Lady ‘Landers thump U-H
Published 10:38 pm Saturday, January 15, 2022
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Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Cloudland and University High tipped off Friday night in Roan Mtn.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
After three steals in a row by a quick Cloudland defense, Ryan Turbyfill heads to the basket as the Lady Landers pulled out an early seventeen point lead in the first period.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
It was all smiles as Cloudland simply dominated University High Friday night at home.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
After a steal and good ball movement, Izabella Christman finds Ryan Turbyfill open for an early three-point bucket.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Kendall Birchfield finds Katie Baldwin open for the three putting Cloudland up 20-2 with less than two minutes to go in the first period.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
After dominating inside, Cloudland switched gears and took several shots from the perimeter with mixed success as Taylor Hicks lets one fly.
BY BRANDON HYDE
STAR CORRESPONDENT
ROAN MOUNTAIN – It was an utter blowout by the Lady Highlanders as they hosted University High in Roan Mountain.
Karah Fields got the party started early for Cloudland with a baseline jumper. It was a sign of things to come for University High as they struggled to get anything going on offense or defense.
The first period saw Karah Fields assisting Ella Benfield inside for a basket followed by a steal by Fields and another inside bucket.
The Cloudland girls were like thieves in the night as they made several steals and forced turnovers galore by University. Midway through the first period, Cloudland had three steals in a row that led to points putting them up early.
Cloudland never really looked back from this point with the score of 17-0 at the halfway point in the first period. University wouldn’t see their first basket until 2:40 to go in the first period.
Adding insult to injury, Katie Balwin, who would finish with five points on the night, sank a three-pointer with two minutes to go, proving Cloudland could score at will from anywhere on the court.
It was not a good sign for University High. The story through the first period was a stifling Cloudland defense and an off-target University High.
This theme continued into the second period as the Lady Highlanders never let up. The Lady Highlanders could score inside and outside.
Cloudland made it clear they could score from anywhere they wanted as Karah Fields hit a three-pointer with 6:20 to go in the second period making the score 32-4.
Fields would finish with a team-high nineteen points. This was immediately followed by another three-pointer by Ryan Turbyfill who would score 12 points herself.
The Lady Bucs would find a few scraps and score on some free throws, but that was about it as Cloudland wrapped up the first half with a 32-point lead at halftime.
The third period saw Cloudland get back to basics and inside play as Karah Fields fed an unattended Ella Benfield under the basket with a nice baseline pass for an easy score.
Nothing really changed for either team in the third period. It was more of Cloudland scoring at will and University High turning over the ball and launching off-target shots.
Going into the fourth period, the Lady Highlanders were basically on cruise control. There was little excitement as the game was well in hand and several substitutions were made.
—
Cloudland, 72-16
Cloudland (72)
Taylor Hicks 5, MaKenzie Street 3, Kendall Birchfield 11, Ella Benfield 11, Katie Baldwin 5, Layken Blair 8, Bethany Sluder 2, Ryan Turbyfill 8, Isabella Christman 12, Karah Fields 18.
University High (16)
Leeny Ortiz 2, Emma Chandley 2, Anna Wils 5, Meredith Rice 2, Catie Leonard 3, Priya Lewis 2.
Cloudland……. 24 15 15 18 – 72
University……. 4 3 5 4 – 16
