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SEVIERVILLE – Alden Collins could not have dreamed for his inbounds play to go any better on Saturday night.

Trailing by two to Sevier County with six seconds left in the District 2-4A Championship, East’s Kyle Cloninger inbounded the ball to BJ Hubbard, who immediately flipped the ball back to Cloninger for an open 3-pointer. The shot was pure and the ball actually went into the hoop.

Unfortunately for East, it didn’t stay in the hoop.

Cloninger’s last second shot bounced out of the hoop, dropping to the floor to give Sevier County a 48-46 District 2-4A Championship.

“It’s an option read for Kyle,” Collins said about the shot. “He made a great read and got a clean look. He shot it well from three and was phenomenal all night. He’s a great kid and deserves to hit that shot. It just didn’t go down.”

East battled with the Smoky Bears all night with neither team able to get a comfortable lead. The Smoky Bears led by three with five minutes to go, but Mason Smith drilled a 3-pointer for the tie. The two teams failed to score for the next three minutes until Caleb Tarwater drove to the hoop and gave Sevier a two-point lead.

However Cloninger, who scored 26 points in the game, made a layup to tie the game with 50 seconds left. Sevier County stalled from there and Tarwater again found himself with the ball, driving to the basket for a layup with six seconds to go.

East had one final shot but could not knock it down.

Cloninger was the leading scorer in the game for East with his 26 points. Carter Gilliam and Smith added six each while Keegan Mink had four. Brice Epps and Hubbard each had two.

The ‘Canes dealt with foul trouble early in the game, Hubbard picking up three fouls in the first half. Epps, who has built up more and more playing time as of late, checked in for Hubbard and held things down on the defensive end with a handful of rebounds and blocked shots.

“As we go to that position, there’s a lineup of guys that can fill that spot,” Collins said. “Brice had some unfortunate things at the beginning of the year that left him in the shadow of those spots, but he did a great job of contesting at the rim and playing without fouling. He had some big rebounds, as well. In a game where we struggled to guard the ball, Brice did a good job of doing that and keeping them out of the paint.”

Sevier County was led in the game by Reed Ownby with 18 points while Tarwater scored 15.

Offense was on full display to start the game on Saturday as Sevier County led 20-15 after one. Cloninger scored 11 in the first quarter for East.

In the second, Sevier County kept a hold onto the lead but East wouldn’t let them get a huge advantage. Smith cut the lead to one early at 21-20 with a 3-pointer and then Cloninger cut it back to one with 1:56. Ownby pushed the lead to four with 1:05 left, but Gilliam hit a huge three at the halftime buzzer to cut the lead to 26-25 at the half.

Sevier County came out strong to start the third and went up 32-27 before Mink and Cloninger scored to get it back to one. Following a Smoky Bear basket, Cloninger tied the game at 34 with a three. East would take their first lead since the first quarter a minute later as Gilliam knocked in a 3-pointer. Sevier County quickly tied the game at 37, but a shot by Cloninger gave East a 39-38 lead heading to the fourth.

For the second straight quarter, Sevier County came out quick and took back the lead with four points. Cloninger cut it to one with a basket, but Sevier County answered back to make it 44-41. That was when Smith hit his 3-pointer with 4:42 to go to tie the game at 44. From there, the two teams went back-and-forth until Tarwater’s shot gave Sevier County the lead for good.

Morristown East now has a tough road ahead as they host Dobyns-Bennett. D-B was the one seed in District 1-4A but was upset by Daniel Boone in the semifinals.

For the ‘Canes, this will be the fifth straight season the ‘Canes have taken on D-B in the Region Tournament with the previous four times ending East’s season. While the past has been unkind to the ‘Canes against D-B, Collins is hoping this team will be the one to change things.

“I believe in our leadership,” Collins said. “I believe in the kids in the locker room. I believe in their will and skill. We get them at home. It’s been five years now that we’re seeing them in an elimination game. I believe that all of our guys are going to show up. They’re going to follow the leadership of Kyle. They’re going to follow the leadership of this coaching staff, and they’re going to give the best fight that we have.”

Boys Consolation Game: Jefferson County 59, Morristown West 52

In the consolation game Saturday, Jeff County shrugged off a three-point first quarter as they combined to score 39 in quarters two and three on their way to the win over Morristown West.

Kip Parker led the way for Jeff County with 15 points, while Cy Mincey and Talan Higgins each scored 13 points. Other scorers for Jeff County were Kohl Bonura with seven, Jace Dobbins with four, Brody Carr with four and Vontez McCray with three.

For Morristown West, Tory House had 10 points to lead the way. Other scorers for the Trojans were Jalen McCullough with nine, Ty Steisslinger with seven, Bereket Evans with seven, Alban Oruglica with seven, Rylin King with five, Kyan Almonte with four and Jack Bivens with three.

It was all West to start as they broke out to a 10-3 lead after one. House had four points in the opening quarter while McCullough, King and Evans each scored two.

In the second, Jeff County took control as they scored 21 points to lead 24-19. Mincey had six points, including a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, while Bonura added five. Higgins had four. For West, Almonte scored four while Oruglica had three.

In the third, the Patriots scored 18 more points as they led 42-32 going to the fourth. Parker was the star in the third with 10 points while Mincey added five. Evans had five points for West.

In the fourth, the Trojans outscored Jeff County but it wasn’t enough. Steisslinger had seven points in the fourth for West while McCullough added six. Higgins had seven for the Patriots.

With the result, Jeff County will be the No. 3 seed in the Region Tournament and will travel to Daniel Boone. Morristown West will be the No. 4 seed and will travel to West Ridge.

District 2-4A All-District Second Team:

Bereket Evans – Morristown West

Tory House – Morristown West

Jalen McCullough – Morristown West

Ty Steisslinger – Morristown West

Talan Higgins – Jeff County

Mason Smith – Morristown East

District 2-4A All-District First Team

Reed Ownby – Sevier County

Caleb Tarwater – Sevier County

Keegan Mink – Morristown East

Cy Mincey – Jeff County

District 2-4A Player of the Year

Kyle Cloninger – Morristown East

District 2-4A All-Tournament Team

Talan Higgins – Jeff County

Carter Gilliam – Morristown East

Bryson Headrick – Sevier County

Kyle Cloninger – Morristown East

Reed Ownby – Sevier County

District 2-4A Tournament MVP

Caleb Tarwater – Sevier County