In Sonny Smith Gymnasium, the second half proved to be the difference.
The Warriors and Lady Warriors used strong second halves to record a sweep of Cloudland in varsity action on Monday night.
The Happy Valley girls pulled away to a 52-41 victory, while the Warriors claimed a 65-52 victory.
Girls
Kalee Johnson recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds to lead Happy Valley to the win. In addition, Johnson added four assists and two blocks. Trinity Vines led Cloudland with 13 points.
Cloudland jumped out to a 4-2 lead midway through the first quarter with a Johanna Johnson trey, but Sydney Puckett scored four straight points to push HV to an 8-7 lead at the end of the quarter.
Another Johnson trey put Cloudland back in front to start the period as the Lady ‘Landers extended their lead to five points. However, Adrienne Henegar scored five points in the closing minute to power the Lady Warriors to a 19-17 lead at the half.
The second half saw Happy Valley start the third quarter with a 13-3 run to power ahead. K. Johnson and Kenzie Davis added shots to push the HV lead to 39-26. The Lady ‘Landers used points by Payton Johnson and Shian Strickland to try and close the gap, but Emily Whitaker stopped the run to secure the win.
Bayley McGee added nine points for the Happy Valley cause, while Henegar scored eight points.
Cloudland saw P. Johnson tally 11 points, while J. Johnson had nine points in the game.
Postgame Audio
Happy Valley Head Coach Larry Abel
Cloudland Head Coach Lucas Andrews
Boys
Austin Hicks scored seven of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to power the Warriors to a 65-53 victory at Cloudland. Preston Benfield led Cloudland with 24 points.
Benfield and the ‘Landers jumped out to an early 9-3 lead, and extended the advantage to 15-8. However, Josh Hammonds and Brayden Sams scored four straight points to close the gap to 15-14 at the end of the frame.
Dillion Barlow push HV into the lead early in the fourth, but Colby Birchfield hit a pair of free throws to put Cloudland back in the frame. The teams traded shots as the Warriors held a 31-30 advantage at the half.
In the third quarter. the teams continued to trade points as HV pulled out to a 42-39 advantage. Hicks and Hammonds hit early shots for the Warriors to add some separation, with a 9-2 Happy Valley run securing the win for the Warriors.
Tyler Torbett, Hammonds and Chris Young had 11 points apiece. Jesse Potter finished the with 12 points for Cloudland.
Postgame Audio
Happy Valley Head Coach Chuck Babb
Cloudland Head Coach Gary Harrison
For more pictures, click here.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”179″ gal_title=”112315_CloudlandHVbball”]
