Shift of defense… Rebels charge to front in final four minutes, 57-51
Published 11:15 pm Wednesday, January 15, 2020
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders William Willocks puts up a one-handed runner for the Cyclones on Tuesday against South.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jake Roberts of Elizabethton glides to the rim for a lay-up.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders William Willocks looks to dish the basketball off to an open teammate.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Jake Roberts flies toward the rim against South.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Nico Ashley works the basketball while being guarded closely by a South defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Jordan Haynes looks to pass the ball while South's Ben Diamond attempts to draw the charging foul.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Parker Hughes of Elizabethton flies down the lane toward the basket.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
KINGSPORT – For 28 of the 32 minutes, the Elizabethton Cyclones managed to stay one step ahead of the Three Rivers Conference frontrunning Sullivan South Rebels.
In the final four minutes found their gem as Ben Diamond’s trey turned the tide for the Rebels who fought back from as many as 10 points down to take the 57-51 win in a highly charged atmosphere.
Elizabethton burst out of the gates like a caged animal being set free as the Cyclones filled the nets for 24 points in the first quarter as senior Nico Ashley hit 12 of his 21 points in the period.
Jake Roberts lent a big hand to the charge as well hitting for eight points in the stanza. The Cyclones led 24-16 at the end of the first quarter.
Elizabethton continued the onslaught in the second period once again outscoring the home-standing Rebels 15-14 to take a 39-30 edge to the break.
Ashley collected six more points in the period to go along with a trey from Brayden Phillips to keep the Cyclones out front.
After playing the Cyclones in a man-to-man in the first half, the Rebels made an adjustment to a stingy zone in the second half which ended up paying huge dividends.
Giving up 39 points in the first half, the Rebels defensive change frustrated the Cyclones in the second half as Elizabethton managed only six points in each of the third and fourth quarters.
Elizabethton did show patience in the second half moving the ball around effectively looking for the open shot but when that time came, the shots that were falling in the first half couldn’t find their mark in the second half.
Aside from Ashley’s 21 points, Roberts finished with 16 points canning two treys in the fourth quarter to keep the Cyclones close.
Donta Earnest added six points but his defensive play and ability to keep the basketball alive led to several second and third attempts offensively for the Cyclones.
William Willocks collected five points while Phillips finished with the three points.
Although Parker Hughes didn’t score, the junior guard played his most impressive game of the season facilitating the Elizabethton offense which led to his teammates getting good looks at the basket.
Gannon Chase led three Rebels (5-0, 17-4) with double-digit scoring hitting for 18 in the contest followed by Diamond with 16. Camden Necessary chipped in with 10 points.
Even though losses hurt, the Cyclones (3-2, 4-12) are continuing to show improvement which their head coach Lucas Honeycutt hopes will culminate into a strong postseason run when district tournament play which is closely approaching.
“I think execution coming out of halftime as they went to a zone and we took some quick shots,” said Honeycutt in accessing the final result. “I think that we just didn’t get into a rhythm and a flow.
“We are extremely proud of the way our team played tonight. I think we did everything that we could at this point and time to get a win. Whenever you look at the game as a whole and not just the score, you can tell that they are coming along and getting better as they are putting in the work, listening, and trying to follow the game plan.
“It was a great crowd,” Honeycutt said. “It’s getting in that tournament mode and that’s what we are playing for. I feel like we are behind in preparation as for as injuries and getting those guys back late.
“But sometimes that can be a positive because sometimes you get teams that peak too early and we are hopefully going to peak sometime right at tournament time.”
Elizabethton takes the court on Friday night at home as they host the Sullivan East Patriots (3-1, 9-9) for an 8 pm tipoff.
