Cloudland overcame the odds to get back from a double-digit deficit. However, the ‘Landers came up short at the end.
Cloudland stormed back in a 59-54 loss to North Greene in the District 1-A semifinals on Saturday at Daniel Boone High School.
With the loss, the ‘Landers will take on South Greene in the Monday’s consolation game and travel for the opening round of the Region 1-A tournament.
Against the Huskies, Cloudland battled back from a 7-2 deficit with shots from Robert Leeper, Josh Blair and Brinkley Mull to tie the game. North Greene, however, hit a shot in the closing seconds to take a 12-10 lead into the second quarter.
Cloudland fell victim in the second quarter to an NG run. The Huskies went on a 15-2 – including holding the ‘Landers scoreless over the final 3:30 of the quarter. That gave North Greene a 31-16 advantage at the half.
The Huskies maintained the advantage over the first four minutes of the second half. However, Leeper and Blair jumped started a Cloudland run that saw CHS reel off 15 unanswered and closed the gap to 42-41 at the end of the third.
Preston Benfield shot Cloudland head to open the final eight minutes. The teams traded points for most of the quarter as Noah Arnett hit a pair of free throws to tie the game at 52-52 with 1:57 to play.
The Huskies, however, took care of business at the line to take the win.
Benfield led Cloudland with 17 points, while Arnett tallied 11 points. Leeper finished with eight points in the game.
Jared Weems had 20 points to lead North Greene.
