Cougar bit… Lady Cyclones can’t stay with Central in TRC opener, 55-40
Published 12:20 am Tuesday, December 17, 2019
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Star Photo/Dawn Lambert Kaitlin Bailey of Elizabethton looks for an opening around a Central defender.
Star Photo/Dawn Lambert Senior Kaylen Shell gets set to put up a shot for the Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo/Dawn Lambert Morgan Headrick is zeroed in on the basket as she prepared to launch a shot for Elizabethton.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
The Lady Cyclones of Elizabethton was hoping to get the upper hand in Three Rivers Conference play when they hosted pre-season pick Central in hoops action at John Treadway Gym on Friday evening.
However, the Lady Cougars locked down on Elizabethton defensively in the second allowing only five points to the home team while building a 26-19 advantage at the break and never looked back in taking a 55-40 win.
The Lady Cyclones came out hitting six straight points to open the contest before Central went on an 8-0 run of their own to grab the lead.
Elizabethton appeared to be their own worse enemy missing close-in shots and allowing the Lady Cougars to convert easy buckets at their end of the court.
Macy McClellan and Abby Crawford proved to be the thorn in the Lady Cyclones flesh on the night as McClellan pumped in 21 points while Crawford roamed the paint tossing in 14 points in the contest.
Elizabethton was led by senior Kaylen Shell’s 14 points and Morgan Headrick’s 10 points. Kaitlin Bailey added eight points with Lina Lyon and Kelsie Winters adding six and two points respectively.
“They wanted it more than us,” said Lady Cyclone head coach Lucas Andrews. “They are a good team and have good inside play and good guards.
“They executed and made big buckets inside and we didn’t make those buckets. We played against some big teams about the same size as them so I didn’t think that would bother us that much.
“We didn’t do a good job at taking it to them and making them play defense and that’s on me.” Andrews continued.
