.jpg)
Wlaf1450Oneida 63 Jellico 58
By Clayton Carroll
HARRIMAN, TN (WLAF) – For the fourth time this season, Mike Reynolds’ Jellico Blue Devils and Jacob King’s Oneida Indians faced off against each other. Oneida led the season series 2-1 up to this point, with Jellico’s win coming in the district tournament en route to the district title.
On Tuesday night, the meeting between the two familiar foes was on the biggest stage…the Region 2-A semifinals. The winner of this contest would advance to the region championship, as well as clinch a spot in the state qualifier game.
“It’s like a pressure cooker inside Harriman High School,” said WLAF’s Josh Parker describing the atmosphere on Tuesday night.
The entire game was a back-and-forth, boxing-like battle. At the end of the first quarter, Jellico narrowly led 17-16.
Both teams were even in the second frame, scoring ten apiece, giving Jellico the slight 27-26 edge heading into the half.
Oneida outscored the Blue Devils 17-14 in the third, taking a 43-41 lead into the fourth quarter.
With a minute and a half to go in the fourth quarter, Jellico was down 54-52. Following an Oneida free throw, the Indians led by three with sub 30 seconds left in regulation.
On Jellico’s next possession, a questionable charge call was made, allowing Oneida to make Jellico play the foul game. The Indians sank their foul shots on the way to a 63-58 win.
Unofficially, Trey Vann was tops for the Blue Devils in the scorebook with 29 points. Jacob Bowlin finished with nine points. Gavin Dabney and Caleb Rose both totaled seven points, and Brayden Teague rounded out the scoring column with six points.
With the loss came the conclusion of the careers of JHS seniors Trey Vann, Seth Brandenburg and Ethan Sowder.
Jellico’s season ends in the region 2-A semis in back-to-back seasons. Still, the Blue Devils finished with an 18-14 record, along with a District 3-A championship, their fourth in five seasons. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/04/2026-6AM)