It was Homecoming inside Treadway Gymnasium, and the Elizabethton boys team celebrated in style.
The Cyclones pulled away in the second half to take a 59-39 Three Rivers victory over Happy Valley on Friday night. The Lady Warriors completed the season sweep of the Lady Cyclones with a 43-29 win.
For the boys, the first half was a back-and-forth battle.
Eric Wilson and Nico Ashley had four first-quarter points apiece to counter Happy Valley’s Dylan Willis and Blake Young – who had three points each over the first eight minutes. That gave the Cyclones a 10-6 lead going to the second quarter.
The teams continued to stay close for the balance of the second half. Elizabethton took control with a 12-0 run spurred by shots from Evan Perkins and Ashley in the closing minutes of the half, but Willis drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the Warriors. EHS maintained a 25-18 lead at the break.
In the third quarter, the Cyclones started to pull away. Elizabethton outscored the Warriors 16-6 in the period setting the tone with a stifling defense. Bryce Carter scored all six points in the frame for HV. The final quarter saw Elizabethton keep Happy Valley at bay to secure the win.
Ashley had 23 points to lead Elizabethton, while Perkins finished with 16 points. Eric Wilson had seven points.
Carter finished with 11 points for HV, while Noah Stevens had seven points. Willis tallied six points in the win
In the girls’ game, Happy Valley got the upper hand early by jumping out to a 7-2 lead. Kaylen Shell and Morgan Headrick, however, answered for Elizabethton as EHS pulled within two points. After the Lady Warriors pushed the advantage back to six points, Crystal Van Huss drained a 3-pointer in the closing second to set the margin at 16-13 going to the second quarter.
Points were hard to come by in the second quarter as the game went scoreless for the first four minutes of the period. Olivia Absher broke the scoreless action with a jumper and Kelsie Winters countered with a. 3-pointer for EHS. Each team managed four points in the frame as HV held a 20-17 lead at the half.
Elizabethton held the hot hand coming out of the locker room as EHS went on a 5-0 run to open the third quarter to take the lead. Henegar and the Lady Warriors, however, answered back and took the lead with a 10-0 run. HV maintained a 32-27 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
In the final quarter, the Lady Warriors slowly pulled as they held EHS without a field goal in the final eight minutes to complete the season sweep.
Henegar had 17 points to lead Happy Valley, while Shalyn Whitson had 13 points. Tiana Long scored eight points in the game.
For Elizabethton, Headrick finished with 11 points. Torrie Roberts and Shell had six points each.
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