In a top-two clash, Elizabethton had the answers.
The Cyclones captured a hard-fought 49-43 victory over Sullivan Central on Tuesday night inside Treadway Gymnasium in a game that pitted the top-two teams in the Three Rivers Conference. In the girls’ game, the Lady Cougars pulled away to take a () victory.
For the Cyclones, the game felt like a title fight early on.
Nico Ashley scored six points in the first quarter to help EHS take a 15-11 lead into the second quarter. The teams traded buckets for the second quarter, but Elizabethton maintained a 22—19 advantage at the half in part to a 3-pointer from Eric Wilson.
The Cougars took advantage of a strong third quarter. Central outscored EHS 15-7 in the period to take a 34-29 lead into the final quarter.
Elizabethton, however, battled back in a big way. The Cyclones saw Ashley score eight points in the frame and Evan Perkins added six of his own to help push Elizabethton into the lead for good in the fourth quarter.
Ashley finished with 16 points, while Perkins tallied 13 points. Carter Everett and Wilson had eight points each.
On the girls’ side, Elizabethton was unable to keep pace with league-leading Sullivan Central in the second half.
Kaylen Shell helped EHS stay in striking distance as she scored seven first-quarter points along with a bucket by Kelsie Winters. The Cougars, however, held a slim 12-9 lead after eight minutes of play.
Points were hard to come by in the second quarter, but SC extended the lead to six points at the half.
In the third quarter, Central’s Abbey Crawford scored eight points to set the tone and helped push the Lady Cougar lead to double-digits. Elizabethton continued to battle in the fourth quarter, but they were unable to mount a rally.
Shell scored 19 points to lead Elizabethton. Torrie Roberts added six points, while Morgan Headrick scored four points.
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