Cumberland Gap traveled to face Washburn, December 13th. The Lady Panthers and the Lady Pirates were the first varsity teams on the court. Cumberland Gaps defense again attacked early but their looks at the goal weren’t falling until finally Gracie Nash forced a turnover that Emrey Glover was able to push out ahead to Brynlee Foster for the basket and a foul. Foster dropped the free throw to take an early 3-0 lead over the Lady Pirates. Brinkley Hollin got the next basket for The Gap and the lead was out to 5 for the visitors. Washburn then found their stride and tied the contest back at 5 with 3:25 left in the first quarter. Washburn got another shot to fall but then Nash forced another turnover and got the ball out to Glover for the layup to tie the game at 7. Washburn again scored but Hollin got another tough shot in the paint to fall and the game was again tied at 9. Washburn was able to end the first quarter on a five point run and held 14-9 lead over Cumberland Gap.
Washburn reeled off five more points to open the second quarter before Nash hit a three to break the Lady Pirates momentum momentarily. The Lady Pirates however answered with eight points before Glover got a shot to fall. Hollin then grabbed an offensive board and put it back for a Gap goal. The score at that point was 27-16 midway through the second quarter. Nash got another shot inside and Glover got another three for the Lady Panthers then as time was running out in the second quarter Glover got a steal and layup. The score at the end of the first half was 32-23 in favor of Washburn.
Hollin corralled another loose ball and drove it for a basket after a turnover forced by Glover to open the second half scoring for the Panthers. Foster then found Callie Hoskins under the goal for another Panther basket but Washburn answered with a shot of their own. Nash then drove inside for a basket but with 4:44 left in the quarter Washburn was still on top 34-29. Glover and Nash each got a free throw to fall in the middle of the Lady Pirates next run, which was 11 points this time before Jayla Bailey answered with a pair of free throws. The score stood in favor of Washburn, 45-33, with 1:26 left in the third quarter. Glover was able to get on last shot to fall for Cumberland Gap before the quarter ended and the score was 45-35 in favor of Washburn as the fourth quarter was set to begin.
Washburn opened the quarter with a basket inside and drew a foul. They were able to covert the free throw and led 48-35. Glover then was fouled and stepped to the line hitting one of two free throws. Glover got back to the line and had the same results as the previous trip. Cumberland Gap trailed 48-37 with 4:53 left in the game. Cumberland Gap crawled back into the game late and were within six of Washburn with 1:10 left in the game at 52-46. The teams swapped free throws right down to the end and Nash hit a corner three just before the final buzzer rang to bring the final score to 55-51 in favor of Washburn.
Cumberland Gap was led in scoring by Emrey Glover with 17 points. Also scoring for the Panthers was Gracie Nash with 13, Brinkley Hollin with 10, Kerry Dixon with four, Brynlee Foster with three and Jayla Bailey and Callie Hoskins each with two. Washburn was led by Saylor Clay with 20 points and Braelyn Coffey with 18.
The Nichole Goins Heartland Real Estate Player of the Game was Emrey Glover. Congratulations Emrey!
The next matchup of the evening was between the varsity boys. Washburn was able to jump out to a five point lead to start the game before Isaac Brown was able to get a basket and draw a foul for the Panthers. His free throw was good and Washburn led 5-3 with 4:36 left in the first quarter. The Pirates then reeled off another five points before Braden Eillison steeped to the line and hit one of two free throws to bring the score to 10-4, still in favor of Washburn. Brown got another shot to fall with around thirty seconds left in the quarter but left enough time for Washburn to drain a three from the top of the key. Andy Osborne was able to match that three with one of his own on a buzzer beating running shot just inside of half court. The score was 13-9 with Washburn leading when the first quarter came to a close.
Cumberland Gap opened the second quarter with a quick foul and technical foul called on Brown and Washburn hit one of two on the technical free throws. Ellison was able to get a shot in the lane to fall and with 6:38 the score was 14-11 with Washburn holding the lead. The Panthers were able to get a stop and Ellison then found Ethan Powell for a shot inside to come within one point. Cumberland Gap then pressed after a defensive rebound and Osborne found Powell for another easy shot to hold their first lead of the game at 15-14 with 4:13 left in the first half. Washburn retook the lead on their next shot but Ellison answered back with a shot to regain the lead at 17-16. Washburn then rolled off four straight before Kaleb Powers got a basket to fall for Cumberland Gap. The Pirates then reeled of six more points to end the quarter. The score was 26-19 in favor of Washburn at halftime.
Ellison opened the Panthers scoring in the second half but Washburn got four unanswered. Ellison then got an outlet pass to Brown for an easy layup to make the score 30-23 but in Washburns favor. Alex Douglas got a pair of free throws but the Pirates answered back with a shot of their own. Ellison found Douglas for another quick transition basket for The Panthers. Osborne got another basket for Cumberland Gap and Ellison hit a three. The score at the end of the third quarter was 37-32 with Washburn still holding onto a slight lead over The Gap.
Ellison came up with another steak and turned it into two points for Cumberland Gap but Washburn again found a way to answer. Devin Byrd then stepped to the line and hit one of two free throws and the Panthers were back within four and 39-35 with 6:11 left in the game. Washburn went on another run of seven before Powell stepped to the line and hit a pair of free throws. The score was 46-37 with Washburn in front with 3:51 left in the game. Washburn was able to put the game away late and was able to secure the 53-42 victory over Cumberland Gap.
Leading the Panthers in scoring was Braden Ellison with 14 points. Isaac Brown added in seven, Ethan Powell had six, Andy Osborne and Kaleb Powers each added five, Alex Douglas had four and Devin Byrd had one. Washburn was led by Caden Atkins with a game high 16 points.
The Danny England Motors Player of the Game was Braden Ellison. Congratulations Braden!
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