Coach Lucas Andrews gets his 100th win as Lady Cyclones roll over Vikings

Published 9:22 pm Wednesday, January 18, 2023

By Ron Marvel

Star Correspondent

Head Lady Cyclones Basketball Coach Lucas Andrews posted his 100^th win as a Cyclones Coach, Tuesday night as Elizabethton rolled over the Tennessee High Lady Vikings.

The Lady Cyclones outscored the Vikings 25-8 as four different players hit three-pointers in the first period; both Reiley Whitson and Renna Lane hit two a piece. The game stood at 72-35 after three periods when Coach Andrews went to the bench to get his reserve some needed minutes. Kayelyn Nave would score five points in that final period.

For the night, Lina Lyon continued her hot play as she scored 22 on the night. Renna Lane would contribute 19. The Lady Cyclones would get more good news as Olivia Holly would return after suffering a sprained ankle to chip in 11. Kendall Cross would score 17 for the Lady Vikings.

Coach Andrews talked about achieving his 100^th victory after the contest, “this accomplishment has more to do with the great players I’ve had the privilege to coach and the great coaches I have been able to work with; without those two groups, this doesn’t happen.”

The Boy’s squad fought all night valiantly and took the seventh-ranked Tennessee High Vikings to the limit but just could not close the deal in the final minutes, struggling to hit their free throws. The two teams would trade leads throughout the night, and with 2:38 left, the Cyclones would be down by just a point. The Vikings would go to the stall game draining the clock down to 1:28 and hitting a loose ball putback to push the Viking lead to three, the Vikings would grab the rebound off a Cyclone miss. Dalton Mitchell would get charged with a foul on the next possession sending the Vikings to the line but the Vikings would miss both free throws keeping the difference in the game at three. Nate Stephens would soar for the rebound and score with one hand to bring the game back to one point with 45 seconds to play.

The Cyclones would quickly foul, sending the Vikings to the line where they would hit one free throw. Mac Paulson would then be fouled attempting the three-pointer on the other end but hit just one of three free throws. The Vikings would increase their lead to six on free throws with eight seconds left. The Cyclones were not done on the night, Paulson would hit a long-distance three-pointer to close it back to three, but with just a few seconds left, the Vikings would hit their free throws to ice the game.

Dalton Mitchell and Zack Wallin would both score 13 to lead the Cyclone effort; Mason Ball would add 12 on the night. Both teams will host Sullivan East next Tuesday night.