By Brian T. Smith
Assistant Sports Editor / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: January 15, 2008

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Bristol, Tenn. – Sullivan East walked into Viking Hall and made a statement.
The Patriots have been characterized as scrappy, hard-nosed and resilient this season.
East decided to throw all those terms away on Tuesday evening and say something else. Something stronger. Something that stuck.
The Patriots simply said “We’re good.”
East downed Tennessee High 51-34 in a Big Nine Conference matchup before a charged-up crowd estimated at 1,000. The victory gave the Patriots a sweep of the Vikings in the regular season. And as East’s student section chanted “This is our house,” any questions as to whether the Patriots have what it takes were immediately erased.
“This is the big rivalry and this is what we wanted. We couldn’t be prouder,” said East forward Dillon Faver. “We’re a complete team with no individuals, and everybody did what it took for us to get this win.”
Faver scored 12 rebounds and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Patriots (16-6, 8-2), while Koree Deeb added 10 points, including three 3-pointers.
Thomas Turnbull scored a game-high 13 points for the Vikings (10-9, 5-5), and Tre’ Webb contribruted seven points and inspired play.
“The guys that needed to make the shots didn’t make the shots. There’s nobody to blame. I just thought we didn’t get it down tonight, offensively,” said Tennessee High coach Roby Witcher. “We did a good job with our defensive game plan, but maybe we were too focused on the defensive end of it.”
Both teams traded blows early.
Turnbull scored six quick points on short-range baskets, but the Patriots took an 11-10 lead when Zane Campbell converted a three-point play with 1 minute, 49 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The action picked up in a charged second quarter. As Tennessee High mixed mid-range jumpers with offensive sets based around Turnbull’s early success, the Patriots attempted to push the tempo as much as possible.
East then pulled ahead 16-12 when Faver completed a three-point play. But a 3-pointer from the right baseline by Tennessee High guard Taylor Harmon made it 17-15 Patriots with 5:30 left in the second period.
Sullivan East made a strong charge just before halftime.
The Patriots consistently split the Vikings’ defensive middle, and strong inside play from Faver and Kyle Barnes spurred East’s rally.
The Patriots then took a 27-18 lead into the break when Snapp nailed a long 3-pointer from the right wing as the game clock expired.
Snapp caught the ball three feet away from the key, spun right, jumped, and heaved a strong and true shot with an opponent’s hand shielding his face.
And while East ran into the locker room screaming, the Vikings were in trouble – Tennessee High had already picked up 10 team fouls and had suddenly lost momentum.
The Patriots outscored the Vikings 16-6 in the second period. And East took 26 total free throw attempts compared to the Vikings’ seven.
“We all played together. Everybody did what they had to and shared the ball,” said Patriots coach John Dyer. “I’m really proud of these kids and they all know it.”
Sullivan East (51)
Dillon Faver 12, Snapp 7, Mullins 0, Johnson 0, Barnes 5, Eads 2, Koree Deeb 10, Cross 8, Nave 0, Gilreath 0, Campbell 7.Totals 19 18-26 51.
Tennessee High (34)
Young 2, Morenings 0, Place 0, Walton 0, Gilmore 2, Webb 7, Harmon 10, Baker 0, Canty 0, McClintic 0, Thomas Turnbull 13, Cook 0. Totals 18 4-7 34.
Sullivan East 11 16 14 10—51
Tennessee High 12 6 10 6—34
3-point goals—SE 5 (Snapp 1, Deeb 3, Cross 1), TH 4 (Turnbull, Webb, Harmon 2).
TENNESSEE HIGH 71, SULLIVAN EAST 35
Defense is a simple seven-letter word. Yet to the Vikings, defense is everything.
And after a slow start against the Patriots, it was once again Tennessee High’s defense that clamped down and shut off any hope Sullivan East had of stealing a victory.
A career-night from Vikings junior guard Sara Wysor also helped.
Wysor scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, and tied a school record with five made 3-pointers.
“My teammates just did a good job of making sure I got the ball when I was open,” Wysor said.
Callie McGrew scored a game-high 16 points for the Patriots (2-14, 1-9).
Tennessee High (15-6, 9-1) utilized a full-court press to disrupt Sullivan East’s offense, and the Vikings traded multiple Patriots turnovers for a 10-3 run early in the second quarter.
Tennessee High finished the game on a 33-7 run and the Vikings hit 20 of their 21 free throw attempts.
Sullivan East (35)
Evans 2, Callie McGrew 16, King 3, Loudermilk 3, Hamilton 3, Trivett 4, Barham 7.Totals 11 3-5 35.
Tennessee High (71)
Kendra Snapp 10, Vance 8, Jones 8, Montgomery 6, Sara Wysor 19, Thornsberry 3, Baker 5, Brittney Salyer 12. Totals 26 20-21 71.
Sullivan East 12 10 10 3—35
Tennessee High 18 14 19 20—71
3-point goals—SE 4 (McGrew 2, Loudermilk 1, Hamilton 1), TH 5 (Wysor 5).
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