Early deficit too much for Cyclones in Region 1-AA semifinals
Published 5:41 pm Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders William Willocks of the Cyclones goes up for a tough shot over the Greeneville defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Jake Roberts splits the Greeneville defense on his way toward a tough two points.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton post Nicholas Wilson goes up for a challenged shot near the Cyclone basket.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Nate Stephens flies in for a one-handed jumper over a Greene Devil defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Seth Carter goes in for a Cyclone layup while William Willocks boxes out a Greene Devil defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone guard Bryce VanHuss makes a bounce pass during action from the Region 1-AA semifinal at Greeneville.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone senior cheerleader Olivia Vaughn watches for the ball to fall through the net on a Cyclone free throw attempt.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders There apparently weren't any attendance restrictions in place at Hal Henard Gym on Tuesday when the Elizabethton Cyclones and Greeneville Greene Devils tangled in a Region 1-AA semifinal boys basketball contest.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
GREENEVILLE – It’s one thing when a team brings a shovel to bury its opponent and another thing when they bring a backhoe.
The Greeneville Greene Devils bypassed the shovels and brought out the CAT backhoe as the home team built a commanding 34-10 at the intermission and cruised to a 61-36 win in the Region 1-AA semifinals to bring the Elizabethton Cyclones 2020-21 season to an end.
Class AA Mr. Basketball finalists Jakobi Gillespie fired in 11 first-half points to help his team build the 24-point advantage while Reid Satterfield played a big role as well hitting for 10.
The Cyclones struggled offensively in the opening 16 minutes of play as Elizabethton scored eight points in the first quarter and only two points in the second period to find themselves in a deep, deep hole that was going to be tough to overcome.
Nicholas Wilson scored four points to lead the Cyclones while William Willocks, Nate Stephen, and Jake Roberts scored a deuce each in the opening half.
Elizabethton came out of the locker room with a little pep in their step putting up 16 points but Greeneville matched the Cyclones step for step recording 17 to lead 51-26 heading into the final eight minutes of action.
Roberts dropped eight points in the third on the strength of two treys while Seth Carter added four in the quarter.
With their season on the line, the Cyclones just couldn’t muster the offensive power needed to overcome the 25-point deficit as the Greene Devils advanced to the Region 1-AA Championship against Sullivan East, an 82-47 winner over Grainger County.
Roberts closed out the season with 15 points to lead the Cyclones while Willocks finished his senior season with seven points.
Gillespie and Satterfield totaled 17 points apiece to pace the Greene Devils to the victory.
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Region 1-AA Boys Semifinals
Greeneville, 61-36
Elizabethton (36)
Jake Roberts 15, William Willocks 7, Nate Stephens 4, Seth Carter 4, Nicholas Wilson 4, Mason Ball 2.
Greeneville (61)
Conner Debusk 4, Jakobi Gillespie 17, Uh-Jon-Tay Dabbs 7, Reid Satterfield 17, Jackson Tillery 2, Terry Grove 5, Avery Collins 2, Trey Mayes 7.
Elizabethton…… 8 2 16 10 – 36
Greeneville…….. 23 11 17 10 – 61
