Cyclones slide past Cocke County in region quarterfinals
Published 10:52 pm Saturday, February 26, 2022
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Nicholas Wilson skies over the Cocke Co. defense for a deuce.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Senior guard Seth Carter looks for an open teammate on the inside as he is picked up by the Cocke County defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Bryce VanHuss works the basketball during the Cyclones game with Cocke County.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Bryson Rollins drives past a Cocke County defender on his way to the rim.
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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
Nobody likes to be cornered in a chicken coup with an angry rooster who wants to lay its spurs into you. The Elizabethton Cyclones found themselves in the same precarious situation during the region quarterfinals when they squared off against the Cocke County Fighting Cocks who were looking to corner the Cyclones in a big battle to advance to Tuesday’s semifinals.
After building an early seven-point lead, the Cyclones found themselves in a fight to the end before pulling off a 63-60 win over their visitors.
The Cyclones opened up the game and managed to forge their way to the front at the half by only three points, 27-24.
Elizabethton went inside to their power combination of Nicholas Wilson and Mason Ball who had their way on the inside in the half as Ball hit 10 of his 14 points in the opening half.
Wilson also was solid with six points. The Cyclones also got contributing efforts from Seth Carter and Jake Roberts who worked their way for five points apiece.
Bryson Rollins knocked down 1-of-2 from the charity stripe as well.
For Cocke County, Kyler Hayes led the way with seven in the half while Baylor Baxter tossed in five.
The second half saw Cocke County battle back from a five-point deficit to take a one-point lead before the Cyclones retook the lead that they would not relinquish even though Cocke Co. pulled even on a couple of occasions.
Roberts led the Cyclone attack with 15 points, eight coming in the fourth quarter alone. Wilson and Ball totaled 14 points each in the win.
Baxter paced Cocke County with a game-high 21 points while Hayes finished with 16.
Elizabethton will now face Greeneville, the defending state champions, on Tuesday at Greeneville with a 7:45 p.m. tip off. That game follows the Unicoi County and Volunteer game.
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Elizabethton, 63-60
Cocke Co. (60)
M Woods 4, J Woods 5, L France 5, B Stewart 5, Baylor Baxter 21, Kyler Hayes 16, C Askew 2, Z Ramos 2.
Elizabethton (63)
Jake Roberts 15, Bryson Rollins 9, Seth Carter 5, Bryce VanHuss 6, Nicholas Wilson 14, Mason Ball 14.
Cocke Co. …… 7 17 16 20 – 60
Elizabethton .. 15 12 10 26 – 63
