Science Hill Downs West Ridge, Earns Region Tournament Berth

Hilltoppers start fast, lock up three-seed in upcoming District 1-4A Tournament

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The Science Hill Hilltoppers came out firing on all cylinders, jumping out to a 13-0 lead and never looking back in a 54-38 victory over the West Ridge Wolves on Tuesday night. The win secures a berth in the Region 1-4A Tournament for the Hilltoppers, who were led by 14 points from Stephen Hensley.

Why it matters

The victory locks Science Hill into the three-seed in the upcoming District 1-4A Tournament, ensuring the Hilltoppers a trip to the regional tournament. This was a crucial game for both teams as they jockey for playoff positioning in the competitive Big East Conference.

The details

Science Hill opened the game on a 13-0 run, including three 3-pointers in the first five minutes. The Wolves fought back to get within 8 by the end of the first quarter, but the Hilltoppers defense clamped down in the second quarter, holding West Ridge without a basket for over 6 minutes. Science Hill led 26-13 at halftime and grew the lead to 20 in the third quarter before West Ridge made a late push to get within 11, but the comeback fell short.

  • The Hilltoppers opened Tuesday night's game with a 13-0 run in the first five minutes.
  • West Ridge went over 6 minutes without a basket in the second quarter.

The players

Science Hill

The Science Hill Hilltoppers, a high school basketball team competing in the Big East Conference.

West Ridge

The West Ridge Wolves, a high school basketball team competing in the Big East Conference.

Stephen Hensley

A player for the Science Hill Hilltoppers who led the team with 14 points.

Will Holmes

A player for the West Ridge Wolves who was held to 5 points due to foul trouble.

Grant Thompson

A player for the West Ridge Wolves who led all scorers with 21 points.

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What they’re saying

“I thought we were really good defensively, especially in the first half. That's been our hallmark for the last three years since I've been here. Not so much this year so we're trying to get back to that groove of being a good defensive team. I thought in the first half of tonight we were really good.”

— Jon Higgins, Science Hill Head Coach (timesnews.net)

“I'm very proud of my team. That was the fourth game in five days. Look who we played – we went to D-B, we went to Daniel Boone, we went to Morristown West, and we come here to play tonight. Our guys had nothing left and we have guys that play 32 minutes a game. So I'm proud of my team for fighting. Made a lot of mistakes. Very physical game.”

— John Dyer, West Ridge Head Coach (timesnews.net)

What’s next

Science Hill will travel to Kingsport to face Dobyns-Bennett on Friday. West Ridge will visit Elizabethton on Friday.

The takeaway

This victory secures a spot in the Region 1-4A Tournament for the Science Hill Hilltoppers, a significant accomplishment as they continue to build momentum heading into the postseason. Meanwhile, the West Ridge Wolves showed grit in battling back despite playing their fourth game in five days, demonstrating the team's resilience.