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STAR CORRESPONDENT

The Elizabethton Lady Cyclones knew that for their season to be extended, they would have to go on the road to Rutledge and face a Grainger Lady Grizzlies team that has always been a tough foe in postseason play.

For 16 minutes, the Lady Cyclones exchanged punch for punch with the homestanding Grainger team as the teams went to the locker room knotted at 32-32, but the Lady Grizzlies managed to work out to a slim six-point lead at the end of the third before doing enough down the stretch to take the Class 3-AAA regional quarterfinal win over Elizabethton, 63-50.

Elizabethton received a great first half from junior post Jamira Smalls, who tickled the cotton for 13 of her game-high 19 points to help the Lady Cyclones stay eye to eye with the Lady Grizzlies.

Senior guard Peyton McGee connected on a pair of treys for six points, while fellow teammate Kayleyn Nave added five.

Grainger’s Adison Hayes, who tied Smalls for game-high scoring honors, sank 15 first-half points, helping to keep the home team even.

The third quarter was the turning point in the game, as Grainger came out of the intermission and outscored Elizabethton 17-11 in the period to take a 49-43 advantage heading into the final quarter of regulation.

Elizabethton couldn’t get the offensive push needed in the fourth quarter to catch up, as the Lady Cyclones only managed seven points in the quarter, with Grainger doubling the output to capture the win and advance to the semifinals on Monday at Tennessee High against Crockett.

Three Lady Grizzlies reached double figures, led by Hayes with 19 points. Ava Dellinger wasn’t far behind as she totaled 17, while Brooklyn Roach finished with 13.

McGee closed out her senior season for Elizabethton with eight points, while Rylee May contributed seven points.

Nave ended the game with six points, while Reagan May registered five points. Jasy Shell and Adrian Heading logged three and two points, respectively.