Lady Landers keep title hopes alive, Boys fall
Published 5:16 pm Wednesday, February 8, 2023
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Star Photo/CY Peters
Kingston Cole of Cloudland brings down a rebound in a JV game that cloudland won by four.
Star Photo/CY Peters
A host of Highlanders crash the board for a rebound during the JV game.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Lady Landers Izabella Christman shoots a layup.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Izabella Christman of Cloudland goes for two while being blanketed by a UH player.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Lady Landers Ella Benfield drives to the basket.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Ella Benfield of Cloudland drops a floater for two.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Lady Landers Ella Benfield drives for a contested layup.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Lady Landers Kendall Birchfield fights for the ball.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Ella Benfield of Cloudland goes in strong for two.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Cloudlands Ryan Sexton scores on a fastbreak layup.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Gage McKinney of Cloudland goes in for a layup.
Star Photo/CY Peters
Cloudlands Caden Clarke goes in for a layup.
By CY Peters
Star Correspondent
Coach Matt Birchfield’s Lady Landers were hitting on all cylinders Tuesday night, thrashing the University High Lady Bucs 68-23. All five starters scored in the first quarter, putting up 21 points, and not allowing the Bucs a single basket. Isabella Christman pumped in nine points in the first and 12 in the second quarter, and she would finish with 25 points while only playing about half the game. Ella Benfield scored ten points but had many assists dumping off to Christman under the goal.
Cloudland led 47-5 at the halftime break, and Birchfield played most of his ninth graders in the second half. McCoury scored seven points in the third for the Landers. Katy Stancil led the Bucs with eight points. It was senior night for Cloudland and all the seniors were recognized. They were four sweethearts and only one could be queen. At halftime of the boy’s game, Saharra McKinney was crowned queen.
In the boy’s game, Cloudland fell behind early and could never catch up.
About 20 plus turnovers and crucial missed lay-ups haunted any chance of an upset as the Jr. Bucs came away with a 71-49 win. Ryan Sexton turned in a banner performance leading all scorers with 19 points and all of Cloudland’s seven points in the first quarter. The Bucs led 19-7 at the end of one and 37-16 by halftime. Every time the Landers would go on a run, the defense of the Bucs stepped up and forced turnovers. Nick Caraway had a big second half hitting three treys and scoring 11 points. Brad Weems led the Jr Bucs with 16 points.
Girls
Cloudland 21 26 17 4 –68
University 0 5 12 6 -23
Cloudland: Benfield 10, Birchfield 8, Turbyfill 7, Christman 25, Street 3, Sluder 1, Clawson 4, McCoury 7
University High: Ortiz 6, L Ortiz 2, Chanhley 3, Lewis 4, Stancil 8
Boys
University 19 18 17 17 -71
Cloudland 7 9 17 16 -49
Cloudland Sexton 19, Clark 4, McKinney 9, Nick Caraway 11, Street 2, A. Caraway 2 Cole 2
University: Croley 10, Murphy 8, Carter 11, Weems 16, Noland 6, Cole 6, A. Cole 16
