets will play at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday. A win will put the Rockets playing at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

After this week’s tournament, Westwood has one more tournament left to wrap up its season.

PORTLAND, TENN – Coffee County left no doubt Tuesday night in the championship game of the Corey Brewer Christmas tournament.

Coffee County jumped out to a 13-3 lead over District 7-AAA power Stewarts Creek and never looked back, dropping the Red Hawks 43-29 at Portland High School.

“We did a lot of things really well tonight,” said CHS head coach Joe Pat Cope.

Many things right indeed. The Lady Raiders were 17-of-18 at the free-throw line and settled for nothing less that smothering Stewarts Creek on the defensive end, not allowing a field goal until six minutes were off the clock in the first quarter.

Coffee County led 13-5 after one quarter and 19-16 at the half. The Lady Raiders led by as many as 18 in the second half.

Bella Vinson led the way for Coffee County with 18 points. The Senior hit a pair of 3-pointers and was 4-of-4 at the free-throw line.

Sophomore post Chloe Gannon added 10 points off the bench. Sophomore Alivia Reel pitched in 8 points, Jalie Ruehling was 4-for-4 at the free-throw line to add in 4 points and junior Elli Chumley added 3 for CHS.

The win improves the Lady Raiders to 11-1 on the season. They won’t play again until Jan. 5 in a District 8-AAA matchup at Shelbyville.

THIS GAME WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON THUNDER RADIO. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE REPLAY PROVIDED BY THUNDER RADIO.