CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Being able to avenge one of its losses this season, the Cleveland High girls out battled fellow state-ranked Chattanooga Christian, Tuesday evening at Raider Arena.
After dropping a 60-50 decision to the fifth-ranked (Class DII-AA) Lady Chargers a little over a month ago, Coach Bianca Hensley's 14th-ranked (Class 4A) Lady Raiders never trailed on their way to a 61-54 victory, despite 24 points from 2024 Miss Tennessee Basketball finalist MoMo Moore.
"I thought it was a good win today.
Obviously our focus was on Momo — she's such a special player, which means no lead is ever comfortable," remarked Coach Hensley.
"We did a really good job of defending her and making her take shots she probably didn't want to take. Good players are going to get their points and she got 24, but we got the win.
"It was Ariyah's (Huffman) first game back (from an inured ankle just before Christmas) and she did a really good job," the Lady Raider mentor said of her freshman scorer netting 20 points.
Playing their first game of the new year, the Cleveland boys breezed past CCS by a 74-47 tally.
Weather permitting, the Raider squads will head to the north end of the county Friday to open District 5-4A play against Walker Valley.
The Lady Raiders are also slated to host Briarcrest Christian from Memphis, Saturday afternoon at 2.
CLEVELAND GIRLS 61, CCS 54: After the teams traded 3-pointers to open the tangle, Cleveland (12-4) pulled away with an 11-2 streak and was able to push the difference to double digits (20-9), thanks to a buzzer-beating drive by Huffman at the first horn.
The second period was evenly fought with both squads putting up 11 points.
Chattanooga Christian (12-3) came out of the intermission determined to to get back into the contest, netting the first five points before Cleveland sophomore Laney Copeland drained back-to-back 3-pointers, pushing the deficit back to nine points both times.
Using a height advantage, the Lady Chargers went on a 7-0 run to close the gap to just two points (37-35) with all of the points coming in the paint, including a pair of offensive rebound putbacks.
Cleveland answered with 10-4 spurt as 2024 TSSAA All-State Tournament performer Illianis Rodriguez seven points and Huffman drilled a long-range bomb.
Capping a 10-point quarter, Lady Charger Jayden Rainey dropped in the final bucket of the period leaving it a 47-41 difference heading down the stretch.
Moore netted the first four points of the final frame to once again pull the guests within two points, but as they did all night the Lady Raiders responded with a 6-0 spurt, including four from Huffman, for some breathing room.
Not willing to go away, CCS was able to close the gap back to four but Huffman then capped her scoring with back-to-back baskets for an eight-point difference once again.
A drive by Moore and a steal and fast break by Lailani Hatter in the final two minutes made it a two possession game again, but Cleveland went 4-for-4 at te free throw line, two each by Copeland and Rodriguez, in the final 20 ticks to seal the victory.
Along with her 20 markers, Huffman cleared a half dozen rebounds, while Copeland, who drilled four from distance, netted 19 points, pulled down three fourth-quarter caroms, had a pair of steals and dished a couple of assists.
Rodriguez posted nine points, three ricochets, two helps and two thefts. Senior Emma Smith helped out with a half dozen points.
Along with Moore's 24, Rainey posted a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds. Hatter netted 11 markers and snagged five caroms.
Both teams shot well from close range with Cleveland going 13-for-21 (61.9%), while CCS was 18-for-31 (58%). The Lady Raiders went 8-for-27 (29%) from distance, while the Lady Chargers made just 3-of-16 (18.9%) from long range.
The visitors won the battle fo the boards 32-21, but turned the ball over 19 times to just nine for the hosts.
CLEVELAND BOYS 74, CCS 47: After trailing 8-5 early, Cleveland (9-5) netted 14 of the final 17 first period points and never looked back.
Increasing their advantage throughout the second frame, the Runnin' Raiders had doubled the visitors 40-20 when the halftime horn blared.
The onslaught continued after the intermission with a 23-15 Raider run in the third frame before the Chargers were able to outscore the Raider bench 12-11 in the final eight minutes.
Cleveland junior Abe Reinbold came off the bench for 20 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, plus he cleared four ricochets.
Senior Andrew Miolen helped out with 13 markers, while juniors Dee Lovelace, AJ Westfield and Barak Ndegwa, plus senior Maguire Evanseach added eight points.
Lovelace provided a spark off the bench with five rebounds, four steals and three assists, while Westfield cleared eight caroms and dished out a pair of helps.
Senior Tim Matthews garnered a half dozen points, dealt out five "dimes," snatched four ricochets, copped a trio of steals and blocked a shot in the victory.
The Raiders hit 75% (21-of-28) shot from two-point land, but just 26.7% (8-for-30) from distance. CCS (2-13) was held to just 9-of-25 (36%) from inside the 19-foot line and went 8-for-27 (28.6%) beyond it.
Cleveland won the battle of the boards by a 30-20 margin and had just nine turnovers, to 11 for the visitors.
GAME SUMMARIES
Tuesday, Jan. 7
at Raider Arena
Girls Game
Chatt Christian 9 11 21 13 — 54
Cleveland 20 11 16 14 — 61
LADY CHARGERS (54) — MoMo Moore 24, Jayden Rainey 16, Lailani Hatten 11, A. Mathews 3, Fox, Jean, E. Mathews, Covey.
LADY RAIDERS (61) — Ariyah Huffman 20, Laney Copeland 19, Illianis Rodriguez 9, Emma Smith 6, Gravelle 4, Davis 3, I. Smith.
3-POINTERS CCS 3 (Moore 2, A. Mathews); CHS 8 (Copeland 4, Huffman, Rodriguez, Davis, E. Smith).
FREE THROWS: CCS 9-of-13; CHS 11-of-12.
RECORDS: No. 5 (DII-AA) Chattanooga Christian 12-3; No. 14 (4A) Cleveland 12-4.
Boys Game
Chatt Christian 11 9 15 12 — 47
Cleveland 19 21 23 11 — 74
CHARGERS (47) — Jake Fox 24, Nathan DeLoach 8, JT Tolson 5, Ezra Duble 5, Johnson 3, D. Duble 2, Bustamonte, Gentry, Huffine.
RUNNIN' RAIDERS (79) — Abe Reinbold 20, Andrew Miolen 13, Dee Lovelace 8, Maguire Evans 8, Barak Ndegwa 8, AJ Westfield 8, Tim Matthews 6, DeLoach 3, Cason, Williams, James, Giannasio, Beavers, Krepps.
3-POINTERS CCS 8 (Fox 4, DeLoach 2, E. Duble, Tolson); CHS 10 (Miolen 3, Ndegwa 2, Evans 2, Reinbold 2, DeLoach).
FREE THROWS: CCS 5-of-6; CHS 2-of-2.
RECORDS: Chattanooga Christian 2-13; Cleveland 9-5.