Lady 'Clones clamp down on Jr. Bucs

By Jeff Birchfield
STAR STAFF

   JOHNSON CITY -- Defense ruled Tuesday night at Brooks Gym on the campus of ETSU where the Elizabethton Lady Cyclones handed University High a 48-28 loss in non-conference action.
   The Junior Bucs' Meredith Reardon penetrated the EHS defense on the first possession garnering a bucket and free throw to put UH ahead 3-0. After that, the Lady 'Clones clamped down, allowing only seven field goals and 25 points the rest of the game.
   "We did a pretty good job defensively," admitted EHS head coach Mike Wilson. "We had a little problem with shot selection periodically. We shot the ball real quick and weren't choosy with our shots. We didn't rebound as well as I hoped in the first half, but we did in the second half.
   "Defensively, we did do a good job. Tanya (Dykes) always gets a bunch of steals. You can usually count on her for that. She wasn't having the best shooting night, but you can get points anyway off her steals."
   The sophomore sensation recorded six steals to lead the Cyclone defensive effort. "We came out just wanting to play because this was at the university and have fun," stated Dykes. "We still were trying hard, but we wanted to have some fun.
   "We've been playing the same defense all year. We have all been trying hard this year and playing defense the same way we've been doing. There's been nothing different all year."
   It may have been nothing different, but University High had only scored 18 points going into the final quarter.
   Her team's lack of offensive production baffled UH head coach Amy Horton. "A little pressure on us and we tend to turn the ball over," said Horton. "We had more turnovers than normal tonight and that really hurt us. We did well off the boards and had quite a few rebounds. We just couldn't connect on the offensive ones."
   When Elizabethton needed offense, they turned to the inside-outside combination of Beth Holtsclaw and Rikki Baughman. Both led EHS in scoring with 14 points apiece, while Holtsclaw added a game-high 11 rebounds to record a double-double.
   Lacy Lane chimed in with 8 points for the Lady Cyclones and Dykes also netted eight.
   Other EHS players got in on the act Tuesday night. Stephanie Schumaier recorded a Holtsclaw-like put back basket right before the half to give EHS its first double-digit lead at 22-11. Point guard Brandi Fairman not only ran the offense, but was second on the team with four rebounds.
   "I think we got a good game from the people that we have to have big games from," said Wilson. "They came to play. I thought a lot of people did good and we got good efforts from a lot of people. I was pleased with the whole bunch."
   The Lady Cyclones led 12-8 at the end of one quarter, despite a determined Reardon scoring six points in the quarter. By halftime, the lead was stretched out to ten points. In the third quarter, the lead ballooned to 20, thanks to a couple of treys by Baughman.
   By the time Jordan Crowe scored the last Lady Cyclone points in the fourth quarter, the margin had increased to 25. The Reardon name provided most of the Lady Buc offense with Meredith scoring 14 and Moninna adding 7 points.
   One area where (10-12) UH could look to as a positive was rebounding. The Lady Cyclones held only a 29-27 advantage on the glass with Crystal Evans leading the Lady Junior Bucs with 8 boards.
   "She does a great job," said Horton. "She is that player that steps out of nowhere and grabs the ball. She can jump. I would just like to see her get a little more physical on offense. But, on defense she does a good job to get the ball."
   With the win Elizabethton improves to 15-6 before finishing off the regular season Thursday night at Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett.