ELIZABETHTON — Andrew Barnett came up big twice on opening day for the Elizabethton boys basketball team. After dropping 17 in the Cyclones’ opening win over Volunteer, Barnett made three critical free throws to help Elizabethton hold off Cocke County 57-55 at John Treadway Gymnasium Tuesday night. Barnett hit two 3s during his eight-point first quarter before going 3-of-4 at the charity stripe.
But the Fighting Cocks (0-1) had one last chance at the win after a Cyclone turnover. Spencer Moore Jr. put up a shot in the paint that just missed as the final horn sounded.
It appeared Elizabethton (2-0) was pulling away after back-to-back layups by Nathan Bailey made it 52-47 with 3:14 to play. It ended up being the Cyclones’ final basket. Bailey, who went 4-of-6 from 3-point range with a triple in each quarter, led the Cyclones with 17 points.
Barnett finished with 11, and Zack Wallin had 10. Wallin made 8-of-9 free throws, and scored eight points in the third quarter including a three-point play to build a 35-29 advantage. Ethan Fine finished with 13 points to lead Cocke County.
Kyler Hayes, who fouled in the fourth quarter, and Will Sutton scored nine apiece. Elizabethton 68, Volunteer 64 It took a fourth-quarter comeback for Elizabethton to win its opening game during the school day, as Volunteer had rallied itself to take a 46-39 lead to the fourth quarter. Hudson Pate scored nine of his 14 points in the final period, shooting 4-for-6 with a 3-pointer.
Zack Wallin and Ju.
