Seat-picking Thursday for basketball Mocs - and more Chattanooga region sports news

Arkansas-SEMO Live Blog

New season-ticket buyers for University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's basketball games can pick where they will sit in McKenzie Arena at a "select-a-seat party" Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. Georgia is one of the visiting teams in the 2014-15 season, which also includes the four-team Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 26-27. Ticket buyers don't have to attend Thursday: Open seats can be chosen starting at 10 a.m. Friday at www.gomocs.com or by calling 266-MOCS (6627). There are two pricing levels for lower-level seating in McKenzie, arrording to Monday's release: The padded, center sections on both sides of the court cost $185 per seat plus a required donation to the Mocs Club. Corner and end-zone lower-level seats and gold-circle seats cost $160 each. Alumni get a $25 discount.

• The Chattanooga Quarterback Club will be resuming its weekly Monday noon luncheon meetings on Aug. 25 with UTC football coach Russ Huesman as the guest speaker, and the annual membership drive has begun. The annual dues are $35, and each Monday's gathering at the Stadium Club at Finley Stadium costs $10 with a hot meal, or $4 just to attend. Announcements begin about 12:20 p.m. each Monday, followed by the program, and the meeting ends at 1. The last one for the 2014-15 year is scheduled for April 13. For more information call president Doug Dyer at 265-5062.

Fishing

• After the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series national team champion was decided Saturday on Lake Chatuge near Young Harris and Hiawassee, Ga., the individuals from the top four teams began a separate tournament to determine a college representative for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Harwell near Greenville, S.C. Zach Parker of Bethel University and Brett Preuett of Louisiana-Monroe square off today as the Classic finalists. Both beat Tennessee Tech anglers in the semifinals. Preuett caught 9 pounds, 5 ounces despite losing several keeper-size bass and fishing for more than four hours with two hooks in his neck after a rushed cast -- a doctor had to remove them -- while Tech's Bentley Manning weighed two fish totaling 4-11, according to a B.A.S.S. release. Parker caught a five-bass limit totaling 9-9 while Robert Giarla managed only one 1-5 keeper. "I only got six keeper bites, and I think I'm going to change some stuff up tomorrow," Parker said. "I saw some stuff today that I think will help me tomorrow if I can adjust to it. The lake is changing a lot." Said Preuett: "Zach's a great fisherman, so it should be tight tomorrow. I've got to capitalize on my bites and put fish in the boat."

Running

• Online registration for Saturday's Still Hollow Trail Race in Enterprise South Nature Park closes Wednesday at noon EDT at www.rockcreek.com/stillhollow.rco. The event is part of the 2014 Salomon Rock/Creek Trail Series and costs $60 for the half marathon and $40 for the 10-kilometer option. Both start at 7 a.m. Packets can be picked up Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rock/Creek Paddlesports on Riverside Drive or from 5:30-6:30 a.m. Saturday with race-day registration at the site near the Volkswagen plant.

• The 41st Missionary Ridge Road Race, now also the John Bruner Memorial, will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. It is an out-and-back 4.7-miler from the Bragg Reservation, and it costs $30 at www.chattanoogatrackclub.org or www.active.com or starting at 6 a.m. Saturday at the race site. There is no parking there, but participants may park at McCallie School and take free shuttle buses. Proceeds go to the local chapter of the American Red Cross and to the Team Bruner scholarship fund. Lucas Cotter and Sarah Woerner had the winning times last year of 24 minutes, 43 seconds and 29:52. Adam Pinkston set the course record of 23:07 in 1986; Jan Gautier set the women's standard of 27:05 in 1992.

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