Cyclones split pair with Unicoi Co. during Senior Night, Homecoming
Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Reiley Whitson drives the basketball between the defense of two Unicoi Co. defenders.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Elizabethton's Michelle Shields takes the basketball to the rim for a one-handed runner.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Lady Cyclone post Marlee Mathena muscles inside for a basket.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Reiley Whitson is pushed under the basket for a tough shot.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Peyton McGee lines up for an attempt at a three-point shot.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Marley Mathena pops a jumper from the paint.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Michelle Shields is harassed as she drives the basketball toward the baseline.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Andrew Barnett calls out the offensive set for the Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cyclone post Jackson Hobbs works hard to get the ball closer to the rim.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Hudson Pate puts a body on a Unicoi Co. ball handler.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Elizabethton Cyclones were celebrating their seniors on Tuesday evening combined with crowning a Homecoming queen while visiting Unicoi Co. was looking to put a devilish spin on the night.
Elizabethton managed to come away with a win in girls play while the boys took it on the chin in the nightcap.
Girls
Elizabethton…51
Unicoi Co. ……38
The Lady Cyclones broke open a tight game at the break to take a 13-point Upper Lakes Conference win over the Lady Blue Devils.
It was a tight-fisted affair in the first 16 minutes as Unicoi Co. held a 22-21 lead at the half.
Allie Lingerfelt was setting the nets on fire for the visitors as she knocked down four treys to help push her team to the front.
Faith Bennett and Haley Rush chipped in with three points each.
Lady Cyclone post Marlee Mathena was doing all she could to make sure her team would have a fighting chance in the second half as Mathena tallied eight points including a three-ball.
Michelle Shields and Jamira Smalls contributed four points apiece for Coach Lucas Andrews Lady Cyclones.
Shields came alive in the second half as the sophomore guard poured in 12 of her 16 points to help propel the Lady Cyclones to victory.
Mathena added nine to finish with a team-high 17 points on the night. Senior Reiley Whitson saw her first action of the season after a summer knee injury to score seven points, all in the fourth quarter.
Smalls finished with five while Kayelyn Nave and Peyton McGee each logged three points each.
Lingerfelt finished with a game-high 26 points for the visiting Lady Blue Devils. Lingerfelt had eight threes in the loss.
Noell Farnor finished with four.
Boys
Unicoi Co. ……. 58
Elizabethton … 45
In the nightcap, the Cyclones were hoping to make it a clean sweep but the Blue Devils had something to say about that.
Placing three players in double figures, Unicoi Co. used fluid shooting to a 35-24 lead and never were threatened down the stretch to take the 13-point victory.
Colby Jones and Jackson Simmons paced the victors with a game-high 16 points each while Kaden Cutlip finished with 13 points.
The Cyclones were led by senior Will Churchill who finished the night with 15 points. Fellow senior Jackson Hobbs also reached double figures with 11 points.
Mac Paulson and Hudson Smith finished with seven points apiece with Hudson Pate and Nathan Bailey finishing with three and two points respectively for the Cyclones.
Hope Shelby was crowned the Homecoming Queen. She was escorted by Cameron Baker.
