Tennessee High sweeps past Elizabethton in return to court

Vikings lock down on defense in second half to defeat Cyclones 55-45

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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After a two-week layoff due to wintry weather, Tennessee High and Elizabethton returned to the basketball court, with the Vikings defeating the Cyclones 55-45. Tennessee High's Braden Howard scored 21 points and the team's strong defense limited Elizabethton to just 5 points in the fourth quarter to secure the win.

Why it matters

This game was an important district matchup between two top teams in District 1-3A. The win puts Tennessee High in control at the top of the district standings, while Elizabethton drops to 4-2 in conference play.

The details

Tennessee High (20-6, 4-1) outscored Elizabethton 16-5 in the fourth quarter, led by a strong defensive effort that saw the Cyclones manage just one field goal and three free throws. Braden Howard scored 14 of his 21 points in the second half, and he combined with fellow guards Cannon Swift and Austin Thomas to make it difficult for Elizabethton to get open looks. Reed Miller added 12 points and 16 rebounds for the Vikings.

  • Tennessee High hadn't played since Jan. 23.
  • Elizabethton hadn't played in close to two weeks due to the recent wintry weather.

The players

Braden Howard

A Tennessee High player who scored 21 points, including 14 in the second half, to lead the Vikings to victory.

Reed Miller

A Tennessee High player who scored 12 points and grabbed 16 rebounds.

Michael McMeans

The head coach of Tennessee High.

Justin Whitehead

An Elizabethton player who scored all 12 of his points in the first half.

Lucas Honeycutt

The head coach of Elizabethton.

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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

“I think 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

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.