The Lady Highlander opened up in winning fashion Saturday evening during the Johnson City Honda Trailblazers Classic.

After a tight  fourth quarter the Lady Highlanders were able to snatch a 44-37 victory from the Cherokee Lady Chiefs.

“It was a good win, take it or leave it,” Cloudland head coach Matt Birchfield said. “We were sloppy down the stretch, I feel like. . . We turned the ball over quite a bit, and got into foul trouble early.”

Cloudland was led by two 13-point games from Kendal Mull and Payton Johnson.

The Lady Highlanders dominated in the first quarter as they went on a 11-2 run, ending the period ahead 13-4. Contributing to the run was Payton Johnson, who score six of the 11. She was helped by a bucket and one from Davi Heaton.

The second frame was a whole different story for the Lady Highlanders, Cloundland only putting up two points during the whole quarter.

“We didn’t shoot well if the first half,” Birchfield said. “We couldn’t make any shots. We had some good looks, but we couldn’t make them.”

Cloundland took off in the third quarter as Mull sparked a 10-point drive, with five consecutive points — allowing Cloundland to close the frame ahead 30-19.

“In the third we got a good stretch I feel like,” Birchfield said. “We came in and got some steals, and got some transition buckets, which is always good.”

Things tightened up in the fourth as the Lady Chiefs fought to within three points of the Highlanders. Cloundland shot its way out of trouble, going 7 of 10 from the foul line.

“The fourth quarter was good at times, but we have to handle close situations better,” Birchfield said. “. . . We had a lot of late turnovers. But we held on and did some good things and hit some free throws.”

Click here to see more pictures from tonight’s game.

Cloudland 44

Mull 13, Peyton Johnson 13, Russell 7, Singleton 5, Heaton 3, Johnson 3.

Cherokee 37

Marlow 15, Trent 9, Henard 6, Nielsen 3, Lewis 2, Webb 2.

Cloudland 13 2 15 14 — 44

Cherokee 4 6 9 18 — 37

Game Video Clip