Cumberland Gap traveled to Rogersville, Tennessee, October 28 to take on the Cherokee Chiefs for four games of high school basketball action to officially get the season underway.
The first game of the evening was a junior varsity matchup between the Lady Panthers and the Lady Chiefs. Both teams took a few possessions before shots finally started falling but after that point things went back and forth resulting in a score of 9-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Panthers opened the second quarter on an 11-3 run that forced the Lady Chiefs to call a timeout trailing 20-12 with 4:56 left in the first half. Cumberland Gap continued to pile on the pressure and the points and carried a 32-15 lead into the half. Jenna Beth Wilburn led the Lady Panthers with seven first half points, followed closely by Jayla Bailey with six points. Kendra Fields led Cherokee with four first half points.
The Lady Panthers dropped 10 more in the third and led 42-19 at the end of the quarter and went on to defeat the Cherokee Lady Chiefs 53-21. Cumberland Gap was led in scoring by Jenna Middleton with 13 points. Jayla Bailey had 11 and Jenna Beth Wilburn dropped in seven. Callie Hoskins added six and Brinkley Hollin added four points. Gracie Nash, Emrey Glover and Hayden Beeler dropped in three each. Brynlee Foster dropped in two points and Ashlynn Roberts rounded out the scoring with one point. Cherokee was led in scoring by Kendra Fields and Brayley Bowman with four points each.
The second matchup of the night was another junior varsity contest, this time between the boys. Cherokee found their way onto the scoreboard early and their defense held Cumberland Gap during the first quarter of action en route to a 7-2 lead for the Chiefs. Cumberland Gaps’ scoring picked up in the second quarter but Cherokee hadn’t lost their groove and the Chiefs held a 20-8 lead over the Panthers at the end of the first half. Hudson Harris led Cumberland Gap with four points in the half. Cherokee was led by Eli Markham with seven points. Cumberland Gap started dropping baskets during the third quarter but Cherokee seemed to answer every shot and the Chiefs still held a 33-22 lead at the end of the quarter. Cumberland Gap kept pressing and kept firing into the fourth quarter but finally Cherokee had lost their touch. The Panthers had crept within four points and forced another Chiefs turnover with 1:56 left in the game. Cumberland Gap tied the contest at 44 with 22 seconds left in the game but allowed Cherokee to break the press on their next possession for an easy layup and then turned over the ball on a late inbounds play. Cherokee was able to secure the 48-44 victory over Cumberland Gap in JV boys action. Colton Jones led Cumberland Gap with 20 points. Kolton Goins added 10, Hudson Harris has nine, Jed Bailey had four and Jacob Surber had one. Braxton Markham led Cherokee with 16 points and Lofton Hayes dropped in nine points.
The third game of the night was a varsity girls matchup between Cumberland Gap and Cherokee. This game was another back and forth of action between the two teams. Cherokee found a slight edge as they hit a buzzer beating three-pointer to end the first quarter and found themselves leading Cumberland Gap 9-8. Scoring continued to be difficult for both team early during the second quarter but things looked to open up late for Cherokee as they got a couple of buckets to drop. Cumberland Gap was able to stay close from the free throw line and a solid presence in the paint from defensive “big” Jenna Middleton. Cherokee held a 22-15 lead at the half. Middleton also led the Lady Panthers in scoring with seven first half points and Hayden Beeler added three points for the Gap. Cherokee was led in the first half by Kyla Howe and Macy McDavid with six points each. Both teams matched each other shot for shot during the third quarter and Cherokee held onto a 33-25 lead over the Lady Panthers at the end of the period. Cumberland Gap wasn’t out of the fight just yet though as they battled back and at the 5:28 mark in the fourth quarter they tied the score at 33 on a tough shot by Middleton down low. Emrey Glover quickly got a steal and basket forcing the Lady Chiefs to call a timeout trailing for the first time in the game 35-33 with 4:56 left. Cherokee tied it back up at 35 but Brynlee Forster answered with a deep two point shot to make it 37-35 in favor of Cumberland Gap. Cherokee knocked down a three from the side to take a 38-37 lead and then got another basket inside to push their lead out to 40-37. Cherokee was able to swat the rebound away from Middleton inside and find an open shooter in the corner for another quick three. Cherokee then led 43-37. Brinkley Hollin stepped to the line and knocked down two free throws to make it 43-39 but Cherokee dropped another shot to go up 45-39 with :55 seconds left. The Lady Chiefs were able to run the rest of the time off the clock to secure the 45-39 victory over Cumberland Gap. The Lady Panthers were led in scoring by Emrey Glover with 17 points and Jenna Middleton with 11. Hayden Beeler and Brinkley Hollin both dropped in three. Brynlee Foster and Gracie Nash added two each. Callie Hoskins rounded out the scoring with one point. Cherokee was led by Kailey Gillian with 15 points and Macy McDavid with nine.
Jenna Middleton was named the Heartland Real Estate Player of the Game with her 11 points, 6 rebounds, five blocks and she shot 71 percent from field. Congratulations Jenna!
The final game on the slate was a varsity boys matchup between Cumberland Gap and Cherokee. Both teams appeared anxious and ready to let shots fly early and both connected on a fair amount during the first quarter, but Cherokee held the slight edge, 16-12 over Cumberland Gap when the quarter came to a close. Cherokee opened things up a little more during the second quarter and held Cumberland Gap in check. Cherokee pushed their lead out to 28-18 over Cumberland Gap at the half. Cumberland Gap was led in scoring during the first half by Braden Ellison with nine points and Noah Yonts with three. Cherokee was led in the first half by Will Price with 13 points and Colten Mclaen with 12. Cherokee continued to apply the pressure and knock down shot after shot during the third quarter. They pushed out to a 48-22 lead over Cumberland Gap and rolled on to a 75-39 victory. Cumberland Gap was led in scoring by Braden Ellison with 18 points. Devin Byrd dropped seven points. Ethan Powell, Noah Yonts and Hudson Harris added three each. Kolton Goins and Caleb Powers added two points and Andy Osborne rounded out the scoring with one point. Cherokee was led by Colten McLaen with 23 points and Will Price with 13.
Braden Ellison was the Danny England Motors Player of the Game with a team leading 18 points. Congratulations Braden! -Article and photos by BP.
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