Jellico boys come up short against Cloudland in home sub-state game

 Twenty years after their only sub-state appearance, Jellico High School’s boys found themselves one win away Monday night from qualifying for the state basketball tournament.

Dwane Wilder

Dustin Smiddy tries to maintain possession of the ball while being swarmed by Cloudland defenders.

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Dwane Wilder

Gabe Mitchell splits a pair of defenders while attempting a layup.

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Playing on their home court before a record crowd (1,076-plus), the Region 2-A champion Blue Devils attempted to extend their 9-game winning streak against Region 1-A runner-up Cloudland.

However, the Highlanders’ pedal-to-the-metal attack proved to be too much for the Blue Devils. Cloudland (26-7 overall) spoiled Jellico’s party with a 69-53 upset victory to punch its own ticket to the state tournament. The Blue Devils ended their season with a 21-13 overall record. 

“We knew they were quick,” said Jellico coach Mike Reynolds.

“They didn’t do anything we didn’t expect them to. We just didn’t play well. I just didn’t coach our boys like I should have.”

Cloudland took the Blue Devils’ post players out of the game in the first quarter. 

Jellico forward Cody Malicoat, the MVP of the District 4-A and Region 2-A tournaments, went to the bench with three early fouls and failed to score a single point during the first half.

Malicoat finished with 13 points.

“He didn’t get a shot up in the first half,” said Reynolds.

Using their pressure defense to create numerous turnovers, the Highlanders bolted to a 17-7 start. By the end of the opening quarter, they had doubled the score, 24-12, on Jellico. The Blue Devils fell behind even further in the second quarter and trailed by 17 points, 37-20, at intermission.

Meanwhile, Cloudland senior forward Matthew Potter had 18 points by halftime, including 10 points during the first quarter and a pair of 3-pointers and a field goal in the second period.

Potter finished the night with 35 points, including a 12-point blitz during the final eight minutes.

“We didn’t defend well,” Reynolds said afterward.

The Highlanders were able to maintain a 20-point lead throughout much of the second half. Jellico got within 13 points, 60-47, with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter, but that’s as close as it would get.

Senior point guard Lee England scored eight points during the final period in a valiant comeback attempt for the Blue Devils.

Brent Ayers led the Blue Devils with 19 points, followed by Malicoat with 13, Lee England 10, Michael Smith 5, Gabe Mitchell 4 and Dustin Smiddy 2.

Malicoat will return next season, but Jellico will graduate 8 battle-tested seniors.

“I’m very proud of our boys,” said Reynolds.

“They’ve done a lot for Jellico High School basketball, especially the seniors.”