Tyner Enjoying Final Season in Their Old Gym

Chattanooga-(WDEF-TV) The Tyner basketball team is enjoying another fantastic season, and it will be an historic season regardless of how the Rams finish.
It’s the final year in their old school gymnasium.
Tyner is scheduled to move into a new school building, and a new arena next year.

Tyner gym. They don’t make’em like this anymore.
Said Tyner head coach E’Jay Ward:”It’s a small gym. Close to the crowd. Players close to the crowd. It’s just a good small environment. When it gets packed out games, you usually have the fire marshal come in and step in and cut it off. It gets really, really, hot. Teams will get uncomfortable in this gym.”
It gets hot enough to fog up TV cameras.
Reporter:”Do you think a lot of area coaches will be glad to see this gym torn down?”
Said Ward:”Oh yeah. At home my record is pretty good. I would think a lot of guys in the area will be glad when this gym is burnt down.”
Sign in the gym’s lobby says it opened in 1975.
So it has housed 50 years of basketball memories, including some really good Tyner teams.
Said Ward:”When you walk in this gym, you can tell a lot of guys before us have put in a lot of hard work on this floor. It’s still a good basketball feel. It’s a pretty special gym. This gym means a lot to those guys who have been practicing and playing in games. Sweating blood and tears in this gym. Means a lot. I have been here eight years. It means a lot to me as well.”
The gym certainly shows its age, so it may be time to close the doors.
Said Ward:”I think this building has served its purpose. We are ready to move on to the new building. My principal already told me. Once we move into that new building, we can kiss this building goodbye.”