Lady Cyclones take big conference win over Vikes, boys rally but fall short
Published 5:20 pm Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Star Photo/Ron Marvel The Lady Cyclones look to drain the final minutes of the game away as Kayelyn Nave dribbles around a defender.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Michelle Shields picks up the assist as she dishes to a teammate under the rim.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Cyclones Head Coach Lucas Honeycutt talks to his squad after the Vikings jump out to an early lead.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Will Churchill attempt a layup in first-half action versus the TN. High Vikings.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Cyclones Andrew Barnett breaks the Viking press and looks for a cutting teammate.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Jamira Smalls shoots the short jumper over the Viking defender.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel Michelle Shields uses her body to block out the Viking defender on a loose ball.
Star Photo/Ron Marvel After grabbing the offensive rebound, Jackson Buckles muscles his way back up for the putback.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
The Cyclones returned to the court Monday night after a week-long break due to the weather. The Girls were able to pick up a conference win but, the boys fell to the first-place Vikings despite a furious rally in the final minutes that forced Viking Head Coach Micheal McMeans to reinstate his starters back in the game.
Girls-Elizabethton 61 Tennessee High 47
The Lady Cyclones responded well as the Viking jumped out to an early 6-0 lead. Michelle Shields would provide the spark early hitting a floater at the 2:13 mark of the first period then Peyton McGee would hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 6-5. Reagan May hit a 15-foot jumper to cut the lead to 12-10 to continue the rally, but the Lady Cyclones would still trail down 14-12 at the end of the first period.
The Lady Cyclones would get their first lead off an acrobatic layup from Michelle Shields at 15-14 with 6:52 left in the half. Marlee Mathena would provide the Cyclones several second-half chances with some very physical board work; she would also knock down a couple free throws with 4:13 left to push the lead to 8 for the Cyclones at 24-16. The Lady Cyclones would maintain their lead going into the locker room 30-25.
The third period would see the Lady Cyclones push their advantage to 15, outscoring the Lady Vikings 18-8 and going into the final period up by 17. Peyton McGee would help the Lady Cyclones in the period, dialing up a couple long range 3-pointers. It would be a margin that would hold through the final period as Jamira Smalls would work in the paint picking up 8 points in the final half. Shields would finish the game with 18 points while Smalls and Kayelyn Nave would both chip in 11, McGee would hit on three 3-pointers to finish with 9.
Lady Cyclones Head Basketball Coach Lucas Andrews talked about his team’s efforts in the early going that turned the tide of this matchup; “I thought it was a growing up time for us, we got some good looks there was no panic. It was just calm, Tennessee High is a good team Wilhoit is one of the better players in this area. Michelle was so level-headed tonight and did a lot of good things on both ends of the floor” Coach Andrews shared.
Boys- Tennessee High 71 Elizabethton 59
The Vikings would jump out to an early 15-2 lead, but the boys would cut into the early lead as Andrew Barnett would hit a couple of 3-pointers to cut the lead to 20-15 going into the 2nd period. Unfortunately for the Cyclones the Vikings, as would be the case throughout the game, would get hot from 3-point land as they would push their lead back to 40-21 going into the locker room.
Jackson Hobbs would try his best to keep the Cyclones close in the 3rd period, scoring 7 points, but the Vikings would continue to hold the Cyclones at arm’s length, leading 59-37 going into the final period. The Vikings would use their 22-point lead to attempt to get some of the reserves minutes, but as they did the Cyclones would take advantage going on a 15-0 run and threatening to close the game to single digits. Justin Whitehead and Zac Bates would both hit from outside in the final period to make the game interesting down the stretch.
Hobbs would finish with 13 points and Bates would chip in 9 in the loss. Tennessee High’s Colin Brown would finish with 25 points primarily off seven 3-pointers.
Junior Varsity Results
Boys Cyclones 55 Tennessee High 32
The JV Cyclones jumped out to a 24-9 lead in the first period and never looked back; pushing their lead to as high as 26 points in the 3rd period. Sophomore Nathan Bailey scored 16 while Hudson Pate and Hudson Smith both chipped in 10.
Girls Cyclones 56 Tennessee High 42
The Cyclones JV used twin-power in the night opener as Reagan and Rylee May chipped in 28 points as the Cyclones methodically pulled away from the Vikings. Adrian Heading added 13 points, 11 in the second half.
Both varsity teams will travel Wednesday night to take on the Sullivan East Patriots, Girls Varsity will tip-off at 6 pm.
