Lady Highlanders dominate Happy Valley; Warriors’ second-half surge knocks off ‘Landers
Published 2:24 pm Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Warriors’ Austin Nickles (21) is fouled by a Cloudland defender as he pulls up for a jumper in the lane early in the first quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Warriors’ Ron Paul Parker (12) roars to the basket for two past several Cloudland defenders in the second quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Warriors’ Ron Paul Parker (12) gets Cloudland’s Kingston Cole (24) off the ground as he hits the brakes and goes up for two on a fast break in the first quarter Monday night.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Warriors’ Lane Parker (1) alters his shot as Cloudland’s Bryce Birchfield (2) goes for the block on a fast break early in the third quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The ‘Landers’ Nick Caraway (22) steps on the end line as he tries to save a pass from going out of bounds, resulting in a turnover late in the third quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Warriors’ Nate Tittle (11) is called for blocking as Cloudland’s Nick Caraway (22) drives into the lane early in the fourth quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady ‘Landers’ Abby Clawson (54) hits a pull-up jumper in the lane against Happy Valley’s Shaniece Gardner (33) midway through the second quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Warriors’ Cayden Anderson (22) drops in a runner in the lane over Cloudland’s Eowyn McCurry (1) late in the second quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady ‘Landers’ Abriella Jones (32) looks for an outlet as she is trapped along the baseline by Happy Valley’s Shaniece Gardner (33) and Ashlyn Carter (31) late in the second quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady Warriors’ Alex Moore (20) has her pass batted down by Cloudland’s Makinna Shell (10), resulting in a scramble and a jump ball awarded to the Lady ‘Landers early in the third quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady ‘Landers’ Savannah McCurry (21) and Eowyn McCurry (1) trap Happy Valley’s Aubree Whitehead (21) near center court. Eowyn steals the ball and breaks for the basket early in the third quarter.
Larry N. Souders/Star Correspondent The Lady ‘Landers’ Eowyn McCurry (1) fouls Happy Valley’s Shaniece Gardner (33) as she slaps a layup away from behind, sending her to the line for two early in the fourth quarter.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
In a non-conference clash on Monday evening at Bayless Gymnasium, the Happy Valley Warriors put on a second-half surge to defeat the Cloudland Highlanders in boys basketball action. On the girls’ side, the Cloudland Lady Highlanders used 18 turnovers and dominating defense to throttle Happy Valley 66-26.
BOYS
Happy Valley (2-10 overall) opened with a 13-8 first quarter behind six points from Ron Paul Parker, but the Highlanders knotted the score at 17-17 in the second period on a 3-pointer from Bryce Birchfield. Parker then completed a three-point play for a 20-17 Warriors advantage that they never relinquished.
“Our defensive effort was great,” Warriors head coach Shane Williams said. “It has been there over the last three games, so I am encouraged. We have been fighting through screens and getting rebounds and not allowing a lot of second-chance shots.”
The Warriors cruised to a 29-22 halftime lead and turned up the pressure in the second half, outscoring Cloudland 32-20. Austin Stines and Parker each had 16 points to lead the Happy Valley offensive effort, with Austin Nickles recording a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Senior Nick Caraway led the ‘Landers with 10 points, with Uriah Jarrett and Birchfield each adding nine.
GIRLS: Cloudland 66, Happy Valley 26
Happy Valley (1-10 overall) was able to keep pace with Cloudland (6-3 overall) for one quarter, trailing 16-12 after one period. From there, it was all Cloudland, as the Lady ‘Landers overwhelmed HV 50-14 from the first period onward. The ‘Landers shut out the Lady Warriors in the fourth quarter with a running clock.
“We put a lot of shots up,” Lady Highlanders head coach Matt Birchfield said. “We didn’t start real well. Happy Valley came out of the gate well, but we made the transition to better defense, and our tempo on offense was forced by good defense.”
Makenzie Street led all scorers with 19 points, hitting five 3-pointers, with Makinna Shell adding 10 points to the Cloudland scoring ledger.
“Street was hot tonight,” Birchfield said. “She can fill it up when she makes good shots.”
For Happy Valley, Cayden Anderson had 10 points, with fellow senior Josephine Zeoli adding six points.
GIRLS
Cloudland 66, Happy Valley 26
Cloudland (66)
R. Blair 7, Street 19, Shell 10, L. Blair 4, Clawson 2, Turbyfill 4, S. McCurry 5, E. McCurry 8, Harper 3, Jones 4.
Happy Valley (26)
Moore 2, Whitehead 2, Anderson 10, Sommers 4, Zeoli 6, Gardner 2.
Cloudland 16 19 24 7 – 66
Happy Valley 12 6 8 0 – 26
3-point goals: Cloudland 11 (Street 5, E. McCurry 2, R. Blair 1, Shell 1, S. McCurry 1, Harper 1); Happy Valley 1 (Zeoli 1).
BOYS
Happy Valley 61, Cloudland 42
Cloudland (42)
Birchfield 9, Jarrett 9, Balado 2, Caraway 10, K. Cole 4, Shell 6, Wilson 2.
Happy Valley (61)
L. Parker 8, Stines 16, R. Parker 16, Nickles 11, Bahn 1, Rose 6, Esterline 3.
Cloudland 8 14 9 11 – 42
Happy Valley 13 16 13 19 – 61
3-point goals: Cloudland 5 (Birchfield 2, Caraway 2, Jarrett 1); Happy Valley 1 (Esterline 1).
