Nov. 12, 2026
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) will sponsor its annual KOC Tip-Off Classic, a two-day preseason basketball showcase that brings together high school teams from across Knox County while raising funds for an important investment in local athletics.
The event takes place Monday, Nov. 16, at West High School and Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Powell High School. Girls’ and boys’ games will begin at 5:30 p.m. each evening.
The funds from KOC’s title sponsorship along with ticket sales from this year’s event will help purchase and install shot clocks soon to be required in all 13 Knox County high school gymnasiums. In June, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) board approved a rule requiring a phased rollout of 35-second shot clocks in high school basketball, with all schools equipped before the 2029-30 school year.
“Supporting student-athletes goes beyond providing care when injuries happen; it’s also about helping create opportunities and providing the resources they need to succeed,” said Dr. Paul Becker, sports medicine surgeon at KOC. “The KOC Tip-Off Classic brings our community together around a shared love of high school basketball while helping Knox County Schools fund an important equipment upgrade that will benefit student-athletes across all 13 high schools.”
The KOC Tip-Off Classic includes both boys’ and girls’ high school basketball teams from Austin-East, Bearden, Carter, Central, Farragut, Fulton, Gibbs, Halls, Hardin Valley Academy, Karns, Powell, South-Doyle and West. Admission is $10 at the gate, with proceeds supporting fundraiser efforts.
| West High School Monday, Nov. 16 | ||||
| HOME | VISITOR | TEAM | GAME TIME | |
| Farragut | vs. | Carter | Girls | 5:30 p.m. |
| Farragut | vs. | Carter | Boys | 6 p.m. |
| Fulton | vs. | Halls | Girls | 6:30 p.m. |
| Fulton | vs. | Halls | Boys | 7 p.m. |
| West | vs. | HVA | Girls | 7:30 p.m. |
| West | vs. | South Doyle | Girls | 8 p.m. |
| West | vs. | HVA | Boys | 8:30 p.m. |
| West | vs. | South Doyle | Boys | 9 p.m. |
| Powell High School Tuesday, Nov. 17 | ||||
| HOME | VISITOR | TEAM | GAME TIME | |
| Karns | vs. | Austin East | Girls | 5:30 p.m. |
| Karns | vs. | Austin East | Boys | 6 p.m. |
| Bearden | vs. | Central | Girls | 6:30 p.m. |
| Bearden | vs. | Central | Boys | 7 p.m. |
| Powell | vs. | Gibbs | Girls | 7:30 p.m. |
| Powell | vs. | Gibbs | Boys | 8 p.m. |
KOC recently partnered with Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital to better serve student-athletes in Knox County Schools. Through this partnership, certified athletic trainers in 13 Knox County high schools provide sports medicine coverage at practice, in training rooms and on the sidelines at games.
These healthcare professionals specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries. They also work closely with KOC physicians and physical therapists to ensure injured athletes get the best care possible to get back to their sport. In addition to Knox County Schools, KOC athletic trainers serve numerous schools in surrounding counties.
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic has a longstanding history of supporting local athletes with KOC doctors serving as team physicians for area high schools and post-secondary institutions, including the University of Tennessee, Carson-Newman University, Maryville College and Lincoln Memorial University. KOC providers also support professional teams including the Knoxville Smokies, One Knoxville Sporting Club and the Knoxville Ice Bears.
For more information about the KOC sports medicine outreach efforts, visit kocortho.com/services/sports-medicine-outreach.
About Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic
Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services with more than 520,000 patient visits annually at 11 East Tennessee locations. As a network of convenient and accessible clinics that provide exceptional orthopaedic care across the region, KOC comprises 9 office locations; two ambulatory surgery centers; and additional services including urgent care, MRI, orthotics and bracing, physical and occupational therapy and sports medicine outreach. KOC’s more than 150 orthopaedic experts, supported by over 1,000 team members, provide a superior quality of diagnostic proficiency; when needed, an unmatched level of surgical expertise; and a patient-centered approach to deliver unparalleled personalized treatment. The network recently earned a 2025 “Top Workplace” ranking from Knoxville News Sentinel based on employee surveys measuring company culture. For more information, visit kocortho.com.
