Cavs sweep hardwood showdown

Published | Nov 23, 2024

GIRLS: East Burke 83, Draughn 41

The host Draughn girls basketball team looked to take advantage early in the fierce rivalry showdown with East Burke off a Kenley Berry basket and a Mati Kincaid 3-pointer.

The Lady Cavaliers could then pick up steam, taking the lead off two Braelyn Stilwell 3-pointers.

EB’s first-quarter lead grew to 17-5, while Draughn battled back in the second quarter, with two more 3s by Kincaid and Taylor Holder putting in seven points, only to trail 41-20 at the halftime break.

Stilwell scored ten second-half points to finish with a game-high 26 points, and Macy McNeil scored all 13 of her points in the final two periods of play to lead the way for EB.

“We were not off to a good start (in this game) but we are getting better each game this season, said East Burke coach Crystal Bartlett. “We can continue to get better by improving and staying healthy, these girls play hard.”

Kara Brinkley posted a double-double for the Lady Cavaliers (3-0) of 19 points and 11 rebounds, with first-year player Arieanna Williamson making key rebounds and scoring eight points.

Other EB scorers included Journi McDowell (7), Addie Brittain (4), Anna Coble (2), Addison Sisk (2), and Sydney Pyatte (2).

Kincaid made two more 3-pointers in the second half to finish with a new career-high of 15 points, and Holder also reached double figures for the Lady Cats with 11 points.

Berry could only manage four points and put in defensive work on the glass.

Other Draughn scorers included Jacey Davis (7), Bailey Winkler (2), and Makenzie Powell (2).

BOYS: East Burke 74, Draughn 53

The Cavaliers built a 24-10 first-quarter lead, but the Wildcats made it a game. Each squad scored 14 second-quarter points, and EB came away with a 14-13 third-quarter advantage.

A fourth-quarter basket by Cannon Morrison looked to put the win away, extending the Cavaliers’ lead to 20 despite multiple Wildcat efforts from Kayden Lytle, Connor Houston, and Blair Cooper to cut into the lead.

Morrison and Jay Dixon scored 14 points each as Barger Shook (12), Owen Hartmann (10) , and Luke Demiter (10) scored in double figures.

Shook also led the Cavaliers in rebounding and made a couple blocked shots.

Dautry Ragle (9) and Carter Bennett (5) joined EB’s scoring sheet.

Cooper (13), Houston (12), and Lytle (12) led the Wildcats with Lytle scoring eight points in the fourth quarter.

Johnny March (5), Cayden Lewis (5), Henry Cooper (2), Blaine Blackwell (2), and Emery Clark (2) joined Draughn’s scoring.

The Cavaliers return home to host county rivals Patton (Tuesday) and Freedom (Wednesday).

The Wildcats stay home, taking another shot at their first win Tuesday, hosting R-S Central.