Blue Devils humbles Cyclones in Upper Lakes play
Published 1:39 am Saturday, February 5, 2022
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Star Photo/Randall Bennett Mason Ball pulls up for a jumper during the Cyclones game with Unicoi Co..
Star Photo/Randall Bennett Jake Roberts pulled up for a short-range jumper for two of his team-high 23 points.
Star Photo/Randall Bennett Bryce VanHuss pulls the trigger on a three-ball for the Cyclones.
Star Photo/Randall Bennett Seth Carter brings the basketball up the floor for Elizabethton.
Star Photo/Randall Bennett EHS guard Bryson Rollins pushes the basketball toward the Cyclone goal.
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FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Elizabethton Cyclones traveled to Erwin looking to earn a regular-season sweep over their Upper Lakes Conference rival, the Unicoi County Blue Devils, but the Blue Devils had another thought.
Riding the red-hot shooting of Grant Hensley and Eli Johnson, the Blue Devils downed the visiting Cyclones 77-63.
It was a nip and tuck first half as both teams went at it with all they had with the half ending in a 33-32 Cyclone lead.
Jake Roberts got the Cyclones off on the right foot as he tallied 15 points in the first half to help the visitors take the slim lead. Roberts nailed four treys in the first quarter.
The Cyclones had eight treys in the opening half as Bryce VanHuss knocked down a pair for six points; Seth Carter collected one trey and a field goal for five; and Dalton MItchell also added a trey for three in the opening 16 minutes. Mason Ball added a deuce.
Hensley had 13 points in the first half to keep the Blue Devils on the heels of the Cyclones. Johnson contributed with nine and Lucas Slagle chipped in with eight.
Coming back from break, whatever offensive flow the Cyclones were feeling in the first half disappeared as the Blue Devils lit up the third period scoreboard outscoring the Cyclones 25-8 to seize a 57-41 lead heading to the final quarter of play.
Johnson’s 12 points was the boost needed by Unicoi Co. to take firm control of the game. Bryson Peterson added six points.
Nicholas Wilson had four of the eight points in the quarter for EHS while Roberts and Ball added two each.
The Cyclones rebounded in the fourth quarter with a 22-point quarter but it was too little too late as the Blue Devils scored 20 to maintain their sizeable lead.
Hensley led the winners with a game-high 29 points including 11-of-11 from the foul line in the final eight minutes of action. Johnson finished with 22 points. Peterson and Slagle wrapped up their night with 11 and 10 respectively.
Roberts led the Cyclones with a team-high 23 points for the contest. VanHuss also recorded double-figure scoring with an even dozen.
The Cyclones celebrate homecoming Tuesday night when they host Tennessee High.
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Unicoi Co., 77-63
Elizabethton (63)
Jake Roberts 23, Bryson Rollins 3, Nate Stephens 2, Seth Carter 8, Bryce VanHuss 12, Dalton Mitchell 3, Jeriah Griffin 4, Nicholas Wilson 4, Mason Ball 4.
Unicoi Co. (77)
Ty Johnson 4, Keilet Rodriquez 1, Bryson Peterson 11, Grant Hensley 29, Eli Johnson 22, Lucas Slagle 10.
Elizabethton …. 20 13 8 22 – 63
Unicoi Co. ……… 13 19 25 20 – 77
