Young Stars For Tennessee High As Vikings Complete Sweep Of Virginia High

BRISTOL, Va. – Corey Young was a marked man at the Bearcat Den.
It seemed everywhere the Tennessee High senior turned, there was a Virginia High defender in his face.

“I had to work a little more,” Young said.

The 5-foot-10 senior did just that on Friday en route to a career-high 24 points as the Vikings stopped Virginia High, 53-46.

Young found his comfort zone early, as the Vikings connected on five 3-pointers in the first quarter.

“I wasn’t hitting in warm-ups, but I could feel it after I made my first shot in the game,” Young said.

After falling behind 18-3, VHS ditched its zone defense in favor of an aggressive-to-man.

“It was a battle from that point on,” THS coach Roby Witcher said.

VHS coach Jason Stevens was concerned in the opening minutes, especially because the Bearcats lost 62-32 to their city rival earlier in the season.

“I was thinking: ‘Oh Lord, here we go again,’” Stevens said. “Our kids just battled back.”

Led by relentless 6-5 senior Josh Moore, the Bearcats rallied to tie the score at 39-39 with 7:42 left in the game. Young and 6-4 senior Tre Webb gave THS a 51-44 lead with back-to-back treys in the final three minutes.

“We’re getting better, but Tennessee High is just a good team and we didn’t have an answer for [Young],” Stevens said.

The Vikings were unable to slow the relentless Moore, who collected 20 points and 13 rebounds.

“I never have to worry about Josh,” Stevens said. “He gets after it every single night.”

The Vikings played without versatile 6-2 junior Taylor Harmon for the second straight game because he was ill.

“Our team has been going through a flu-like thing, but I think we’re on the tail end of it now,” Witcher said. “We didn’t get the job done in some areas tonight, and some other guys had to step up.”

Young, who faced a box-and-one defense most of the game, worked behind screens and hustled to secure shooting room.

“[Virginia High] played some good defense on me, but I was able to get my teammates involved,” Young said. “Virginia High is always trying to get the best of us.”

The Vikings (20-9) face Sullivan Central on Thursday in the Big Nine Conference tournament at Dobyns-Bennett.
Meanwhile, VHS (16-6) plays Lebanon Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Clinch Mountain District tournament at Gate City.

“Our seniors wanted to reach that 20-win mark,” Young said. “Now, we have to get to 21.”

TENNESSEE HIGH (53) – Young 24, Gilmore 3, Webb 9, Place 6, Canty 5, Linnen 6. Totals 18 10-16 53.
VIRGINIA HIGH (46) – Young 6, Tignor 6, Mink 3, Eccleston 5, Moore 20, McCall 6.
Tennessee High 18 11 10 14–53
Virginia High 5 17 15 9–46
3-point goals – THS 7 (Young 3, Gilmore, Webb 2, Place), VHS 3 (Young 2, Moore). Total fouls-THS 15, VHS 17. Fouled out-none. JV game-THS won.

GIRLS

Tennessee High 56, Virginia High 33

Blakeley Burleson was the hero for THS.

The 5-6 sophomore scored a career-high 16 points as the Vikings completed the season-sweep of the Bearcats.

“For a sophomore, [Blakeley] just has no fear,” THS coach Barry Wade said. “Blakeley sorts of scares me at times, because it looks like she’s out of control, but she’s really quick.”

Tennessee High assumed control with 20-8 lead behind a pressurized defensive alignment spearheaded by senior guard Danielle Montgomery. The margin eventually expanded to 47-17.

“We just couldn’t handle the pressure, and it’s been that way since Danielle has been there,” VHS coach Barry Reed.
“We don’t see that kind of defense or speed in our district, but facing that type of pressure makes you better in times.”

VHS (14-7) opens CMD tournament play at Lee Tuesday at 6 p.m. against John Battle. Tennessee High (23-2) faces the winner of tonight’s Big Nine Conference play-in game between Sullivan East and Daniel Boone on Monday night at 6.

Wade relies on eight seniors, while four-sport star Aubree Hutt is the lone VHS senior.

“Aubree will leave Virginia High with some good memories,” Reed said.

The debut season has already been memorable for Wade, who improved to 23-2 Friday.

“Shoot, yeah, we’ll take that record,” Wade said.

TENNESSEE HIGH (56) – Burleson 16, Brown 1, Montgomery 14, Wysor 4, Wood 9, Thornsberry 7, Baker 5. Totals 23 8-15 56.
VIRGINIA HIGH (33) – Delapp 9, Hutt 1, Pippin 4, K. Smith 5, H. Smith 4, Evans 10. Totals 14 1-4 33.
Tennessee High 11 21 15 9–56
Virginia High 8 7 2 16–33
3-point goals – THS 2 (Burleson), VHS 4 (Delapp, K. Smith, H. Smith, Evans 2). Total fouls-THS 12, VHS 13. Fouled out-Hutt.

agregory@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2544