The Elizabethton girls basketball team pulled off another upset on Saturday night.
The Lady Cyclones stunned top-seed Sullivan Central in a 53-34 victory in the District 1-AA semifinals at Happy Valley High School.
With the win, Elizabethton earned a spot in Monday night’s District 1-AA Championship game vs. Sullivan South, and also a home game in the first round of the Region 1-AA tournament on Friday night.
On Saturday, Elizabethton and Central went back-and-forth in the first half.
Kaitlin Bailey had seven first-quarter points, while Cheyenne VanHuss knocked down a large 3-pointer for the Lady Cyclones, but Central took an 11-10 lead into the second quarter off points from Peyton James and Abbey Crawford.
Elizabethton’s Abbey Townsend and Morgan Headrick had four points a piece in the second quarter to help Elizabethton keep pace with the Lady Cougars. The game entered the half knotted in a 20-20 stalemate.
In the second half, it was all Elizabethton.
Bailey exploded for 11 points in the third quarter, and Torrie Roberts and Headrick each added a 3-pointer. That offensive attack also spurred the defense as EHS limited Central to just nine points in the frame to take a 37-29 lead into the final quarter.
Any thoughts of a comeback were quickly erased as Kaylen Shell added a pair of shots and Elizabethton outscored Central 16-5 in the frame to secure the win.
Bailey had 25 points to lead Elizabethton, while Headrick had nine points. Roberts finished with six points.
Sams led Central with 10 points, while Crawford was held to just eight points.
