BY DANNY BLEVINS

STAR CORRESPONDENT

ROAN MOUNTAIN – It was Eighth Grade Night at Sonny Smith Gymnasium as Hampton Middle School traveled to their cross-county rivals,  Cloudland Middle, for basketball action.

Hampton hoped to spoil the Jr. Highlander’s special night, but they were only able to half succeed as the Hampton boys beat the Highlander boys in a blowout 45-10, while the Cloudland girls took down the Hampton girls 43-26.

Cloudland Middle School girls down Hampton Jr. Lady ‘Dogs, 43-26

The Cloudland Middle School girls have only been beaten once, and that was by a much larger 3A Liberty Bell Junior High School. This was after the Lady ‘Landers had defeated the Patriots twice during the season.

That loss during a Christmas tournament has left a bad taste in the Lady ‘Landers mouths and they have played like they have something to prove since that defeat.

Unfortunately for Hampton, they just happened to get in their way on Monday night.

Led by their starters, especially Ryan Turbyfill, the Lady Highlanders played the game the way it should be played. They played tough on defense, causing turnover after turnover, and they played like a well-oiled machine on offense.

The first half was a complete blowout for the Jr. Lady ‘Landers. The Landers led by a humbling 21-4 at the end of the first quarter and 27-7 at half-time and it was little doubt who the better team was on this night.

Hampton tried to make a comeback during the third quarter but Cloudland was not having it. At the end of the third, Cloudland still held a 17-point lead and the score stood at 33-16.

The fourth saw several younger players seeing some playing time but they did not allow Hampton to get closer than 15. When the buzzer sounded, Cloudland had taken a 43-26 win.

Cloudland’s leading scorer for the night was Turbyfill who blistered the nets for 19 points. She was followed by Mia Clark and Izabella Christman who had six each and Saharra Mckinney who had five.

Hampton’s leading scorer was Taylor Berry who had nine points. She was followed by Gracie Ballard who scored six and Ella Eastep who had five.

Hampton boys humble Cloudland Middle 45-10 in hoop action

In the final game of the night, Hampton Middle defeated Cloudland 45-10.

Hampton came into this game with one of the best middle school boys’ basketball teams in the state and proved why on Monday night. They simply played the game on another level.

Hampton has talent in every position and they are very well-coached. Add these together and one has a team that will always be hard to beat.

Hampton started the game on fire. Though they gave up the first two points of the game when Eli Morgan drained two foul shots, the game would never be closer. At the end of the first quarter, Hampton held a 20-2 lead and everyone knew that was only the start.

The second quarter saw more of the same. Hampton’s tenacious defense kept Cloudland on their end of the court almost all night and helped the Bulldogs take a 34-2 score into halftime.

Cloudland discovered you cannot score points if you cannot get near your own goal on this night. Meanwhile, everyone knew the game was firmly in hand at the end of the third and the score was 40-4.

To their credit, Cloudland did not give up and played hard into the fourth quarter but it was too little too late. When the buzzer sounded to end the game, the scoreboard read 45-10 and Hampton had put another win in their column.

Hampton was led in scoring by Dylan Trivett who had 15 on the night. He was followed by Hayden Campbell who had 12 and Geno Carrico who had five.