It was a rough night for the Cloudland basketball teams.
The ‘Landers dropped a 50-48 overtime decision to North Greene, while the Lady ‘Landers came up short 58-50 in a crucial District 1-A battle.
In the boys’ game, it was a tight-knit game from the opening tip.
Cloudland jumped out to a slim 14-12 lead as Hunter Shell, Robert Leeper and Josh Blair each hit two shots apiece in the opening eight minutes.
Defense reigned supreme in the second quarter as the ‘Landers were held to just a Leeper 3-pointer in the frame, but the CHS defense held the Huskies to just six points in the quarter. NG held an 18-17 lead at the half.
The second half provided to be much the same as the teams traded shots and the lead. Blair tallied nine points in the quarter, while Shell added seven of his own to push Cloudland to a 36-34 advantage going to the final quarter.
Over the final eight minutes in regulation, neither team was able to get any separation from the other. The ‘Landers were unable to convert a last-second lay-up for the win as the game went to overtime.
In the extra period, CHS got a pair of free throws from Blair, but was unable to add a field goal in the extra four minutes. NG got buckets from Chase Malone and Turner Bailey to take their first win in Roan Mountain since 2005.
Leeper finished with 18 points, while Blair tallied 17 points. Shell added 13 points for Cloudland.
Bailey led North Greene with 17 points.
In the girls’ game, Cloudland looked was in control early.
Mandy Benfield scored six first-quarter points to help power CHS to a 14-9 lead after a quarter of play. Senior Trinity Vines took over in the second quarter with seven points, but a late NG run closed the CHS lead to 28-25 at the half.
A balanced Cloudland attack maintained the 3-point advantage going to the fourth as the teams played even over the third quarter. In the final stanza, North Greene was able to take control by limiting Lady ‘Lander opportunities and holding CHS to one field goal over the final eight minutes to take the win. The Lady Huskies outscored Cloudland 19-8 in the final stanza.
Vines led Cloudland with 19 points, while Benfield added 10 points. Stacia Wilson and Kenzie Birchfield had seven and six points, respectively.
Charlotte Roschkowki led the way with 21 points.
