Cleveland Rallies

BY WAYNE PHILLIPS
SPORTS EDITOR

Down 15-2 at the outset of the game, Cleveland didn't let that bother them one bit as they turned in a torrid second half and came from behind to knock off perennial power Oak Ridge 51-37.

Oak Ridge, the only five-time winner of this Classic, came out of the gates hitting on all cylinders with a 17-6 first quarter lead, and they were still up 27-20 at intermission.

But Cleveland's zone defense was a blanket in the second half. The Lady Raiders got the lead late in the third and pulled into a 39-35 advantage at the horn. The Lady Wildcats were held to only two points, both free throws, in the fourth period.

Cleveland (13-1) was led by Cierra Anderson with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Q'Schara Brown, an Austin Peay signee, scored 15 and grabbed eight boards.

Oak Ridge lost for only the second time against 10 wins. Whitney Mitchell led the way with 17 points. Dequesha McClanahan, a Winthrop signee, scored 10.

Cleveland (51): King 2-9 2-2 7, Q'Schara Brown 5-14 5-8 15, Finnell 2-50-0 5, Latham 0-2 1-2 1, Cierra Anderson 8-20 3-5 19, Delay 1-1 2-2 4, Caprone 0-0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 18-51 13-19 51.

Oak Ridge (37): Whitney Mitchell 7-9 2-4 17, Dequesha McClanahan 4-180-0 10, Booker 0-3 0-0 0, Hitchcock 0-2 0-0 0, Booker 1-4 1-2 3, Clark0-3 0-0 0, Holmes 0-0 0-0 0, Hazzard 3-5 1-2 6. TOTALS:  15-44 4-837.

3-Point Goals: CHS-2 (King, Finnell). OR - 3 (McClanahan 2, Mitchell).

Score by quarters:
Cleveland    6    14    19    12--51
Oak Ridge    17    10    8    2--37