Region 1-AA Girls — Elizabethton stuns Unicoi, 58-53
For the third time in four years, Elizabethton’s girls topped Unicoi County in the second round of the Region 1-AA girls’ tourney with a come-from-behind 58-53 win at Chuckey-Doak Middle Monday night.
It was the same scenario as last year. Unicoi topped Elizabethton in the District 1-AA semi’s en route to the title only to lose their second game in region play.
Elizabethton battled from a 12-point deficit to pull within one at the end of the first half, and took their first lead of the game at the top of the third quarter.
The Lady Cyclones trailed by as much as four in the final stanza, playing without senior Hannah Fritz, who fouled out in the third quarter. Jasmine Treadway and Kelli Culler were clutch. Treadway scored 12 of her 20 points, including eight of nine free throws down the stretch, while Culler hit a big free throw to make it a three-point game with 12 seconds remaining.
Elizabethton held on from there and will face South Greene, who topped Gatlinburg-Pittman in the other semi, for the regional title Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Region 1-A Girls — Cloudland survives North Greene; Lady Dogs fall to Cosby
In what was a dandy at Chuckey-Doak High School, Cloudland avoided the upset with a 31-28 win over stingy North Greene.
North Greene led late in the fourth quarter, but the Lady Highlander guard Brooke Johnson tied things up with a lay-up with 25 seconds remaining in regulation to send it into overtime.
Jordan Miller hit a big trey with 1:15 remaining in the final period and the Lady Huskies failed to tie it at the buzzer.
Johnson led Cloudland with 12 points, while Brooke Hughes scored nine.
In the nightcap, Hampton fell to Cosby 45-39.
The Lady Eagles led by two at the half, and built a seven-point advantage by the end of the third quarter.
Hampton cut it to four in the final quarter, but Cosby guard Whitney Harsell was clutch from the charity stripe down the final stretch to seal the Lady Eagles’ win.
Mikki Oliver led Hampton with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Chelsey Weddle added nine points and 11 boards.
Cloudland will play Cosby for the Region 1-A title Thursday night at 6:30 p.m.
(Be sure to read full game accounts with player and coach quotes in Tuesday’s print edition of the Elizabethton Star.)
