Cyclones season ends at hands of Volunteer
Published 8:33 am Tuesday, February 21, 2023
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Mac Paulson drives the baseline against the Volunteer defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone senior guard Dalton Mitchell pushes the basketball in an attack on the Cyclone goal over the Volunteer defense.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Luke Whaley looks to pull up for a shot over the Falcon defender in the District 1-AAA Boys' play-in game.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Jackson Hobbs looks to pass the basketball over the top of the Volunteer defense.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton Cyclones and Volunteer Falcons met for the third time in the District 1-AAA play-in game, with the winner earning the opportunity to extend their season while the loser is forced to stow their equipment until next season.
Despite having the home-court advantage in the district tournament, the Cyclones couldn’t shut down the high-flying Falcons, who rolled to a 76-51 victory.
Volunteer built a 10-point lead in the first half as the Falcons took a 36-26 edge to the locker room.
Joltin Harrison led the charge in the first 16 minutes of action for Volunteer knocking down 14 points in the half. Blake Head chipped in with nine points.
The Cyclones were kept in firing distance by senior Dalton Mitchell, who totaled seven points, including two treys. Jackson Hobbs added six points. Will Churchill added five.
Coming out of the break, the Falcons were in attack mode as they scored almost all their points in the paint, attacking the basket with easy layups and short jumpers.
Falcons post player Lason Christian took advantage of the open lanes to knock down 14 points in the second half. Andrew Knittel was also instrumental in the second-half surge as he tallied nine points.
Nate Stephens, Andrew Barnett, and Churchill each found the bottom of the net for five points in the half.
Harrison led four players in double figures for Volunteer with a game-high 20 points. Knittel was close behind with 16, while Christian and Head finished with 14 and ten points, respectively.
Churchill was the leading scorer for the Cyclones, as he was the only player in double figures with 10 points. Seniors Mitchell and Stephens finished their careers with nine points apiece.
Hobbs finished with eight while Barnett totaled seven points. Mac Paulson (4), Luke Whaley (2), and Justius Wallin (2) closed out the scoring for Elizabethton.
