Cyclones continue early-season success with win over Wolves
Published 8:17 am Thursday, December 5, 2024
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Zack Wallin drives through the paint while being defended by West Ridge’s Eli Bright.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Hudson Pate pulls up for a one-handed jumper in the paint for the Cyclones.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Evan Chambers splits the West Ridge defense to get a shot at the rim.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Jackson Buckles comes off a screen for an easy basket for the Cyclones.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Elizabethton guard Andrew Barnett splits the Wolves’ defense on his way to the basket for two points.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Nathan Bailey takes the ball to the rim with authority, scoring while drawing a foul.
Ivan Sanders/Star Correspondent Justius Wallin has the baseline cut off by Dylan Bannan, forcing him to take a tough shot.
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Star Correspondent
The Elizabethton Cyclones have been on a successful roll to start the 2024-25 season. Heading into Tuesday night’s contest against West Ridge, the Cyclones held a 4-1 record, with their only loss coming against Grainger.
With the Wolves looking to hand the Cyclones another defeat, Elizabethton wasn’t about to let that happen. A dominant 20-7 third quarter helped carry Coach Lucas Honeycutt’s squad to a 59-48 victory inside John Treadway Gym, improving their record to 5-1.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to gain much separation. The Cyclones managed to take a slim 25-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Senior Andrew Barnett led the way in the first 16 minutes, scoring eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Zack Wallin added six points, while Jackson Buckles and Hudson Pate each contributed four points.
Eli Bright kept the Wolves in the game with seven first-half points to lead Coach John Dyer’s team, while Dylan Bannan added six points.
The turning point came in the third quarter when the Wolves went cold, scoring just seven points, while Elizabethton poured in 20 points to build a 16-point lead heading into the final period.
Although the Wolves outscored the Cyclones 19-14 in the fourth quarter, the deficit was too large to overcome.
Barnett led all scorers with a game-high 18 points, while Nathan Bailey came alive in the second half, adding 13 points after scoring just two in the first half to finish with 15. Pate contributed 10 points.
Other Cyclones on the score sheet included Wallin with seven points, Justius Wallin with five, and Buckles with four.
Bright led the Wolves with a team-high 16 points, while Trey Frazier was the only other West Ridge player in double figures, scoring 14.
