PREPARED TO WIN — The Cleveland Middle varsity Lady Raiders won the TSSMA Area 4 AAA regional championship and ended the regular season with a perfect 14-0 record. Members of the 2010-11 Lady Raiders include Kat Alomar, Jenna Scoggins, Sarah Beth Crump, Hallea McClendon, Taelor Hill, Jamiyah Person, Julie Kimpson, Graicyn Walkup, Courtney Marr, Sophia Stomadiatus, Emilee Spann, BreAsia Ware, Gabby Saliba, Jaclyn Griffith and Timyrah Phillips. Not pictured is Shawnia Anderson.
CMS has not been in a classified TSSMA regional until this season. After receiving a first-round bye, the spirited Lady Raiders faced Athens in a game that would determine who would get to travel to the TSSMA sectional tournament and who would end their season.
Each team member contributed to the win playing aggressive defense and displaying tremendous teamwork. Jenna Scoggins led all scorers with 11 points, Taelor Hill tossed in 10 and Hallea McClendon and Jamiyah Person contributed six points each. Kathleen Alomar and BreAsia Ware played aggressively and also scored five points each. Jaclyn Griffith connected for four points and played excellent defense. Timyrah Phillips and Julie Kimpson contributed two points to the team effort.
Saturday, the Lady Raiders were fired up to defend their undefeated record and win the school’s first TSSMA regional championship. There was no question the Lady Raiders, led by the leadership of floor general Scoggins, had their mind set on victory.
From the jump ball, CMS put on the heat. North Middle’s full-court press was taken full advantage of by the Lady Raiders. Pass after pass, the Lady Raiders shot layups breaking down North Middle’s defensive efforts. The second half was more of the same with the addition of increased Lady Raider defensive teamwork.
“Jenna, our playmaker, did a really good job of communicating on defense for the other team members. I am proud to see her progress steadily the past three years. You can’t underestimate her size. What she lacks in height, she makes up for with heart.” commented CMS Coach Kelli Fulton.
The Lady Raiders put on an shooting clinic in the second half combining for 29 points. CMS became Regional TSSMA champions by defeating North Middle 50-16.
“We are all excited about going to Sectionals. Jenna wanted to be undefeated this year. She said it, she put the challenge out there. We went after it. Now, we will just march on to Sevierville and see what the future holds for us,” said Fulton.
The TSSMA 4 AAA East Sectional will begin Feb. 11t in Pigeon Forge.
