Putting up more shots, and hitting them at a much higher rate, from long distance than close in, the sixth-ranked Cleveland girls broke open a tight battle by doubling up Hamilton Heights in the final eight minutes Tuesday evening, at Raider Arena. "After playing on back to back nights, I was proud of how we were able to finish the game down the stretch," commented second-year head coach Bianca Hensley after her Lady Raiders finished off a 69-53 tally for their fifth straight double-digit win. "Hamilton Heights did a really good job of competing and making us work for everything.
"We have many kids on the floor that could be our leading scorer from game to game and tonight especially we did a good job of moving the ball, making the right read, and playing unselfish basketball to get a great look," she said of the Lady Raiders' 15 assists on 20 made baskets. Cleveland sizzled the strings on 13-of-23 (56.5%) shots from distance, plus went 16-for-20 (80%) at the charity stripe.
The hosts only netted 7-of-18 (38.9%) from two-point land. The Lady Raiders (16-4) will return to District 5-4A play with a rematch on Monday's win over Walker Valley Friday evening, before traveling to third-ranked Bearden (20-3) Tuesday.
Cleveland will also travel to McMinn County for a District 5-4A battle Friday, Feb. 7, and go across town to battle two-time defending state champion Bradley Central (21-1), which is sixth-ranked nationally, on Saturday, Feb. 8.
After Hamilton Heights (5-9) netted the o.
