Tennessee High sweeps past Elizabethton in return to court

Vikings rally in second half to defeat Cyclones 55-45 in District 1-3A matchup

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

After a two-week layoff due to recent wintry weather, Tennessee High and Elizabethton returned to the basketball court on Saturday night. The Vikings overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Cyclones 55-45 in a key District 1-3A matchup. Braden Howard scored 21 points to lead Tennessee High, which outscored Elizabethton 16-5 in the fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

Why it matters

This game was an important district contest between two of the top teams in District 1-3A. The win gives Tennessee High sole possession of first place in the district standings, while Elizabethton drops to 4-2 in conference play. The Vikings and Cyclones are expected to be in the mix for the district title and a high seed in the upcoming postseason tournament.

The details

Tennessee High was led by Braden Howard's 21 points, while Reed Miller added a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds. The Vikings' defense clamped down in the fourth quarter, limiting Elizabethton to just five points in the final period. The Cyclones were paced by 12 points each from Justin Whitehead and Evan Chambers, but struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the second half.

  • Tennessee High hadn't played a game since January 23rd.
  • Elizabethton also hadn't played in close to two weeks due to the recent wintry weather.

The players

Braden Howard

A key player for Tennessee High who scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Vikings to victory.

Reed Miller

The Tennessee High center who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds, providing a strong presence in the paint.

Justin Whitehead

One of Elizabethton's top scorers, tallying 12 points, all of which came in the first half.

Evan Chambers

Also scored 12 points for Elizabethton in the losing effort.

Michael McMeans

The head coach of the Tennessee High Vikings.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We just came in to compete, got our energy up and just tried to play with no hands and go for rebounds constantly. We slowed down, get ourselves together, we didn't take no crazy shots, just tried to move the ball and get open looks.”

— Braden Howard (timesnews.net)

“Their pressure had a lot to do with that. We really couldn't get where we wanted to, we didn't get the ball in spots for easy looks. I thought we got some of those in the first half.”

— Lucas Honeycutt, Elizabethton head coach (timesnews.net)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.