McMinn County turned a one-point deficit into a six-point lead in the first two minutes of the second half on their way to a 61-54 victory over home-standing Sweetwater on Friday night.
The Cherokees used a 9-2 run to take that lead and never trailed again.

Even though that was only the second lead change, the contest was exciting and close from the opening tip to the closing horn.
The athleticism and enthusiasm of the players on both teams made it so.
Corey Billingsley occupied his customary place atop the Sweetwater scorebook with a game high 29 points.

Twenty-two of those came in the first half as the Cherokee defense and unfriendly rims kept Billingsley without a field goal in the last two quarters.
Gavyn Davis joined Billingsley in double figures with 13 points.

Kurt Woodby and Jimiese McDermott added three points apiece, Joey Raby and Seth Woodby each scored two, and Jamarus Brewster and Brandon Clark each tallied one.
McMinn County had five players in double figures.
Jay Johnson led with 14, Eric Wilcox scored 11 and the trio of Cy Ables, Jeremy Prater and Drew Looney scored 10 points apiece.

Austin Ramsey with four and Dante Arnwine with two rounded out the Cherokees' scoring.
Ables started the scoring with a two, Wilcox added a put back and Ables buried a trey as McMinn County jumped to a 7-0 lead.
Billingsley went to work for Sweetwater with a pair of baskets and a long 3-pointer while Johnson scored for the Cherokees to leave the visitors ahead 9-7.

Three free throws got McMinn County to the 15-point mark but that wasn't enough as Billingsley nailed two treys in the final half-minute to give the Cats a 19-15 advantage at the first break.
The Cherokees drew within one in the first three minutes of the second quarter.
Brewster answered that when he drove the baseline from one corner to the other then turned and buried a 3-pointer to put Sweetwater up 24-20.

Davis raised that lead to six points before Prater nailed a trey for the Cherokees.
Billingsley scored for the Cats but Prater and Wilcox both hit treys, one of which Billingsley answered.
Buckets by Arnwine and Ramsey, both off the offensive glass, cut the Sweetwater advantage to 31-30 at the half.

McMinn County grabbed the lead for good with a 9-2 run to open the third period and built it to 47-39 with one eight minute quarter to play.
Sweetwater fought hard and would not quit but hit only 2 of 5 free throws in the first five minutes of the final frame.
By that time the Cherokees held a 53-41 lead.

The Cats trailed 58-45 with just 1:05 to play but still battled hard.
Davis hit back-to-back three-point field goals and Billingsley hit three tosses when fouled on a trey try but it wasn't enough as McMinn County took home a 61-54 win.
The Cats will next play in the three-day Lenoir City Tournament beginning the Monday after Christmas.

The Wildcats will play Lenoir City on Monday at 7:30 p.m., Hardin Valley on Tuesday at 3 p.m., and close out the tournament against Jefferson County on Wednesday at 3 p.m.