Heartbreaker: Tennessee High Falls To Morristown East

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – They slowly walked out of the locker room. Single file. One by one. Tre’ Webb, Corey Young, Mason Canty, Denzel Gilmore and the rest of the Tennessee High Vikings boys basketball team.

Webb’s eyes were filled with tears. Young’s head hung soft and pointed downward. And while Canty and Gilmore looked lost and hurt, Vikings coach Roby Witcher paced, clenching his lips and walking around in circles.

It was over. Done. And the Vikings had come so close.

Tennessee High fell to the Morristown East Hurricanes, 54-53, Tuesday evening in the 1-AAA regional semifinals at the Buck Van Huss Dome before an estimated crowd of 3,000.

The Vikings rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit and held a one-point lead with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. But a soft floater in the lane converted by Hurricanes guard Casey Smith with 12.5 seconds left in the contest was a game-winner. And it ended Tennessee High’s magical season.

“It hurts,” said Webb, a senior forward who scored a team-high 16 points and hit three 3-pointers for the Vikings. “It’s a hard thing to go through. But we made it as far as we did and it’s something to be proud of.”

Tennessee High (23-11) held possession in the final seconds. But the Vikings were unable to convert on a tip-in attempt with 0.1 second left on the clock.

“Everybody has to deal with these kinds of emotions,” Witcher said. “Hopefully these kids will be able to learn from the endeavors we’ve been involved in and the places we’ve taken them and the teams we’ve played.

“We’re in the memory business. We’re creating memories for these young men.”

Gilmore added nine points for Tennessee High, while Taylor Harmon contributed eight and Young scored seven.

Austin Gardner poured in a game-high 24 points and sank six 3-pointers to lead Morristown East (24-7). Ryan Killian added 12 points and Brian Coy chipped in eight for the Hurricanes.

“Once I found it, I was on,” Gardner said. “Usually whenever I get hot, it’ll pump everybody else up.”

The Hurricanes advance to the regional finals, where they will take on the Science Hill Hiltoppers at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dobyns-Bennett High School. Science Hill defeated D-B, 65-53, Tuesday night.

“Great job of keeping our composure down the stretch,” Morristown East coach Mike Wright said. “I just couldn’t be more happy for this group.”

Tennessee High took an early 7-5 lead following a pull-up floater by Tyler Place.

But the Hurricanes ended the first quarter on a 6-0 run and grabbed a 16-10 advantage when Gardner nailed a 3 from the right wing at the end of the period.

A four-point play by Smith stretched East’s margin to 23-12 with 3:40 left in the second quarter.

The Hurricanes owned the perimeter in the first half. Morristown East knocked down five 3-pointers – three at the hands of Gardner – exploiting the Vikings’ 2-3 zone defense with quick passing and quicker releases.

Witcher walked off the court at halftime talking to himself and looking up at a scoreboard that showed a 26-15 deficit.

“We could have folded,” Witcher said.

But Tennessee High did not.

Witcher emerged from the break pounding his hands and screaming instructions to an assistant, and the Vikings quickly found new life.

Young settled down and locked in, Webb picked up his game, and an 8-2 Vikings run followed.

A stop-and-pop 3 by Young from the top of the key then pulled Tennessee High within 31-28 with 2:29 to go in the third period. And a putback 2 by Harmon gave the Vikings their first lead, 35-33, since early in the first quarter.

Tennessee High outscored Morristown East 22-10 in the third period.

After the game, Webb paused and composed himself before reflecting on his high-school career and his relationship with his Vikings teammates.

“We’ve grown up together,” Webb said. “We’ve done everything from [Amateur Athletic Union] together; done a lot of team things. It’s great to play basketball with a group of guys that you know got your back.”

MORRISTOWN EAST (54) – Ryan Killian 12, Bullington 5, Miranda 3, Austin Gardner 24, Snapp 2, Coy 8. Totals 18 10-18 54.
TENNESSEE HIGH (53) – Young 7, Gilmore 9, Stacy 1, Harmon 8, Tre’ Webb 16, Place 2, Canty 4, Linnen 2, Ellis 4. Totals 21 4-6 53.
Morristown East 16 10 10 18—54
Tennessee High 10 5 22 16—53
3-poing goals – ME 54 (Gardner 6, Killian, Bullington); TH 7 (Gilmore 3, Webb 3, Young)

btsmith@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2569