By Michael Lindsay
Tuesday’s showdown in Crossville featured two of the Upper Cumberland’s best girls basketball teams as #2 York Institute (14-2) defeated Cumberland County (13-3), 49-36.
“Defensively, we were solid,” said York head coach Michael Green. “Cumberland is a great team and I expect them to make a run at the state tournament, Our defensive effort was key.”
Scoring was scarce through three and a half quarters Tuesday until the Dragonettes pulled away late from the free-throw line.
“We struggled offensively in the first half,” Green said. “Their traps affected us, and we had trouble with it. That was good experience for us, though. At halftime we made adjustments.”
Sisters Gabby and Reese Beaty led the Dragonettes in scoring with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Cumberland County’s Abby Houston led the Lady Jets with 17.
Cumberland County held a narrow 8-7 lead at the end of the first period following a Jorja Anderson buzzer-beating three-pointer. The Lady Jets maintained their narrow lead at halftime, 19-17.
York flipped the script in the third quarter as they held Cumberland County to 6 points in the frame.
“We changed it up a little defensively in the third quarter, and that got us the lead,” Green said.
After three periods, York led 29-25.
In the fourth quarter, the Dragonettes withstood every shot from Cumberland County, maintaining at least a two-possession lead for the duration of the quarter. York went 10-11 from the free-throw line to close out the 49-36 victory.
Up next for the Dragonettes is their District 5AA opener as they host Sequatchie County (7-8) on Friday.
Cumberland County returns to District 7AAA play as they host #3 Livingston Academy (13-3)
York Institute (49): Gabby Beaty 14, Reese Beaty 13, Emy Crabtree 7, Raylee Werner 7, Ellie Leffew 4, Emma Cooper 4
Cumberland County (36): Abby Houston 17, Aliyah Hawkins 8, Jorja Anderson 6, Alexis Carroll 3, Jalynn Baldwin 2
