The Bulldogs traveled into Panther territory, January 6, for four games of rivalry basketball. The first of two junior varsity games featured the girls. The Lady Panthers jumped ahead 7-0, and then Claiborne went on a run to take the lead. The Lady Panthers took the lead back and led 13-10 after one period. Cumberland Gap pulled away in the second half and led 21-14. Jenna Beth Wilburn led the Lady Panthers at the half with eight points. Claiborne was led at the half by Jacey Ferguson with four points. Claiborne stormed out of the locker room and immediately started cutting away at the Gap lead. With 3:08 remaining in the third, they had the scoreboard reading 23-22. After three periods of play, the Lady Panthers enjoyed a three-point lead at 27-24. For the larger part of the period, the Gap’s advantage remained less than three points. The Lady Panthers survived a scare winning, 38-35. Leading the host team in scoring was Wilburn with 13, Jayla Bailey had seven, four others had four each including Jenna Middleton, Hayden Beeler, Callie Hoskins and Ashlynn Roberts. Brinkley Hollin had two. The Lady Bulldogs were led by Jacey Ferguson with 12, Carlie Laprade with eight, Jalen Pressnell had five, Katie Hicks had four, Aralyn Cook, along with Emily Buchanan, Hope Cole finished with two.
Next on the floor was the boys’ junior varsity contest. Claiborne jumped ahead 6-2 before the Gap asked for a timeout to slow the CHS momentum. The Bulldogs led after one, 8-2. Quickly into the second period, the Panthers had it tied at eight. Claiborne rallied and led 11-10 with just over a minute remaining in the half. At the halftime buzzer, Cumberland Gap was down by one at 13-12. Jake Smith led CHS with six, and Kolton Goins led the Panthers with 10. Cumberland Gap made a run and got close, but after three, the score was 26-18 in favor of the visiting Bulldogs. Very quickly, the Bulldogs moved on out to 31-22. At the final buzzer, Claiborne left with the win at 36-30. Leading Claiborne in scoring was Jake Smith with 16. CJ Cox and Kaden Loven both had six. Kaden Williams and Hunter Greer both had three points apiece and Cole Holt had two. Cumberland Gap was led by Kolton Goins with 16. Hudson Harris had six, Jacob Surber had four, Colton Jones and Hunter Wilhoit both had two each.
Varsity girls’ basketball was next on the stage, and the Lady Panthers were looking to sweep both regular season games against their rival. Before the game, Rick Roop played the National Anthem. When the game began, it was the home team taking the lead and with just under four minutes remaining in the first led 10-8. Claiborne then went on a run and had the game tied, but the Lady Panthers responded and led after one period 16-12. The Lady Panthers scored several in transition and slowly began to pull even further ahead. Claiborne was getting beat on the boards, especially on the offensive end, and with less than three minutes remaining in the first half, the home team led 26-15. At the half, the Lady Panthers led 32-17. Hayden Beeler, Gracie Nash, Emrey Glover, Jayla Bailey, Callie Hoskins, and Brinkley Hollin all had scores for Cumberland Gap. Hannah Fugate, Allie Jones, Emma Myatt, Taylor Pressnell, Jordan Fultz, and Genesis Bailey recorded first-half scores for Claiborne. The Lady Bulldogs came out of the break and immediately turned the ball over. Cumberland Gap continued to find baskets and pulled on out to 41-17. Claiborne struggled to find an answer to the Lady Panthers’ efforts on both ends of the floor. After three periods, Cumberland Gap held a comfortable lead, 45-28, despite a late run by Claiborne. With 3:55 left in the game, Cumberland Gap led by 22, 55-33. The minutes and seconds ticked off the clock, and the Lady Panthers won big 64-47. Leading the Lady Panthers in scoring was Hayden Beeler with 21. Emrey Glover had 16. Gracie Nash had 12. Jayla Bailey had five. Brynlee Foster and Callie Hoskins both had three. Brinkley Hollin and Kerry Dixon both had two. Claiborne was led by Hannah Fugate with 14 and Allie Jones had 12. genesis Bailey finished with seven, Taylor Pressnell had six, Jordan Fultz had five and Emma Myatt had three. The Heartland Real Estate Player of the Game was Hayden Beeler. Congratulations Hayden!
The final game of the night featured the Panthers and Bulldogs boys. Claiborne was favored on paper, but the first time these teams met, it was a struggle with Claiborne winning. Cumberland Gap opened up with a 17-1 run before Claiborne strung some baskets together. The Bulldogs rallied and, by the end of one period, were down by eight, 18-10. The Bulldogs stormed back in the opening minutes of the second and by the 4:28 point was down by only four at 18-14. With just under three left in the first half, the game was tied at 20. The Panthers used the three ball to pull out and led at the half, 29-26. The Panthers’ quick start was spurred on by Kaleb Powers with eight. Andy Osborne also had eight at the half. Isaac Brown, Ethan Powell, and Braden Ellison recorded scores as well. Claiborne was led at the half by Ethan Cupp with 14. Brennan Fugate had six. Jake Smith and Tyler Myatt also recorded scores. Claiborne took their first lead at 32-31 soon after coming out of the locker room. The Panthers were showing everyone they were a much-improved team and after three periods were down by only nine at 46-37. The Panthers were down by five with 5:34 remaining and had some momentum. Claiborne did what it took to keep the Panthers behind them and won the game by the final score of 63-52. Leading the Bulldogs to victory was Cupp with a huge 32. Brennan Fugate had 12. Tyler Myatt had eight, Vince Bolton had four. Jake Smith, Brady Hamlin and Evan Thomas all had two very important points. The Panthers were led by Braden Ellison with 15, Kaleb Powers had 14, Andy Osborne had 10, Isaac Brown and Ethan Powell both dropped in six points and Devin Byrd had one point. The Danny England Motors Player of the Game was Ethan Cupp. Congratulations Ethan.
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