The Cloudland Highlanders hosted the South Greene Rebels last night in conference games. The Lady Rebels are ranked number four in the state, and they proved why in last night’s win. The boys game went to the Highlanders.

The Lady Rebels wasted no time in putting points on the scoreboard in last night’s game versus the Lady Highlanders in Roan Mountain. Kinsley Wykle came out shooting with a hot hand and scored 13 first quarter points for the Rebels. Cloudland’s Shian Strickland led her team in the first with five. South Greene led at the end of one, 25-11.

The second quarter saw the Lady ‘Landers begin to chip away at South Greene’s lead. Strickland had a trey, a deuce, a couple of free throws, and a spin move in the paint for another two, scoring nine for the home team. Trinity Vines and Stacia Wilson chipped in another five points to cut South Greene’s lead to seven (33-25) by halftime. The Lady ‘Landers scored eight unanswered points to end the quarter.

South Greene’s T. K. Franklin opened the second half scoring with a deuce; she had eight in the quarter. The Lady Rebels stretched out their lead again and lead at the end of three, 59-41.

Foul trouble plagued the Lady ‘Landers in the fourth quarter, and that seemed to effect their offensive rhythm. South Greene took the win 83-50. With the win, the Lady Rebels clinched the conference title.

Cloudland – 50

Strickland-20; P. Johnson-2; Ellis-4; Singleton-4; Wilson-5; Vines-15

South Greene – 83

1. Wykle-22; B. Wykle-19; T. Franklin-17; Reaves-3; Cutshaw-3; Seaton-4; Williams-6; K. Franklin-8; Howlett-1

 

The boys’ game got off to a start when South Greene’s Zack Babb sank a three-pointer. He was followed by teammate Todd Brown who scored the Rebels’ next four points. Then Cloudland’s Jesse Potter took over. Potter scored a backwards, no-look layup; he followed that with two deep treys. The ‘Landers led after one, 13-7.

In the second quarter, the Highlanders shared the scoring among several players. Chris Wagoner had three, and Colby Birchfield scored five. South Greene’s Grayson Burns put in four points, while Zack Babb sank a three-pointer. However, Cloudland’s Noah Arnett hit four free throws, and Preston Benfield scored five points; the score going into the locker room had Cloudland in the lead, 32-20.

Cloudland’s Birchfield led the third quarter scoring with 11 points; he also had an inside pass to Vines that led to a score from the block. South Greene’s Babb and Tyler Thompson each sank three pointers, and Brown was good for five. The Highlanders, however, led going into the fourth, 49-34.

The Highlanders’ Jesse Potter scored seven in the final frame to help stretch Cloudland’s lead. P. Benfield pulled down nine boards, and Vines had ten rebounds on the night. The final score was Cloudland, 70-48.

Cloudland head coach, Gary Harrison, was pleased with his team’s effort. “I’m really proud of our kids,” said Harrison. “They really executed and did an awesome job. That first bunch played well despite some foul trouble, and everyone stepped in and gave us a lift.”

The win secures the two seed.

Cloudland – 70

Arnett-4; Birchfield-18; Blair-8; M. Benfield-3; P. Benfield-7; Wagoner-6; Je. Potter-15; Vines-9

 

South Greene – 48

Brown-13; Shaw-6; Hull-2; Mease-3; Babb-9; Thompson-3; Turner-2; Burns-5; Standidy-2; Hume-3