The Cloudland boys came out of the gate firing as they opened up on a 7-0 run and ended the first quarter with a 13-8 lead. The start of the second quarter saw Zac Potter score six points in an 8-0 run to give CHS a 21-8 lead midway through the frame. Michael Hyden tossed in six more points before half to help the ‘Landers run to a 29-17 lead at the break.
The second half was much of the same for Cloudland, as it outscored UH 18-7 in the third quarter to put the game out of reach.
“We told the kids all week that is was going to be a grind it out game,” ‘Lander head coach Brandon Carpenter said. “We thought it would come down to the last shot. University High is a dangerous team, and we were worried about them. The kids stepped up for us.”
Hyden led the way for Cloudland with 17 points. Matthew Potter added in 16 points.
For the ‘Landers, it was also the way they felt they needed to open up conference play.
“I told the kids before we started that this was a must win,” Carpenter said. “We had to get this game if we want to have anything to do in the conference championship.”
In the night’s opening varsity contest, the Lady ‘Landers opened on the game with a 14-2 run and never looked back.
“It was important to come out on that run,” Lady ‘Landers head coach Matt Birchfield said. “I thought it was the turning point in the game. We talked about having to get a run and get after them, and I thought it just turned the game. It started with our defense.”
From that point, CHS raced out to a 23-10 lead at the end of the first and a 48-15 margin at half-time. The Lady ‘Landers put an exclamation point on the victory with an 18-0 run to close the third quarter.
“I thought our effort was real well tonight, and I thought we sit it with our defense,” Birchfield said. “I thought our team defense was real well tonight. We forced them into some turnovers and got some easy baskets.”
Courtney Clarke led CHS with 19 points, while Sydney Miller and Summer Hughes scored 11 points apiece.
Cloudland’s schedule also played victim to the weather, but not with a postponement. The threat of weather moved games last Friday, Jan. 7, at North Greene to Thursday afternoon, Jan. 6. The ‘Landers came away with a 78-37 victory while the Lady ‘Landers saw a late rally fall short 49-45.
Cloudland was scheduled to host county rival Unaka this past Tuesday, Jan. 11.
