By KEVIN KISER
Sports Correspondent
n MARYVILLE

Sequoyah and Heritage met Tuesday night in a TSSAA Hall of Fame game and played a game worthy of being in the Hall of Fame.
Both teams battled back-and-forth throughout the game, neither team leading by more than nine points at any given time, but it was the Mountaineers holding off the persistent Chiefs 67-63.

A lot of "what if's" were detrimental to the Chiefs throughout the game, with the biggest two being what if Tevin West found his shot early in the game and what if Derrick Atchley didn't get two quick fouls early in the game.
West struggled from the field, going 5 of 24 from the field, including 2 of 12 beyond the arc, although each time his shot selection was good.
Usually a sure shooter, West struggled to find his mark throughout the game, something that is sure to be a rare occurance as the season progresses.

Atchley, who is usually aggressive from his point guard position, and his play making abilities is used to provide a spark when needed, had his hands tied picking up two quick fouls in the first quarter.
After swapping baskets through most of the first quarter, Heritage gained a four-point advantage with seconds to go, but West launched a half-court shot as time ran out, cutting the lead to one at 16-15.
Both teams played up and down the floor with a smothering aggressive defense, and most of the points came on missed defensive assignments that allowed players to break free on both ends.
Sequoyah capitalized on some of the Heritage breakdowns as a result of the pressure defense and took a 33-30 lead to the half.

The back-and-forth continued through the third quarter with Heritage gaining the advantage and leading 47-45 after three frames.
The Mountaineers looked to put the game away at the start of the fourth, pushing their lead out to nine points, but behind the support of a large gathering from the student body and all-out hustle, the Chiefs stormed back to tie the game at 58-58 behind Justin Phillips' dominance on the boards.
Phillips finished with a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Sequoyah pulled within two at 65-63 with 1.8 seconds left in the game after Phillips was fouled on a made basket.

A lane violation on the free throw forced the Chiefs to foul.
There was some question about the clock, when the scoreboard read 0.1 seconds after the foul was called, but after conferring with the officials and scorekeepers, the referee ruled that the clock was right.

Heritage made both free throws to provide the final margin of 67-63.
Sequoyah (63): Jethro Griffin 18, Tevin West 18, Justin Phillips 12, Atchley 8, Lingerfelt 1, Bledsoe 1.
Heritage (67): Seth Elfstrom 14, Jacob Arwood 13, Matt Wilburn 12, Corey Stroud 11, Teffteller 6, West 6, Smelcer 4, Burchfield 1.
Field Goals: Sequoyah 12-33 (36%), Heritage 14-28 (50%)
3-Point Goals: Sequoyah 5-21 (24%), Heritage 8-19 (42%)
Free Throws: Sequoyah 24-39 (62%), Heritage 15-28 (54%)
Rebounds: Sequoyah 33, Heritage 20
Turnovers: Sequoyah 11, Heritage 11