Oakland Patriots Basketball
Monday night Rutherford County had two teams vying for a spot in the 2017 Blue Cross Basketball Tournament. Blackman, who had to travel to East Hamilton (Chattanooga, TN) and Oakland, who hosted Walker Valley High (Cleveland, TN).
Blackman Blaze would be upset by East Hamilton on the night by a score of 68 to 72 and will now miss the tournament for the first time in five years. Last year the Blaze reached the AAA Championship game, where they fell to Memphis East. Oakland’s fortune on the night however would be a bit richer.
The Patriots came out the gates a bit sluggish, playing down to their competition at times. Play was so bad for OHS at one point their deficit almost swelled to double digits against the Mustangs. Coach Troy Bond and his Pats would correct their mistakes and take a one point lead into the half, 23 to 22.
Second half play was a much more inspired effort by the Pats, controlling play and leading from wire to wire, ultimately finishing with a 57-45 victory. The Patriots will start tournament play next week at MTSU’s Murphy Center in Tennessee’s annual Blue Cross Basketball Championship Tournament. This will mark the first time the Pats have been to the TSSAA tournament in a decade.
