Cyclones, Patriots earn a win each in key TRC showdown
Published 12:03 am Tuesday, February 11, 2020
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders East head coach John Dyer questions an official about a call.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone head coach Lucas Honeycutt gets animated during his team's showdown with Sullivan East.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Parker Hughes drives hard toward the baseline in the Cyclones win over East.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders William Willocks battles for a tough two points against East.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Brayden Phillips eyes the basket on a free throw attempt.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Nico Ashley elevates for a jump shot over the East defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Morgan Headrick is focused on the hoop as she prepares to offer up a free throw.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Kaitlin Bailey goes up for a short-range jumper over the Lady Patriot defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Kaitlin Bailey makes a pass over the Sullivan East defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Cyclone Kelsie Winters goes up for a basket against East.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
BLUFF CITY – Just like the United States Postal Service motto where neither rain nor snow can keep the mail from being delivered, neither elements of Mother Nature could slow or stop the key Three Rivers Conference showdown between the Elizabethton Cyclones and Sullivan East Patriots at the John Dyer Dome.
Both teams managed to come out with one win apiece as the Lady Patriots frustrated the Lady Cyclones once again in a 54-43 win while the Cyclone boys made it a clean season sweep over the Patriots with a 58-46 victory.
Boys
Elizabethton….58
Sullivan East….46
In a game that had more tension than a ball of rubber bands, the Cyclones managed to keep their composure in one of the toughest gyms to play a game in the Three Rivers Conference and the result was a 12-point Cyclone win.
The game took on its identity in the first quarter as both teams battled back and forth with the first stop ending in a 13-all tie.
Four points each from Nico Ashley and Parker Hughes, a trey from Brayden Phillips, and a pair of free throws from Donta Earnest lifted the Cyclones to the first-period tie.
The second quarter was much the same as the first as Elizabethton did manage to nudge ahead by a nose at the break outscoring the Patriots 16-15 in the second stanza.
Phillips continued to shoot the basketball well leading his team with eight points in the period including two treys. Phillips started the season as a non-factor player for Lucas Honeycutt’s Cyclone squad but has continued to work hard and has become a key piece of the puzzle for the Cyclones down the stretch toward the district tournament.
William WIllocks added four points in the stanza with Earnest and Ashley adding two points apiece.
The difference in the game was the second half, more specifically the fourth quarter when the Cyclone defense locked down the Patriot offense outscoring the home team 15-7 to seal the win.
Ashley pumped in 11 of his 17 points in the second half to propel the Cyclones to the win that secured a two-seed for the upcoming district tournament and a first-round bye.
Phillips closed out the game with 14 points with Hughes adding 10 points. Earnest logged out with eight points on the night with Willocks finishing with six points.
Jake Roberts added three.
Ethan Bradford led the Patriots with 15 points, all coming from beyond the arc. Bradon Standbridge followed with 12 while Dylan Bartley added 10 points.
“You talk about a kid showing up and being an example of what we need in today’s sports is Brayden Phillips,” said Honeycutt in talking about Phillips play as of late. “You look at his minutes that he was getting at the first of the season and what he was getting as for as varsity time goes, it wasn’t much.
“He’s not ever complained or whined about or came to me and said this or that. He has known what he needed to do. He started practicing better and knocking down shots and is playing great defense. He will do anything you ask him to do. When it got tough, he never gave up.”
Honeycutt also commented on how important the win was as far as the conference goes.
“It puts us in second place guaranteed,” added Honeycutt. “We would like to advance but would need a little help. We still have South left and hope someone else will win against them.
“We want to take these new two games personal. We don’t have to worry about getting to the region now. It takes the pressure off especially for a senior player.”
The Cyclones host Sullivan South tonight at 8 pm and Unicoi County Wednesday at 8 pm as well. The district tournament begins next week for Three Rivers Conference.
Girls
Sullivan East….54
Elizabethton….43
In tune with the HeeHaw gangs if it weren’t for bad luck I wouldn’t have any at all, for the Sullivan East Lady Patriots if it weren’t for three’s they would not have any points at all.
With 30 of their 54 points coming from beyond the arc, the Lady Patriots managed to throw a rock in the Lady Cyclones path of trying to secure a two-seed in the Three Rivers Conference.
The Lady Cyclones managed to build a 12-point lead in the first half, but couldn’t hold the Lady Patriots off from the outside while missing several close-range shots of their own.
East also took advantage of second and third chance opportunities as the Lady Cyclones couldn’t come up with key rebounds at critical stages of the contest.
Morgan Headrick was the only Lady Cyclone in double figures with 14. Kaitlin Bailey and Lina Lyon finished the game with seven points each.
Torrie Roberts knocked down a pair of treys for six points while Kaylen Shell added five points. Kelsie Winters and Renna Lane added two points apiece.
The Lady Cyclones host South tonight at 6:30 pm and play host to Unicoi County on Wednesday at 6:30 pm as well.
