TV and a sellout: East Nashville-Hillsboro basketball thrills in marquee showdown

They called this game a sellout at noon on Monday for a high school basketball contest that wasn't tipping off until Thursday.

It didn't disappoint.

Hillsboro and East Nashville, the two best boys basketball Metro Nashville Public School teams, met in a stuffy, packed East Nashville gym, showcasing the best the city has to offer this season. Hillsboro entered the game ranked second in Class 4A in the Associated Press statewide poll while East Nashville, the TSSAA Class 2A defending state champions, were ranked first.

East Nashville pulled slightly away late to hand the Burros a 51-44 non-district win that was also a rare Thursday night TV game.

"That's a boxing match," East Nashville coach Avery Patton said. "Last man standing. It was a grind-out.

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"It was a great environment for the city — two great teams, two great programs. It was just wonderful scenery. Walking in here before warm-ups, just seeing the crowd and the excitement."

These big matchups seem to come through annually. East Nashville played Alabama freshman Brandon Miller and Cane Ridge a year ago. During the 2019-20 season East Nashville and Pearl-Cohn packed gyms when they faced off.

Add this to that conversation.

"It's a big rivalry," said Hillsboro guard Cortez Graham, who had 11 points in the loss. "We haven't played them in like two years. So it was a crazy environment.

"Jaylen (Jones) and I have played against each other for a long time. At one point we (played on the same team). He's always been a grade ahead of me. I never thought we'd play. It's crazy."

East Nashville (15-0) picked up its best win of the season by beating the Burros (14-2). It was a showcase victory and one the program can use moving forward as it heads into the last part of the regular season.

It won despite star player Jaylen Jones, a Tennessee State signee, not playing one of his better games. He finished with nine as Michael Armstrong led the Eagles with 17 points and teammate Jordan Crawford added 14 with three 3-pointers. The Eagles rallied late for the win, holding the Burros scoreless over the final couple minutes.

East Nashville's gym is one of the smaller ones among MNPS high schools. Patton said it seats about 1,275. He said 1,000 tickets were sold. The rest of the seats were left for those left on pass lists, school administrators, others with TSSAA passes, media members and anyone else who may have a pass.

There weren't open seats. Some fans stood on the corners of the court. Others sat on the gym floor. Several in the stands fanned their faces in an attempt to cool off in a gym humid due to the crowd. It's why security kept a side door open at least part of the night in an attempt to try cool the gym.

"I loved packed crowds," said Armstrong while a fire alarm buzzed in the East Nashville hallway. The alarm was going off throughout much of the second half with strobes going off in the gym as the game went on. "It was fun. It gives me a boost every time a dunk goes off or there is a crazy play. It pushes us hard."

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.