Lady ‘Landers survive feisty Hampton uprising
Published 7:51 pm Sunday, January 23, 2022
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cloudland's Ella Benfield has good position to box out Hampton's Piper Helle.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Madi McClain drives the ball hard toward the baseline as Lady Highlander Saharra McKinney defends.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cloudland's Karah Fields looks for an open teammate near the goal.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Breanna Davis has perfect position on the box out on a free throw attempt as Saharra McKinney tries to work around Davis.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Ryan Turbyfill takes the basketball to the rim against the defense of Hampton's Ryleigh Nickels.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Hampton's Taylor Berry comes to a jump stop against the defense of Lady Highlander Ella Benfield.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Cloudland's Saharra McKinney lines up an outside shot against Hampton.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lady Bulldog Macy Henry drives the basketball toward the baseline against Cloudland's Izabella Christman.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
When the Hampton Lady Bulldogs and Cloudland Lady Highlanders took to the court on Friday, it was another edition of the tough showdowns these two groups of ladies have had since their elementary and middle school days.
And with that being the case it was another highlight reel to be added to the archives as the Lady Highlanders managed to fend off Coach Brandon Carpenter’s Lady ‘Dogs late to seal a 62-54 win.
The game was a physical challenge for both squads as Cloudland worked out to a 25-16 lead by the break after Hampton struggled offensively in the first quarter scoring only four points before putting it together in the second period to narrow the gap.
Ryan Turbyfill was an offensive force in the opening half for Cloudland as she filled the nets for 15 of the Lady ‘Landers 25 points. Turbyfill hit two treys, three field goals, and three free throws in the first 16 minutes.
Karah Fields totaled seven in the half while Izabella Christman chipped in with two points and Ella Benfield hit 1-of-2 from the charity stripe.
Taylor Berry helped to keep the Lady Bulldogs close in the opening half scoring five. Piper Helle contributed with four points while Linsey Jenkins knocked down a trey. Macy Henry and Breanna Davis added two points apiece.
Hampton came out of the locker room and trimmed two points off the Lady ‘Lander advantage in the third period by outscoring the visitors 15-13. Madison McClain had the hot hand for the Lady ‘Dogs scoring 10 points in the stanza. Saharra McKinney had four for Cloudland.
The fourth quarter saw a frenzied attack by the Lady ‘Dogs as they came roaring back to cut the Cloudland lead to two points with four minutes to go in the contest. However, it took all of 60 seconds for the Lady ‘Landers to put together a run of their own to push the advantage back to 13 with three minutes left to play in regulation.
Hampton kept coming but just couldn’t chase down the Lady Highlanders in the Watauga Valley Conference contest.
Turbyfill had 19 points to lead the Lady Highlanders in the win with Christman finishing with 12. Kendall Birchfield added 11 with three treys figured in.
McClain finished with 19 points for Hampton in the loss. The Lady ‘Dogs also received 12 points from Berry and 11 points from Jenkins.
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Cloudland, 62-54
Cloudland (62)
Kendall Birchfield 11, Ella Benfield 9, Saharra McKinney 4, Ryan Turbyfill 19, Izabella Christman 12, Karah Fields 7.
Hampton (54)
Madi McClain 19, Taylor Berry 12, Linsey Jenkins 11, Piper Helle 6, Macy Henry 4, Breanna Davis 2.
Cloudland ….. 10 15 13 24 – 62
Hampton ……. 4 12 15 23 – 54
