Warriors, Highlanders split pair of varsity contest
Published 2:52 am Friday, November 29, 2019
1 of 1
Star Photo/Larry N. Souders
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
ROAN MOUNTAIN – In a non-conference, cross-county rivalry contest, the Happy Valley Warriors traveled to Roan Mountain to square off with the Cloudland Highlanders in prep high school basketball action.
While the ladies showed no signs of wear in a highly competitive contest, the boys’ action showed that the Warriors were a little ahead of the ‘Landers who haven’t had their team together very long due to football.
Girls
Cloudland…….49
Happy Valley…41
In a competitive contest, the Lady Highlanders managed to take the eight-point win over Happy Valley, 49-41.
Cloudland took a five-point lead to the locker room, 28-23, and then kept the Lady Warriors at arm’s length the rest of the contest to take the victory.
Kenzie Birchfield was red hot for Coach Matt Birchfield’s squad as she torched the nets for 16 points with 12 of those coming from behind the three-point arc.
Jasmine Birchfield was on Kenzie’s heels firing in 15 points as the two combined for 31 of the 49 Lady ‘Landers points.
Heaven Caraway and Kaylen Fields found the bottom of the basket for four points apiece. Taylor Hicks and Gracie Freeman contributed with three points each.
Mandy Benfield and Karah Fields closed out the Cloudland scoring with two points each in the contest.
For Happy Valley, post-player Shayln Whitson just couldn’t be stopped as the senior hung 26 points on the board for the Lady Warriors. Olivia Absher added six points in the defeat.
Emma Blevins (3), Kenzie Ramey (2), Kadie Bailey (2), Emily Lunceford (2), and Autumn Henegar (1) closed out the scoring for Happy Valley.
Boys
Happy Valley….64
Cloudland……..43
Coach Jeremy Maddox got massive efforts from Noah Stevens and Dylan Willis as the Warriors dealt the Highlanders a 21-point defeat, 64-43.
Stevens lit up the scoreboard with 28 points while Willis added 23 to lead the Warriors to the win. James Harmon and Luke Roberts contributed with five and four points respectively.
Will Tittle and Landon Babb closed out the scoring for the Warriors with two points each.
Elijah Blair led Cloudland in the game with 15 points. Hunter Shell fresh off the gridiron added seven points in the defeat.
Cloudland also got five points from Jed Childress and four points each from Conner Birchfield and Caleb Sluder.
Other scorers for the ‘Landers included Bentley Gilbert (3), Hayden Shell (2), and Garrison Julian (1).
