Rebels Get Big Plays Down the Stretch to Get Past Cocke County
by BRYAN MOORE
TriCitiesSports.com
November 16, 2017
KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- To alter the phrase made famous by the fictional movie character Forrest Gump, "Early season basketball games are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get."
Sullivan South found out it can make big plays down the stretch as they pulled out a thrilling 60-54 season-opening victory over Cocke County Thursday night in the Hall of Champions showdown in Colonial Heights.
Behind the star quarterback from the football team, Ethan Ward, the Rebels led throughout the first half and held a 28-22 at halftime. But Cocke County (0-2) turned up the defensive pressure and scored the first seven points of the third quarter, punctuated by Kaynajh Swann's steal and layup.
But the Rebels (1-0) answered the Big Red's run with a basket from Ben Diamond and Caleb Vaughn's three-pointer at the buzzer gave South a 40-39 lead going into the fourth quarter.
Devonte Mitchell continued the momentum with two baskets early in the final period. But Diamond was the jewel as the clock wound down. The sophomore sharpshooter canned a three-pointer to put South up 50-47.
He added another trey and four free throws on his way to 15 points. Ward converted two free throws of his 16 points and Seth Morelock added another charity toss to keep Cocke County at bay and nail down an all-important season-opening win for the Rebels.
"It was a good win because everybody seemed to step up at different points in the game," said South coach Michael McMeans. "Ethan Ward took the game over early. I think he ended up with 15. Then Caleb Vaughn, one of our sophomores, hits a big three at the end of the third quarter to put us back in the lead."
"Ben Diamond hit two three's in the fourth. He's another sophomore. He helped us put it away."
South overcame 23 turnovers against Cocke County, who were conference champions last season. Still, the way the Rebels won their opener was impressive.
"That's huge for us and our confidence early in the season," McMeans added. "It's nice to be in a close battle like that at the beginning of the season and something we can learn from. It's a testament to our kids for pulling one like that because they could have easily folded and panicked. But they didn't."
COCKE COUNTY (0-2) -- Runions 1 0-0 2, Burgess 3 0-0 6, Kaynajh Swann 4 2-2 10, Shelton 0 1-4 1, Fowler 3 0-0 8, Jackson 0 2-2 2, Elliott 2 1-2 5, Ramsey 0 0-1 0, Hawk 0 0-2 0, Alex Overholt 2 4-4 8, Shaw 1 3-6 5, Ball 3 1-2 7. Totals: 19 14-25 54
SULLIVAN SOUTH (1-0) -- Devonte Mitchell 1 3-5 7, Luke Pollack 0 0-0 0, Gavin Parker 0 0-0 0, Ethan Ward 3 8-8 16, Ben Diamond 2 4-6 15, Brent Chase 1 0-0 3, Gannon Chase 1 0-0 2, Caleb Vaughn 1 1-2 4, Jacob Jayne 2 1-1 5, Cole Layne 2 0-0 5, Seth Morelock 1 1-2 3, Chase Bowery 0 0-2 0. Totals 14 18-26 60.
Cocke County | 11 | 11 | 17 | 15 | -- 54 |
Sullivan South | 15 | 13 | 12 | 20 | -- 60 |
Three-Pointers: Cocke County 2 (Fowler 2); Sullivan South 8 (Ward 3, Diamond 2, B. Chase, Layne, Vaughn).