The Cloudland Jr. Lady ‘Landers made their presence known in the inaugural TSMAA State Championships on Saturday despite not getting the result they wanted.
Cloudland dropped a heartbreaking 34-29 overtime decision to Harriman in the Class A State Championship game.
The Jr. Lady ‘Landers took control over.
Cloudland held an 8-4 lead at the end of the first quarter as Sahara McKinney tallied five points in the quarter. Izabella Christman scored four points in the second quarter and McKinney added a trey as Cloudland took an eight-point lead into the half.
In the third quarter, CHS continued to set the tone defensively as they kept Harriman to just four points in the stanza. Ella Benfield hit a big bucket in the frame along with McKinney and Christman shots to push the Cloudland lead to 14 going to the final eight minutes.
The fourth quarter, however, saw momentum switch sides.
Harriman methodically cut into the Jr. Lady ‘Lander lead. Cloudland continued to battle as Katie Baldwin hit a free throw to extend the lead late in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Blue Devils took advantage of 50/50 calls going their direction. After a frantic final minute, Harriman scored as time expired to force overtime.
The Jr. Lady ‘Landers continued to give it their all, but was unable to get back in front in the closing minute of the extra period.
McKinney had 12 points to lead Cloudland. Christman added eight points, while Benfield tallied four points. Baldwin added three points.
The 2018-19 Cloudland Jr. Lady Landers:
Kendall Birchfield, Ella Benfield, Katie Baldwin, Sahara McKinney, Ryan Turbyfill, Kaylee Hughes, Bethany Sluder, Hannah Morgan, Bella Clawson, Melena Roberson, Kenlee Blevins, Mia Clarke, Izabella Christman, Kaitlyn Harrison
For more photos, click here.
