TOP PHOTO:  Jellico visits Cosby Tuesday night to determine the District 2-A District Tournament Champion.

COSBY, TN (WLAF) – The gym will be standing room only.  Popcorn’s enticing aroma will fill the air.  And there’ll be a basketball game that will linger in memories for years.  Tonight at the gym the folks in Cosby call “The Hill,” Jellico will battle the Eagles for the District 2-A District Tournament Championship.  Listen HERE for Tuesday’s JHS game starting at 7:30 pm. 

Cosby claimed three regular season wins over Jellico winning at The Hill on Dec. 13 by a score of 86 to 57 and then 80 to 64 in the Maryville Christmas Tournament on Dec. 28.  Most recently at Lindsay Gym, Cosby squeaked out a 79 to 72 victory over the Blue Devils on Jan. 17.

Cosby swept through the regular season slate finishing 10 & 0 and then has gone 22 & 9 so far in all games.  In their last 10 outings, the Eagles are 6 & 4.  Cosby is led by the trio of upperclassmen in Seniors Jeremy Wise, Braden Shaffer and Junior Trey Johnson.

Jellico’s 12 & 13 overall record doesn’t have as much shine to it as Cosby’s worksheet does.  However, the Blue Devils have been a work in progress that has taken the balance of the season to begin jelling.  Jellico has impressively won seven of its last eight games.

JHS Coach Mike Reynolds said, “Our kids have worked hard all year.  Playing Cosby at Cosby will be a challenge, but we look forward to the opportunity.”  Jellico is led by freshman sensation Hayden Llewellyn who averages just shy of 28 points per game.

Llewellyn stuffs one of his many dunks on the season as he goes airborne from Clifton Court.  This one came against Whitley County, Kentucky, in January at Lindsay Gym.

Both teams have played some big time programs this season. Cosby battled Fulton, Alcoa and Sevier County while Jellico has taken on the likes of Maryville, Clinton and Davey Crockett. Fulton and Alcoa play for the District 2-AA tourney title Tuesday night as Sevier County (District 2-AAA) claimed its tourney title on Saturday night.  Maryville (District 4-AAA) and Clinton (District 3-AAA) play for their respective district tournament championships tonight while Crockett (District 1-AAA) plays for third place in its tourney.

Even though more than 1,100 fans will pack The Hill tonight, you can still have a front row seat by listening HERE for tonight’s Jellico at Cosby title game.  WLIK Radio of Newport’s Brian Evans has all the play-by-play coverage.

The road to the state tournament continues for Jellico after Tuesday’s game at Cosby.  JHS hosts an opponent, yet to be determined, from District 1-A on Saturday night at 7 pm on Clifton Court at Lindsay Gym.  It will be the opening game of the Region 1 Tournament.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 02/25/2020-6AM-PHOTO COURTESY OF JHS ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL JOEY ST. JOHN)