Landers, Blue Devils split contests on Tuesday night
Published 9:01 pm Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde The Highlanders and Blue Devils tipped off Tuesday night at Cloudland High School.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Cloudland's Victor Hicks makes it look easy Tuesday night at home against Unicoi.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde It was a tight matchup in the first half as Elijah Blair puts up another two for the Highlanders.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Eli Benfiled works the perimeter looking for an open lane Tuesday night at home against Unicoi.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Highlander Bentley Gilbert goes sky high for a shot against the Blue Devils Tuesday night at home.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Lady Lander Jasmine Birchfield finds an open teammate underneath the basket Tuesday night.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Cloudland's Mirandy Benfield puts up a one handed shot for a score Tuesday night against Unicoi.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Heaven Caraway makes an excellent pass for the Lady Landers in Tuesday nights win over Unicoi.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde Sarah McKinney drives hard to the basket for the Lady Landers Tuesday night at home.
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BY NIC MILLER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
ROAN MOUNTAIN – It was yet another action-packed week for Carter County in terms of high school hoops as on Tuesday the Cloudland Highlanders hosted the Unicoi County Blue Devils for some hardwood action in both boys and girls contests.
The girls got things underway, and it would be the home team Lady Highlanders taking strides in the early stages, gaining the advantage over Unicoi to end the first with a score of 12-7.
In the second quarter, the Lady Highlander defense took center stage as they were able to slow down a usually high-powered Lady Devil offense to go into the break with a 25-15 advantage.
Cloudland kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of the contest despite the valiant attempt to get back in the game by the Lady Blue Devils. The final score of the girl’s contest would be 63-43 in favor of the Lady Highlanders.
For the Lady Highlanders in the win, Jasmine Birchfield led the team with 17 points followed by Saharra Mckinney who finished with 10 points while Karah Fields scored nine points in the contest.
Caroline Podvin was the Lady Devils’ leading scorer in the contest with 17 of her own with Jocelyn Metcalf following close behind scoring 11.
There were two words to describe the boy’s contest: physical and competitive.
It was a back and forth matchup as there were several lead changes and ties that would take place in the first quarter of action.
After one, it was 14-11 in favor of the ‘Landers.
But the lead didn’t last for long as the Blue Devils were able to storm back and take an advantage of their own. At the break, Unicoi had a slight edge over the home team, 25-22.
And while the Devils were able to increase their lead in the third period, Cloudland ended the quarter with the momentum trying to come back. Heading into the final quarter of play, the ‘Landers trailed 39-32.
Despite the extreme comeback effort from the Highlanders, Unicoi would be able to hold on to the victory defeating Cloudland by a score of 50-37.
In the win, the Blue Devils were led by Robbie O’Dell who scored 15 points followed by Eli Johnson with 11, and Mason Barcel who put up eight points.
For the Highlanders, Elijah Blair led the team in point totals with 18 while Victor Hicks scored nine of his own and Bentley Gilbert contributed nine to the cause.
