RUTLEDGE – The Greeneville boys basketball team got in a back-and-forth battle with Elizabethton on Tuesday night, but they were able to make the right plays late to keep their season going.
In the Region 1-3A Tournament semifinals the Greene Devils were able to knock off the Cyclones 65-60 and advance to the region finals for the second year in a row.
“Tonight was a war between two good teams. Elizabethton really brought it. It was a grind it out game, and the team that had a run at the end was going to win. Tonight that was us,” Greeneville coach Brad Woolsey Said. “Early in the year emotionally we might not have been able to handle a game like this. But these guys have grown so much.”
Greeneville will now take on Tennessee High on Thursday at Grainger High School for the Region 1-3A championship game, tip-off is scheduled for 7 PM.
With Tuesday’s win the Greene Devils have also secured a spot in the Class 3A state sectionals, a prospect that seemed far-fetched not too long ago when Greeneville started the season 0-13.
“I think it says so much about these kids,” Woolsey said. “There probably weren’t too many people that thought they could be in this position. They have worked and worked, and have endured me. I’ve been hard on them, but they kept believing and loving each other. It’s great to know that we are one game away from the state tournament, that pretty dog gone cool.”
The Greene Devils have had to battle through their share of adversity this season, but even as losses mounted they came to work every day. Now with when it matters most the Devils have found a winning formula.
“From a tactical perspective these guys have had to get better at shot selection. We have gotten better at turnovers, especially down the stretch. And the emotional intelligence has gotten a lot better when things aren’t going our way,” Woolsey said.
Tuesday’s contest was never more than a two-possession game until the final seconds, and the fourth quarter began with Greeneville leading 49-47. That lead did not last long and with 5:29 left Nathan Bailey put back a miss that put the Cyclones in front 53-51.
Going the other way Taren Claridy smoothly knocked down a triple from the top of the key to put Greeneville back on top.
With 3:46 left Greeneville took the lead for good when Claridy tipped the ball away near midcourt and Zy Neal took it the other way for a breakaway layup. Yordan Mills then gave the Devils some breathing room at 59-55 when he drained a three-pointer from the right wing.
The Devils were able to stay in front to the finish with the biggest lead of the night coming with 22 seconds left when Claridy sent a full-court pass to Braylen Kidwell for a lay in that made it 64-57
Elizabethton got one more desperation three-pointer, but Greeneville secured the win.
“This isn’t just the guys on the floor. It’s the bench and the practice squad. Those guys have been making us better,” Woolsey said. “This runs so deep. It’s our community, our cheerleaders, and our fans. Our student section has had some rough patches, but they are here for us, they brought it, and that means a ton.”
Greeneville gained an early 11-6 advantage in the first period after Claridy spun through the lane for a lay in and Neal sank a jumper from the free-throw line.
With 1:16 left Greeneville took its biggest lead of the first 31 minutes at 17-11 when Parker Quillen grabbed an offensive rebound to set up Mills for a triple from the right wing.
The quarter closed with Greeneville leading 17-13.
With 4:46 left in the first half the Cyclones took their first lead when Hudson Pate knocked down a three-pointer that made it 23-22.
Greeneville followed with a triple from Quillen and a powerful putback from Claridy to go back in front at 27-23.
Elizabethton closed the gap to one point twice, but the Devils went to halftime leading 35-32.
The Cyclones scored the first six points of the second half with a layup by Bailey giving them the lead before two technical free throws made it 38-35.
Greeneville was able to tie things again at 42-42 when Mills fired in a three-pointer. The Devils then regained the lead when Mills pushed the ball ahead to Quillen for a transition layup.
Another triple by Mills pushed the lead to 49-44, but three points the hard way by Bailey allowed Elizabethton to close the gap to 49-47 going to the final frame.
Mills led Greeneville on Tuesday with 20 points and Neal finished with 19 points. Claridy was also in double figures with 12 points.
Bailey led Elizabethton with 18 points, Pate had 15 and Evan Chambers scored 12.
