Cumberland Gap was hoping to come into John Treadway Gym and scratch and claw their way to an upset win over Elizabethton— the top girls Class AA team in Tennessee in the quarterfinals of the Class AA regional.

By halftime, the Lady Cyclones had the Lady Panthers purring like kittens as Elizabethton exploded out to a 52-15 lead at the break to win going away, 83-30.

“I thought we came out and played really hard from the get-go,” said Lady Cyclone head coach Len Dugger. “We made a bundle of shots so to speak. I just thought that every kid came out really focused, and they wanted to play because they hadn’t played since Monday.

“I thought tonight we moved the ball and made extra passes and looked good on the offensive end,” added Dugger. “The energy and the effort we came out with–I just thought that they were focused. That was very important.”

Kayla Marosites was a woman on fire in the first eight minutes as she was sizzling the cotton off the rim by draining five three’s to account for 15 of the 29 first-quarter points.

All five starters had a solid half as Marosites finished with 18, post player Emily Schubert dropped in 10, Emily Kiser rattled home nine, and point guard Melenda Perry found a smooth stroke for eight.

Kelci Marosites added five points.

The big lead afforded Dugger to go down to the very last girl on the Lady Cyclone bench in the second half as 12 girls scored at least a field goal in the contest.

Bailey Montgomery scored three while Abby Townsend, Ashley Depew, and Destiny Little recorded two points off the bench.

Kayla Marosites was the game’s top scorer with 23 points. She was followed in scoring by Schubert with 15 while Kiser and Perry finished with 12 and 11 points respectively.

It was one of Perry’s better shooting nights late in the season.

“I felt like I really needed to pick it up and get my head up really good and see down the floor to see how everyone was playing,” stated Perry of her effort. “We love playing at home.

“A lot of people came and it was a great atmosphere. I love to hear people cheer for us when we come out.”

Hayli England led the Lady Panthers with six points while Brook McMichael added five. A trio of players scored four including Brooklyn Creech, Meredith Neely, and Jane Millett.

The Lady Cyclones now turn their focus toward a well-known opponent in the Lady Warriors of Happy Valley who withstood Chuckey-Doak to advance to the 6 pm regional semifinal contest on Monday at Grainger High School. Grainger and Sullivan East will battle it out in the other semifinal.

Dugger was asked about the large turnout for the contest against Cumberland Gap which many felt was not going to be much of a challenge from the Lady Panthers.

“The crowd was tremendous,” said Dugger. “I really appreciate the fans. If you had told me we would have had that many people to play Cumberland Gap, I would have said there was no way. “That’s very, very special. The crowd plays a big part into what these girls do. They feed off of the crowd.

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Regional Class AA Girls’ Quarterfinals

Elizabethton, 83-30

Cumberland Gap (30)

Meredith Neely 4, Samantha Pierce 3, Alyssa Pierce 2, Brook McMichael 5, Brooklyn Creech 4, Hayli England 6, Brittney Cupp 2, Jane Millett 4.

Elizabethton (83)

Kayla Marosites 23, Kelci Marosites 7, Emily Kiser 12, Emily Schubert 15, Melenda Perry 11, Haley Burleson 2, Brittany Campbell 2, Ashley Depew 2, Autumn Lyon 2, Bailey Montgomery 3, Abby Townsend 2, Destiny Little 2.

Cumberland Gap..…  7      8   11    4 – 30

Elizabethton…………29   23   18   13 – 83