Lady Cyclones make short work of Claiborne Co.
Published 11:33 am Saturday, February 25, 2023
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Lady Cyclone senior Renna Lane works the basketball deep into the paint while being closely guarded by a Claiborne Co. defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Reiley Whitson delivers a pass inside to a teammate in regional play Friday, won by the Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton point guard Lina Lyon could not be guarded on Friday night as she sliced and diced her way to a game-high 26 points leading the Lady Cyclones to a 45-point win over the visiting Claiborne Lady Bulldogs.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Kalli Shepard turns a steal into two points for the Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton freshman Jamira Smalls is fouled by a Lady Bulldog and goes to the line to convert a three-point play.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Renna Lane pushes the basketball quickly up the court for her Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Reiley Whitson looks to go up strong against a Claiborne Co. defender in Elizabethton’s regional win inside John Treadway Gym.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton senior guard Lina Lyon receives a game ball marking her 500 career rebounds as a Lady Cyclone. Joining Lyon is head coach Lucas Andrews.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Elizabethton senior guard Renna Lane is presented a game ball recognizing her for reaching 1,000 points as a Lady Cyclone. Present Lane with the basketball is head coach Lucas Andrews.
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Friday night was the tip-off of regional play and the Elizabethton Lady Cyclones did exactly what was expected of them when they hosted the Lady Bulldogs of Claiborne Co. inside John Treadway Gym.
Running out to a 40-15 lead at intermission, the Lady Cyclones cruised the rest of the way in crushing the Lady Bulldogs hopes of extending their season by whipping up on the visitors, 77-32.
Senior guard Lina Lyon was unstoppable by the Claiborne defense as Lyon racked up 16 of her game-high 26 points in the opening half.
When Lyon wasn’t taking the open lane to the basket, senior guard Olivia Holly was blistering the net from beyond the three-point arc for all nine of her points in the first 16 minutes of action.
Senior Renna Lane added six points in the opening half, while district MVP Marlee Mathena dumped in four. Maddie Fowler added a trey and Katie Lee chipped in with a deuce.
Taylor Presnell recorded seven of the Lady Bulldogs 15 points in the half.
The second half was a repeat of the first as the Lady Cyclones continued to fire on all cylinders to outscore Claiborne 37-17.
Once again, Lyon and Lane provided the firepower as Lyon added ten and Lane seven to help extend the lead. Freshman Jamira Smalls made the most use of her time on the court offensively to add five points in the second half, including an old-fashion three-point play.
In all, 11 Lady Cyclones scored at least two points or more in the contest.
Besides Lyon’s 26-point outburst, Lane finished with 13 points to record double figures in the contest. Holly collected nine points with Mathena adding eight.
Smalls (5), Lee (4), Fowler (3), Kayleyn Nave (3), Reiley Whitson (2), Kalli Shepard (2), and Sadi Williams (2) closed out the scoring for the Lady Cyclones.
Presnell finished with 12 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs, while Hannah Fugate and Allie Jones added seven and six points respectively.
The regional semifinals return to John Treadway Gym on Monday night as Elizabethton and Tennessee High square off at 6 pm while Greenville and Cocke Co. follow at 7:30 pm.
Wednesday night will be the regional final as the winners from Monday night’s semifinals meet with the winner earning a home sectional berth while the loser will be on the road for the sectional contest with a berth in the Class AAA state championship at stake.
