ROAN MOUNTAIN-The Cosby Eagles and Lady Eagles had
important match-ups on Friday night. Although the games
were out-of-district affairs, should the Eagles and Lady
Eagles advance in post-season play, in all likelihood, both
teams would have to go through Cloudland in the
Regional.
So, it was an early departure from Cosby High School for
the two-hour bus ride to meet up with the Highlanders
and Lady Highlanders head on. But, the thin air at
Cloudland High School high atop Roan Mountain had an
apparent adverse affect as the Lady Highlanders (6-1)
crushed the short-handed Lady Eagles (3-2) 51-23, and
the Highlanders (1-5) took advantage of another cold
night of shooting for the Eagles (1-3) to hold on for a 44
-38 victory.
LADY EAGLES SHORTHANDED
Going against one of the top 1A girl's teams in East
Tennessee, on their home court, Lady Eagles' head coach
Richard Coggins had a big problem. Two of his starters,
point guard Whitney Hartsell and leading three-point
shooter Macie Webb, were both in street clothes nursing
injuries, as was back-up point guard Kory Mathes. And, a
few of his other starters, in uniform, had been suffering
from illness all week. Not a good thing if you facing off
against the Lady Highlanders.
As a result, senior Megan Williams was given the keys to
the offense, and moved to the point, with Stevie Gorrell on
one wing, and Preanna Davis getting the start on the
other. With Megan moved to the point, Kalsea Mantooth
was given the start at one post next to Lindsey Hall.
At the outset, the Lady Eagles went to a zone defense, and
tried to slow the game down. Offensively, they tried to
pound the ball inside to Hall, who had recorded double
doubles in three of the Lady Eagles first four games. They
got all of that done. But, Lady Highlanders went to long-
range shooting successfully, and defensively, every time
the ball went inside to Hall, they surrounded her with two
and sometimes three players.
The Lady Eagles managed to stay within striking distance
through the first eight minutes, and trailed by five, 12-7,
at the end of the first quarter. Hall had two baskets and a
free throw, while Williams had a big three-point play, and
Mantooth made a free throw to account for the Lady
Eagles' first quarter scoring.
But, the Lady Eagles' scoring suffered in the second frame,
with Mantooth knocking down a three, and Gorrell scoring
two for their only points. The Lady Highlanders managed
11 points, and pushed their lead to 11, 23-12, at the
break.
The third quarter belonged to the Lady Highlanders. With
hall accounting for all four of the Lady Eagles' points in
the quarter, the Lady Highlanders were knocking down
shot after shot, and went on an 18-0 run to finish the
quarter, 12 of those points on three-pointers. Heading
into the final eight minutes, the Lady Highlanders were on
cruise control, leading by 29, 45-16.
With the damage done, and the game in hand, the Lady
Highlanders and Lady Eagles accounted for only 11 total
points in the final frame, and at the buzzer, the Lady
Highlanders had a 28-point victory.
Cloudland scoring (51): Jordan Miller 15 (3 rebounds),
Brooke Johnson 12 (6 rebounds), Sydnie Buchanan 9 (11
rebounds), Rebekah Tokkey 7 (4 rebounds), Danielle
Potter 4 (4 rebounds), Julia Wilson 2 (4 rebounds), Brittney
Reece 2 (5 rebounds).
Cosby scoring (23): Lindsey Hall 9 (6 rebounds), Stevie
Gorrell 7 (2 rebounds), Kalsea Mantooth 4 (4 rebounds),
Megan Williams 3 (1 rebound).
The Lady Eagles were a mere 9-42 (21%) from the floor,
while the Lady Highlanders were 20-43 (47%). The Lady
Eagles were only 2-13 (15%) from three-point range,
while the Lady Highlanders were 7-18 (39%). From the
free throw line, the Lady Eagles were 3-9 (33%), while the
Lady Highlanders were 5-9 (56%). The Lady Highlanders
out rebounded the Lady Eagles 44-22. Each team
committed nine turnovers. The Lady Eagles were whistled
for 11 fouls, the Lady Highlanders suffered 10 fouls.
EAGLES FALL SHORT
Through the first 11:25 of the game, the Eagles had made
three shots, and were shooting under 17% for the game.
But, the Highlanders weren't exactly in top form in search
of their first victory after five games, and the Eagles
managed to keep this one close, even taking the lead in
the third quarter.
Two Russell Valentine baskets and two free throws from
Jonathan Manning accounted for the Eagles' scoring in the
first eight minutes. Cloudland could do no better, and the
game was even, 6-6, heading into the second frame.
Trenten Dunn stepped up the Cosby offense in the second
quarter, scoring five points, while Manning hit another
free throw, and Spencer Grooms came off the bench to
nail two free throws. The Highlanders were one-point
better though, and led 15-14 at the break.
Both teams picked up their offense in the third quarter.
Valentine accounted for two baskets, while Zach Stone
drained a three-pointer, and a free throw on a four-point
play, and Grooms got two baskets to give the Eagles 12
points for the quarter. But the Highlanders scored 14 as
they began effectively going inside to their big man, Brett
Stocton, who accounted for 10 of his game-high 22
points, and the lead was three, 29-26 Highlanders. The
Eagles had the lead 22-19 at the 4:43 mark of the third
quarter, only to relinquish it for good at the 2:10 mark.
The Highlanders accounted for seven of the first nine
points in the fourth quarter, and were leading 36-28 with
3:51 remaining. But the Eagles made a move, with Grooms
getting a basket, and Stone nailing another three to make
it 36-33 Highlanders. Trailing 40-35 with 1:05 to go,
Dunn knocked down a three-pointer to pull the Eagles to
within two, 40-38. But, a pair of free throws by Logan
Morgan and another two free throws by Randall Johnson
finished the game, and gave the Highlanders the six-point
victory.
Cloudland scoring (44): Brett Stocton 22 (6 rebounds),
Alex Gouge 8, Randall Johnson 6 (4 rebounds), Logan
Morgan 4 (3 rebounds), Jordan Hughes 2 (5 rebounds),
Nick Sluder 2 (2 rebounds).
Cosby scoring (38): Trenten Dunn 10 (4 rebounds), Zach
Stone 9 (1 rebound), Russell Valentine 8 (8 rebounds),
Spencer Grooms 8 (9 rebounds), Jonathan Manning 3 (4
rebounds).
The Eagles were 12-43 (28%) shooting, while the
Highlanders were 16-38 (42%). The Eagles were a mere 3
-17 (18%) from three-point range, while the Highlanders
were 0-5. From the free throw line, the Eagles were 11-17
(65%), while the Highlanders were 12-19 (63%). The Eagles
out rebounded the Highlanders 31-26, and had 11
turnovers on the night, compared to the Highlanders 10.
JUNIOR VARSITY
The Eagles looked out of sync, as the Highlanders raced
out to an 18-4 first quarter lead, and never looked back.
The Highlanders led 29-17 at the break, 44-20 at the end
of three, and cruised to the 35-point victory, 64-29.
Cloudland scoring (64): Matthew Potter 17, Michael Hyden
9, Dillon Clark 9, Kevin Stevens 8, Cody Ballwinkel 4,
Dakota Maney 4, Sha Presnell 3, Tylor Shell 3, Tyler
Chambers 3, Anthony Chambers 2, Lucas Whitehead 2.
Cosby scoring (29): Chris Grooms 9, Cory Conard 6,
Robert Herzog 4, Bryan Gust 4, Michael Trent 3, Nick
Baxter 2, Jordan Hall 1.
UP NEXT: The Eagles and Lady Eagles will need to regroup
quickly and they are facing a very busy week. On Tuesday,
Dec. 11, both teams travel to Unaka, then on Thursday,
Dec. 13, will be on the road at North Greene. Both teams
finish out the week with their first District games, and
their first home games in two weeks, when they host J.
Frank White.