TAD Lady Cyclones drop semi-final game to Hawks, 24-21
Published 2:13 pm Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Stella Holtsclaw launches a 3-pointer to put the Lady Cyclones up by six midway through the third period.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Stella Holtsclaw drives to the paint as the third period starts against the Hawks.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent The Lady Cyclones fall to the Indian Trail Middle School Hawks, 24-21, in a semifinal game of the TSSAA Area 1-3A playoffs.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Kiana Adams works to keep defenders out of the paint.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Aubrey Szabo won't give up an inch on the perimeter.
Ron Marvel/Star Correspondent Junior Cyclones guard Rylee Minton peeks crosscourt as the play develops.
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By Ron Marvel
Star Correspondent
The Lady Cyclones dropped a hard-fought, close defensive game to the Indian Trail Hawks on Tuesday night with a berth in the sectional tournament at stake. The last time these two teams met, the Lady Cyclones were routed by 22 points, but that was of little consolation to head coach Matt Fox, who saw his squad let one slip out of their fingers.
The Hawks came in with a clear goal—shut down Kiana Adams—and they were going to do this by double-teaming her and keeping her out of the paint as much as possible. The early going set the tone for the rest of the game. It was a back-and-forth sort of game where neither team could get much going offensively. Stella Holtsclaw gave the Lady Cyclones a 5-2 lead with three minutes left in the period, only to see the Hawks respond with a 3-pointer. Adams hit a short jumper and a free throw to give the lead right back to the Lady Cyclones, but once again, a 3-pointer by the Hawks tied the game as the first period expired.
After an Aubrey Szabo free throw made it 11-10 Lady Cyclones, Indian Trail once again hit a three to take a one-point lead. The Cyclones, though, responded, grabbing the lead right back when Miley Bowling hit her shot from the right arc to go up 16-13. As the second period ticked away, Adams launched a 3-pointer that went halfway down the cylinder and somehow kicked out.
The second half saw a Hawks team that used its two athletic guards to play keep-away on the perimeter as they tried to limit the Lady Cyclones’ possessions. Holtsclaw hit a three from the left baseline to push the Lady Cyclones’ advantage to six points at the 3:34 mark of the third. With their backs against the wall, the Hawks responded with a 9-2 run to jump out to a 22-21 lead with 46 seconds left, forcing the Lady Cyclones to foul. The Hawks hit both free throws, and a desperate 3-point attempt at the buzzer hit the front of the rim as the Lady Cyclones fell 24-21. It was a game in which the Lady Cyclones were limited to just 23 shots, compared to the 53 shots they had in their last game against Liberty Bell. Holtsclaw finished the game with nine points.
Postgame, Coach Fox talked about how this one slipped through their fingers. “There were moments we got in our heads and tried to force things. We didn’t rebound well tonight. They forced turnovers during that run; we let them loose a little bit. That’s a very good team with two guards that handle the ball well. I felt like we had a good plan for tonight; we just have to be better at rebounding and finishing our shots.”
The Lady Cyclones will have another opportunity at a sectional game and a chance to extend their season Thursday as they face off against the John Sevier Middle School Indians at John Sevier Middle School, a team they have split with this season. Jump ball is scheduled for 4 p.m.
