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Morristown West put up 33 points in the first half on Tuesday evening against Volunteer but managed just four in the third quarter as the Falcons scored 38 points in the second half to win 59-55.

“We can’t give up 38 points in a half and expect to win any basketball game that we play,” Morristown West coach Joe Dobyns said. “That’s just something we can’t do. We came out flat in the third quarter and let them do what they wanted. We’re just going to come back to work and try and get better and get ready for the postseason.”

Bereket Evans was the star in the game for West with 23 points. Evans scored 15 points in the first half and then added eight more in the fourth quarter as he tried to keep the Trojans in the game late.

“We need Bereket to be a leader for us and be aggressive,” Dobyns said. “He made a couple big shots for us and got us going early in the game. And then made some big shots in the fourth quarter for us.”

Along with Evans, Bricyn Gudger added eight points while Jalen McCullough and Ty Steisslinger each added six. Other scorers for West were Alban Oruglica with five, Tory House with three, Damian Morgan with two and Kyan Almonte with two.

West started the game on fire as they got up 17-7 after one quarter. Evans had 10 points, two 3-pointers, in the opening quarter for the Trojans.

In the second, West opened up the second on an 9-1 run to lead 26-8. Evans had five more points during the run. Volunteer tried to play back into the game, but West still led by 12 at the half at 33-21.

The third quarter was the downfall for West as they got four points from McCullough but that was all. Meanwhile, Volunteer scored 21 points and led by five going to the fourth.

In the fourth, Volunteer built the lead to seven, but the Trojans kept fighting. With three minutes to go and Volunteer up six, West scored seven straight to take a 51-50 lead. Evans hit a 3-pointer that gave the Trojans the one-point advantage.

Volunteer answered with a free throw, but Steisslinger made two free throws that gave West a 53-51 lead. Evans added two more free throws to make it 55-51, however, West did not score in the final two minutes as Volunteer scored eight straight to secure the win.

West will be back in action on Friday as they travel to play Sevier County. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.

“The message the next two days is that we have to be better defensively and move the ball and not be stagnant offensively,” Dobyns said. “Going up to Sevier County is going to be a great challenge for us. But the district tournament is on that floor, so we have to go up there and do as much as we can to get used to it and prepare for it.”

Cloninger scores 31 as East tops Science Hill

Kyle Cloninger scored 31 points, 13 in the third quarter, on Tuesday night as the ‘Canes took a road victory over Science Hill, 73-60.

Cloninger was the lead man in the game for East, but the ‘Canes had two others score double figures as Cory Carpenter threw in 11 points and Keagan Mink added 10.

Other scorers for East were BJ Hubbard with nine points, Mason Smith with eight points, Lane Grizzell with two points and Brice Epps with two points.

The two teams battled tough in the opening eight minutes as East and Science Hill were tied at 11 after one. Cloninger had four points in the quarter while Smith drained a three.

In the second, East exploded offensively with 25 points to lead 36-28 at the break. Cloninger had eight points in the quarter while Carpenter hit two 3-pointers.

It was all Cloninger in the third as he scored 13 of their 20 points to lead 56-43. Hubbard had five points in the quarter, as well.

In the fourth, Cloninger scored six more points while MInk had four as the ‘Canes took home the victory.

East will be back in action on Friday as they host Jeff County. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.