Elizabethton saw the season end in heartbreaking fashion.
The Cyclones were on the wrong side of a buzzer-beater as Sullivan East’s Drake Fisher hit a shot as time expired to lift the Patriots to a 66-64 win in the District 1-3A quarterfinals at Unicoi County.
In the early going, it was Cyclones.
Elizabethton quickly jumped out to a double-digit lead. The teams traded shots as Elizabethton led 20-11 after a quarter of play.
In the second quarter, Elizabethton continued to have momentum with a 13-1 run to open the quarter.
The Cyclones pushed the lead to 21 points before taking a 40-22 advantage into the locker room at the half.
After the Patriots trimmed the lead to nine points, Elizabethton answered with a quick run to push the advantage back to 20 points late in the third.
The Cyclones led 51-33 after three complete quarters.
In the fourth, Sullivan East wouldn’t be denied as the Patriots rallied to erase the deficit and take their first lead of the game with 35 seconds left at 63-62.
After a Patriot free throw, Zach Wallin hit a jumper with seven seconds left to tie the game.
Sullivan East, however, went down the court setting up Fisher’s game-winner at the buzzer.
Jackson Hobbs had 17 points to lead Elizabethton.
Hudson Pate and Andrew Barnett scored 11 points each, while Hudson Smith tallied 10 points.