Early deficits proved to be too much to overcome for the Elizabethton basketball programs on Saturday.
The Lady Cyclones dropped a 48-35 decision to Class AAA Dobyns-Bennett while the Cyclones fell 72-46 to the Indians in Kingsport.
In the girls’ game, the Lady Cyclones found themselves with an early deficit.
Morgan Headrick scored a jumper and that would be the only points EHS put on the board in the opening eight minutes while Dobyns-Bennett took a 14-2 lead. McKendra Norris hit a pair of 3-pointers to help jump start the Elizabethton offense in the second quarter as the teams played even in the frame. DB maintained a 29-17 lead at the half.
The Lady Cyclones methodically cut into the deficit in the third quarter by holding the Lady Indians to four points in the quarter, and EHS pulled within seven points heading to the final quarter. Dobyns-Bennett, however, stopped the rally to take the win.
Kaylen Shell had 11 points to lead the Lady Cyclones, while Torrie Roberts had seven points. Abbey Townsend and Norris had six points each. Headrick added five points.
Courtney Whitson, who claimed her spot in the DB record books as the highest scoring player, had 26 points to lead the Lady Indians.
In the boys’ game, Elizabethton was unable to keep up with one of the best teams in the region.
The Indians took a 21-8 lead after eight minutes of play as EHS saw Eric Wilson tally five points and Nico Ashley add a trey during the quarter. The Elizabethton offense settled in as Jake Roberts provided an eight-point spark, but the Indians took a 19-point lead into the second half.
Wilson had a strong third quarter, but the Cyclones were unable to cut into the gap. A steady Indians squad secured the win in the final quarter.
Roberts had 17 points to lead the way for EHS, while Wilson finished with 15 points.
Jared Strickland led DB with 13 points.
