East Rallies Past Happy Valley

AFTON, Tenn. – It was right there in big, bold, red letters.

FIGHT.

The sign held up by Patriots superfan Chris Nevins, a Sullivan East senior, told the story Tuesday night.

The Patriots fought.

And they prevailed.

Sullivan East (28-4) survived a third quarter collapse to bounce back for a 55-49 win over Happy Valley at Chuckey-Doak High School, sending the Patriots to the regional final and securing the school’s first-ever berth to sub-state.

“We came out ready, we played great and the third quarter was a disaster,” said Patriots coach John Dyer, whose team was outscored 18-4 in the period. “They made a good run and we tightened up a little bit, but I’m so proud of my team in the fourth quarter.”

“They had us on the ropes. They had us and we hung together.”

East made only one field goal in the third quarter and blew its entire 14-point lead when Warriors junior Matt Stanley nailed a 3-pointer to tie the game at 36 as the period ended.

But Patriots senior forward Zane Campbell, who led all scorers with 18 points by night’s end, snagged a steal on the opening possession of the final quarter and thundered up court.

He didn’t get to throw down the massive dunk he had been gearing up for, but he calmly regrouped after he was fouled and knocked down two free throws to put East back ahead.

“The dunk was for a little momentum builder, but the free throws really showed I felt like I was still focused,” Campbell said. “It showed the team we could still push through this as a team. ... It’s just as big of a momentum builder. Free throws can be powerful things.”

Happy Valley would tie the game once more, but East never looked rattled again.

“The fourth quarter, we played like champions,” Dyer said.

Patriots point guard Jordan Cross had a subpar night by his lofty standards, turning the ball over and missing shots as the Warriors got back in the game in the third.

He had only 12 points Tuesday after scoring 30 and 27 in East’s last two contests.

But Cross reeled off his own personal 6-0 run in the blink of an eye midway through the final period, putting East up 49-40 as Nevins proudly held his “FIGHT” sign aloft.

Nevins, who was part of a raucous East student section that made the trip to Afton and made itself heard when it arrived, said he had commandeered the sign from the cheerleaders earlier in the year and has held it up in crucial moments – and after bad calls – ever since.

“It’s just been a lucky thing to do,” he explained in the midst of a mob of jubilant Patriot supporters after the victory was secure.

While Cross gave the Patriots a late jolt, Nevins’ had his senior classmates to thank for many of East’s crowd-pleasing heroics.

For most of the night, it was Campbell who looked like he had stolen Cross’ moves as the burly forward pulled out spins and floaters as he led the Patriot offense.

“I’ve had it the whole time,” Campbell grinned when asked about his heretofore hidden arsenal of moves. “It’s just when the opportunity comes, I have to bring it out and the opportunity presented itself and I was able to use it.”

Senior Trey Gilreath also came up big for the Patriots on Cross’ off-night as he hit all three of East’s 3-pointers, including one early in the fourth that gave the Patriots the outright lead for good.

While East clung to a four-point lead, the game almost turned with just 30 seconds remaining when the Patriots were whistled for a technical foul for “delay of game” between Chase DePew’s first and second free throws.

DePew had missed his first free throw and one of his teammates had stepped out of his position between the shots to give him a keep-your-head-up pat.

Dyer said that the Patriots had been warned earlier not to approach the shooter between free throws, but he still didn’t mince words when asked for his reaction to the call.

“We’ve done it all year and every team in Northeast Tennessee has done that,” he said with his voice rising.

“That’s a terrible call in a regional semifinal with 30 seconds left in the game. ... Where’s a little bit of common sense?”

Fortunately for the Patriots, DePew hit his second free throw to stretch the lead to five and Warriors junior Jacob Davis missed both technical shots.

“We could have had a four-point play,” said Happy Valley coach Charlie Bayless.

“That could have put us back in the ball game.”

Instead junior Nick Campbell missed the front end of a one-and-one after being fouled on the ensuing Warriors possession, leaving Happy Valley, which missed all seven of its fourth quarter free throws, with an empty trip and the Patriots with a clear path to victory.

When the final buzzer sounded, Dyer leapt in the air multiple times while exclaiming, “Yes. Yes. Yes!” as East had its history-making win in hand.

Along with securing its unprecedented trip to sub-state, Tuesday’s 28th win of the season established a new school record. East will go for a regional title Thursday at 7 p.m. and regardless of the outcome will play again Monday in sub-state.

“It’s a great night,” Dyer said, “to be a Patriot.”