Cloudland picked up the border battle sweep on Friday night.
The ‘Landers used a key 16-2 run in the third and fourth quarter to pull away to take. 70-55 victory over Avery County (N.C.), while the Lady ‘Landers defense limited Avery in a 41-15 victory in Newland.
In the boys’ game, it was a back-and-forth battle early as neither team was able to get any separation. Cloudland’s Conner Birchfield had six points in the opening eight minutes to lift CHS to a 15-13 lead. The ‘Landers slowly pulled away in the second quarter as Hunter Shell knocked down a pair of 3-pointers.
Cloudland held a 34-24 lead at the half.
The Vikings, however, battled back with a quick run to open the second half as they tied the game midway through the third quarter. Cloudland answered with a run of their own – spanning to the opening stages of the fourth quarter to pull away and never looked back.
Birchfield led the way with 19 points, while Elijah Blair and Shell had 15 points apiece. Bentley Gilbert had 10 points in the win. Hayden Shell finished with nine points.
In the girls’ game, Cloudland jumped out early and the outcome was never in doubt.
The Lady ‘Landers raced out to an 18-2 lead in the first quarter as Avery was unable to hit a field goal in the quarter. The defensive struggle continued as CHS was limited to four points in the second, but Avery was unable to take advantage as they hit their first field goal in the closing seconds of the half.
CHS maintained a 22-9 lead.
The Lady ‘Landers continued to control the game in the second half and outscored Avery 11-2 in the final quarter to secure the win.
Jasmine Birchfield had 12 points in the win. Gracie Freeman tallied 10 points, while Kaylen Fields finished with nine points.
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