Cloudland 56, University High 53 (boys)
Cloudland won a thrilling Saturday clash.
The ‘Landers got key points from Bentley Gilbert to put CHS up in the closing seconds to take a crucial District 1-A win.
It was a back-and-forth battle from the opening tip.
UH was able to edge ahead to a 14-9 lead after eight minutes of play, but Cloudland stayed within striking distance in the second quarter trailing 24-20 at the half.
The ‘Landers had a big third quarter by outscoring the Bucs 17-8 to take a 37-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
Kaleb Meredith came up big in the fourth quarter for UH as he scored 12 points in the frame, but Gilbert and the ‘Landers had the answer.
With key shots from Elijah Blair and Dylan Shell along with Gilbert, Cloudland was able to come away with the win.
Victor Hicks led Cloudland with 19 points. Gilbert finished with 12 points – seven of which came in the final eight minutes – while Shell had also had 12 points.
Shell ended the night with 12 points.
Meredith led UH with 19 points.
Unaka 63, Happy Valley 56 (boys)
The Rangers captured a hard-fought non-conference win on Warrior Hill Saturday.
HV took a slim 15-14 lead after eight minutes of play, but the Rangers slipped ahead to take a 30-28 lead into the locker room at the half.
The teams continued to trade shots in the second half.
Unaka pushed the lead to five points after three complete quarters, and then held on in the closing minutes to pick up the win.
Will Sexton and Joseph Slagle had 24 and 23 points, respectively, to pace the Rangers.
Blake Young had 20 points to pace the HV attack. Alex Lunceford had 12 points, while Andrew Clawson added 11 points.
Happy Valley 44, Unaka 36 (girls)
The Lady Warriors used a big second quarter to get a double-digit lead and then held on in the final minutes to take a nonconference victory over the Lady Rangers on Warrior Hill.
With a balanced attack by both squads, HV held a slim 9-6 lead after a quarter of play. Holly Moore and Kadie Bailey scored five points apiece in the second quarter as HV outscored Unaka 14-1 to get some breathing room.
The Lady Rangers saw Lyndie Ramsey and Macy Ensor each hit a pair of 3-pointers as Unaka cut into the Lady Warrior lead.
Ramsey sparked the UHS offense with 15 points in the final quarter, but HV was able to hold on for the win.
Olivia Absher and Moore had 10 points apiece. Emma Blevins had eight points, while Bailey scored seven points.
Ramsey finished with 23 points for the Lady Rangers, while Ensor had seven points.
Elizabethton 63, Knox Catholic 48 (girls)
The Lady Cyclones rallied from an early deficit to take a statement win on Saturday.
Elizabethton trailed by as many as 16 points in the first quarter before cutting the deficit to three points at the half.
EHS outscored Catholic 18-7 in the third quarter, and then limited KC to just seven points to secure the win in the final eight minutes.
Lina Lyon had 22 points for the Lady Cyclones. Torrie Roberts and Renna Lane had 13 and 12 points, respectively, while Morgan Headrick had 11 points.
Cloudland 65, University High 15 (girls)
The Lady ‘Landers rolled to a District 1-A win on Saturday.
Cloudland raced out to a 24-0 first-quarter lead and never looked back against the Lady Bucs.
Isabella Christman led the way with 12 points for the Lady ‘Landers, while Kendall Birchfield had eight points.
Jasmine Birchfield, Heaven Caraway, and Gracie Freeman had seven points apiece.
