It was a game fitting of the rivalry.
The Lady Cyclones edged the Lady Warriors 58-51 in a thrilling Three Rivers clash on Friday night on Warrior Hill.
In the boys’ game, Elizabethton pulled away to take a 63-44 victory over Happy Valley.
The girls’ game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip.
After the teams traded shots over the first couple of minutes, MaKayla Frazier and Bayley McGee hit back-to-back shots to give HV a 10-4 lead midway through the period. Autumn Lyon answered for EHS, but a Haley Green jumper sparked a 7-2 Lady Warrior run as HV took a 20-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Haley Burleson and Brittany Campbell knocked down shots as the Lady Cyclones went on a 10-2 run to close within one. An Elizabethton run capped off by an Ashley Depew bucket gave EHS a 29-27 advantage at the half.
The third quarter saw the Lady Cyclones score the first four points of the frame. Happy Valley, however, countered with eight straight points over the last four minutes to take a 35-33 lead into the final eight minutes.
The teams traded points over the first three minutes of the fourth, and Elizabethton took control with an 8-1 run. McGee broke the run with a runner for the Lady Warriors to trim the lead to five points with 2:18 to play, but the Lady Cyclones knocked down shots at the free throw line to increase the lead.
Happy Valley pulled back within five points in the final minute, but EHS secured the win hitting 4-of-6 free throws down the final stretch.
Depew led Elizabethton with 13 points, while Burleson tossed in 12 points. Campbell had 11 points. Bailey Montgomery and Autumn Lyon had nine points apiece.
Happy Valley was paced by McGee’s 18 points. Whitaker tossed in 12 points for the Lady Warriors.
In the boys’ game, the teams traded shots in the opening minutes as EHS held an 11-10 advantage at the midpoint. The Warriors, however, used a quick spurt sparked by a Brayden Sams 3-pointer to take a 17-11 lead. Corey Russell and Adam Cornett hit back-to-back treys as Elizabethton pulled back within 19-17 at the end of the first quarter.
Michael Robinson tied the game with the first points of the second quarter, but Dillion Barlow answered for HV. Robinson hit a trey with 4:25 remaining in the first half, and that powered Elizabethton to an 11-2 run to take a 33-24 lead at the half.
The third quarter saw Happy Valley pulled within five points, but Hayden Townsend snapped the Warrior run. Alex Norwood ended the quarter with a dunk as EHS took a 10-point lead into the final quarter.
From there, Elizabethton held the Warriors at bay.
Robinson had a game-high 27 points. Russell had 15 points for EHS, while Cornett had eight points.
Chris Young had 13 points to power Happy Valley, while Sams had seven points. Austin Hicks and Sam Blevins had six points apiece.
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