Bruins’ Fisher strikes out 21 batters in opening gem
Northwest Whitfield junior left-hander Cade Fisher pitched a 21-strikeout no-hitter Wednesday as the Bruins won their season opener 5-0 over Dade County.
Fisher fanned the first 16 Wolverines before Northwest committed a pair of errors. He finished off the gem in style with five more strikeouts.
“This is only Cade’s second varsity start,” Bruins coach Todd Middleton said of Fisher, who has committed to the University of Florida. “He started once as a freshman, and he tore his ACL in football last year. He was due back the week after COVID stopped the 2020 season, so we’re seeing what he’s developed into now.”
Matt Redmond had two hits, scored three times and drove in a run, and Keaton McQuaig was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run for the Bruins.
› Dalton 3, North Murray 2: Brady Pendley, A.J. Hernandez and Tyson Neal combined on a four-hitter for the Catamounts in their season opener. Jose Santiago was 2-for-2, including a double, and drove in a run, with Tyson Greenwade and Kaleb Valdez adding an RBI each for
Dalton.
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
› Christian Academy of Knoxville 62, Silverdale Baptist Academy 58: Silverdale senior Becca Lamb scored 21 points and hit six 3-pointers, but the standout forward’s performance was not enough as CAK captured the Division II-A East Region semifinal win.
The Lady Warriors were sparked by Keira Leffew, who had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Maddie Jones scored 11 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter. Silverdale freshman Kelsie Johnson finished with 12 points.
The Lady Seahawks (22-9) will host Boyd Buchanan in the region’s third-place game at 6 p.m. Friday. The Lady Buccaneers lost 82-25 at Lakeway Christian, who hit 14 3-pointers in the region’s other semifinal Wednesday.
› Baylor 39, GPS 22: Raegyn Conley scored 19 points to help the Lady Red Raiders to a Division II-AA East Region road victory.
› Armuchee 57, Trion 56, OT: In the GHSA Region 6-A championship game at Armuchee, the hosts rallied after being down five with less than two minutes left in regulation to send the game into overtime, where Chloe Purdy scored the period’s first five points to propel the Lady Indians to the title.
Bailey Tomlin hit a four-footer with four seconds remaining in regulation to force the extra period after Trion missed on a pair of one-and-one trips to the foul line in the final minute.
Gracie Tucker scored 19 points to pace Trion (18-4), which went through the region regular-season schedule without a loss, and she was followed by I’ziah McCutchins with 13 points and nine rebounds and Chloe Murdock with 11 and 11.
Purdy led Armuchee with 19 points.
› Ringgold 52, LaFayette 48: In a GHSA Region 6-AAA quarterfinal at Sonoraville, the Lady Tigers (17-8) earned a region semifinal berth and a state tournament spot as Rachel Lopez led a balanced attack with 12 points and seven assists. Maggie Reed added 10 points with six assists, Baileigh Pitts 10 points and Riley Nayadley seven with 10 rebounds.
Mekeria Johnson led LaFayette with 24 points.
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
›
Hixson 44, Signal Mountain 43: The Wildcats bounced
back from a 28-16 halftime deficit on the road to fight on in the District 6-AA tournament. Hixson will travel to Red Bank today for a semifinal.
› Central 79, East Ridge 43:
The Purple Pounders scored a season high in points to advance to the District 6-AA quarterfinals, where they will face Brainerd. Central was led by Aylin Teague (14 points), Jailon Jackson (13), Donovin Taylor-Wade (13) and Kenneth Steward (seven assists). East Ridge’s Tyree Smith had 14 points.
› Calhoun 60, Hiram 58:
In the GHSA Region 7-AAAAA semifinals at Cartersville, the Yellow Jackets (14-10) reached the championship round as junior forward Peyton Law scored 20 points and Dylan
Faulkner added 14.
› Silverdale Baptist 48, CAK 47: The Seahawks achieved history as they clinched their first Division II-A state tournament berth with a thrilling road victory in Tuesday’s region quarterfinals. Senior guard and team-leading scorer Owen Neal made a driving layup right before the buzzer to cue a celebration for Silverdale (16-7), which will travel to face Boyd Buchanan in the region semifinals.