The Claiborne High School Lady Bulldogs earned their spot in the region tournament and had the extreme task of playing the Lady Cyclones, February 24, at Elizabethton. Several Lady Bulldogs fans made the trip to cheer them on, and they were ready for basketball.
After the tip, Elizabethton hit the first basket of the game, and Taylor Pressnell countered with a layup. Allie Jones came off the bench and hit a basket, but the Lady Bulldogs found themselves down 15-4. The period ended with the home team leading 19-4. Pressnell hit an acrobatic shot for Claiborne’s first points of the second period, followed by a basket from Addie Brooks, making it 27-8. Pressnell hit one of two from the stripe, and Hannah Fugate hit two, 27-11. With 38 seconds left in the half, Pressnell hit a basket down low followed by a basket from Genesis Bailey. At the half, the Lady Bulldogs were down 40-15.
After the break, Elizabethton went on a 9-0 run, causing Coach Foster to call a timeout. Fugate broke the run with two free throws. Pressnell then had a put back basket, making it 51-19, and she then hit a three. Two empty Claiborne possessions allowed Elizabethton to extend the lead to 55-22. Ily Bussell hit a three, but the Lady Cyclones scored the next four points. After three periods, the score was 61-25.
Claiborne was up against a running clock as they approached the five-minute mark, 66-27. Jones made a basket down low with four minutes remaining, but Elizabethton hit a shot and got the harm. After the free throw, the score was 71-29. Fugate knocked down a three, but the Lady Cyclones added three more as well, making it 73-32. The final score was 77-32.
With the loss, the 2022-23 season ends for the Lady Bulldogs. Leading Claiborne in scoring was Taylor Pressnell with 12, Hannah Fugate had seven, Allie Jones had six, Ily Bussell had three, Addie Brooks had two as did Genesis Bailey. The Lady Cyclones were led in scoring by Lina Lyon with 26. Renna Lane had 13, Olivia Holly had nine, Marlee Mathena had eight, Jamira Smalls had five, Katie Lee had four, Kayleyn Nave had three, Maddie Fowler had three, Sadie Williams along with Kallie Shepard and Reiley Wilson each had two points.
The Heartland Real Estate Player of the Game was Taylor Pressnell. Congratulations Taylor!
For more photos of the game please go to aep.photoreflect.com. -AE
The Zone is powered by:
