Miss Basketball Finalist

[Sportyz]

Also it's always nice to be recognized for all the hard work you put in but there's no need to argue about it because the Miss Basketball will be Alexa Middleton she has earned it and to the rest of the top players don't feel to bad for them they will be playing for great D1 programs and will hopefully go on to have great careers.

[KevB1990]

The Grainger County kid that you speak of scored 19 points Wednesday night against a Super Good Elizabethton team.  I would hardly call that shutting her down.  She averages 20.4 points per game on the season, so I think she maintained her average against a very good team.  No doubt about it, Elizabethton has a better team than Grainger and they deserved to win the game.  But, we are talking about an individual award here.  Not, one that a team wins. I would expect that next year both of the twins will get serious consideration for this award. But, the young ladies that are selected in AA this year have had stellar 4 year careers, all of them scoring over 2,000 career points, and in the case of the Grainger County kid, also collecting over 1,300 career rebounds.  By the end of next season, those twins will be approaching those types of numbers as well.  Best of luck to them and their team.  They are very good.  I just wanted to clarify that a 19 point game against good competition is a bit different than being shut down.

And to boot, 19 points with an ankle sprain.

[CyclonePrider]

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[CyclonePrider]

I stand corrected on Dorman they lost last night in the 4A final 4. But the twins are averaging 22 and 24 points per game and that's with a deep bench.

[coachh17]

I stand corrected on Dorman they lost last night in the 4A final 4. But the twins are averaging 22 and 24 points per game and that's with a deep bench.

Their averages are not that high. I do not know the exact numbers, but I would think Kayla is averaging more like 17 points a game and Kelci around 14. That would be 31 a game combined. The team averages 67. Robinson, Bradley, Pietrowski, and Kiser all probably average between 5 and 8 points per game. Perry, Schubert, McCrary, and Burleson likely average between 1 and 5 points a game. Maybe a Cyclone statistician will provide us with the averages?

[lawnman]

Their averages are not that high. I do not know the exact numbers, but I would think Kayla is averaging more like 17 points a game and Kelci around 14. That would be 31 a game combined. The team averages 67. Robinson, Bradley, Pietrowski, and Kiser all probably average between 5 and 8 points per game. Perry, Schubert, McCrary, and Burleson likely average between 1 and 5 points a game. Maybe a Cyclone statistician will provide us with the averages?

That sounds about right and Etown might know more about it.

[etownsparky]

I don't keep stats either, but I'd say coachh is about right.

[BigBama42]

You would have had to be at game to see how our defense shut down Grainger! It was total domination! We did put a twin up against this girl and felt that she outplayed this young lady who is in the running for Ms Basketball. Our best game of year, hands down! But that is old news! On to STATE!

[CyclonePrider]

J C Press.

 

ELIZABETHTON — It's the time of year where teams that reach the state tournament usually get an unexpected boost.

 

Elizabethton freshman Haley Burleson took over point-guard duties after an injury to senior starter Sarah Bradley, and the Marosites twins did their usual thing with 38 points in a heart-thumping 66-63 victory over Christian Academy of Knoxville in a Class AA girls basketball sectional at Treadway Gym on Saturday night.

 

The Lady Cyclones (29-3) earned their second straight trip to the state tournament, and their fifth since 2005. Quarterfinal pairings will be announced today during a blind draw in Murfreesboro.

 

Everything came down to the final few seconds, and the Lady Cyclones punched their 'Boro ticket with a defensive gem from Kelci Marosites.

 

After a turnover with seven seconds remaining, CAK put the ball in the sure hands of Anna Hammaker.

 

The junior guard dribbled toward the top of the key, and backed away a step as Marosites stayed on her tight. When Hammaker released the shot, Marosites got a hand on it to force the air ball as the buzzer sounded.

 

“I wasn't nervous,†said Marosites. “I just knew I had to defend her on that play. I knew she was going to shoot the ball, and it had to be a three.â€

 

Elizabethton head coach Len Dugger said, “I saw Kelci strapped down, and she wasn't giving any ground. Kelci did a good job containing her.â€

 

As for Burleson, her true value couldn't be measured with statistics. Bradley was the “heart and soul†of the team, said Dugger, but Burleson took the helm late in the third quarter and steered the team through choppy waters.

 

“I was ready for it,†said Burleson. “I've worked all season, and it was my time. God helped me through it, so all the glory goes to Him. And I can't thank the coaching staff enough for getting me where I am and having confidence in me.â€

 

For Twitter video interviews with the Lady Cyclones' players, follow Douglas Fritz @FritzBlitzzz.

 

After the game, Dugger said Bradley was diagnosed with only a bruise and could be ready for the state tournament.

 

Elizabethton jumped out to a big 25-10 lead early in the second quarter, but a poor finish to the first half allowed CAK to pull within 32-27 at the break with an 8-0 run.

 

Nine times in the second half, the Lady Warriors battled within two points or tied the game. But the Lady Cyclones never relinquished the lead.

 

Part of the reason was the rock-solid post play of Sarah Robinson and Megan Pietrowski. They combined for 24 points and 22 rebounds with Robinson getting 12 and 13.

 

“At the beginning of the season, our post play was a little suspect,†said Dugger. “But I think our post game has improved a great deal.â€

 

The key moments of the fourth quarter came when Kayla Marosites hit a bucket to give the Lady Cyclones a 52-50 lead with 5:45 to go. Then Kelci Marosites scored to make it 54-50.

 

Kayla then followed with a 3-ball, forcing a CAK timeout. Marosites finished with 24 points.

 

The Cyclones maintained at least a four-point lead until Hammaker hit a free throw and later followed with a bucket to make it 63-62 with 35 seconds left in the game.

 

The Cyclones made their share of mistakes down the stretch.

 

“I think CAK did a great job defensively,†said Kayla Marosites. “Yes we did make mistakes, but the next game we just need to not make as many.â€

 

With the Lady Cyclones trying to run out the clock, Robinson caught the ball on the baseline and was driving toward a wide-open layup. Kelsey Naler wrapped her up, and was called for a controversial intentional foul with 20.5 seconds left.

 

“Everybody in the gym knew we were fouling with intent,†said CAK head coach Steve Denny. “There's a difference between that and fouling intentionally.â€

 

Robinson made both free throws, with the first one bouncing high off the iron and falling through.

 

CAK fouled Burleson with 17.3 seconds left, and she made one of two tosses to finish out Elizabethton's scoring.

 

Kelci Marosites totaled 14 points and three assists.

 

Hammaker finished with 23 points and three steals for CAK (20-14), which got 16 points and 11 rebounds from Kaycee Heitzman. Naler added 11 points and nine rebounds while Brianna Bryant added 10 points.

 

 

 

Read more: Lady Cyclones bound for state tournament | Johnson City Press http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/article/115166/lady-cyclones-bound-for-state-tournament#ixzz2um5kZaAr

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[DialItUp]

I am biased but I sure would like to see Sissom from Cannon County get it for AA. This is her 3rd year in a row being nominated and the young lady has had such a fantastic career. I would love to see her get the recognition. 

[jlongmire]

CyclonePrider,

Your devotion to Elizabethon is commendable but read the post. This is a post for Miss Basketball 2013-2014. As far as I can see nether twin was a finalist. Maybe you can start another post to campaign for next two years. Get a life!

[CyclonePrider]

Kind of like Grainger County being Ranked Number One all year. The Nashville writers think that East Tennessee Stopps in Knoxville.