Brionna Jumper (#23), Lady Braves junior forward, shoots over Highlands’ Kirstyn Lamb (#5) during a home game on Friday, Dec. 12. Jumper scored 13 points as Cherokee won big 74-30 and improved to 4-0 on the year. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
The Lady Braves (4-0) remained unbeaten as they took it to the Highlands Lady Highlanders at home on Friday, Dec. 12. Kendall Toineeta, Cherokee senior point guard, led the way with 23 points and seven steals as the Lady Braves won 74-30. LeLe Lossiah and Brionna Jumper both added 13 points as the Lady Braves rolled.
Friday’s victory capped a busy, three-game week for Cherokee.
“I thought playing back-to-back games, we might come out flat, but we came out with some nice intensity and we did what we needed to do to win the game,” said Chris Mintz, Lady Braves head coach. “We’ve got some things to work on, but it’s just nice to get back into the gym and be playing again.”
Kendall Toineeta (#3), Lady Braves senior point guard, shoots a short jump shot in the first half. She led Cherokee with 23 points on the night.
The Lady Braves definitely came out with intensity, especially in the first half. They jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead extending it to a 16-2 lead with 2:38 left in the first quarter. They would lead 16-6 after the first and would keep the pressure on further extending it in the second quarter to 30-11 with three minutes left before the half.
It was a fast first half with hardly any fouls. Actually, the Lady Braves didn’t shoot one free throw in the first half. They led 39-11 at halftime.
Cherokee kept it up in the third quarter and lead 52-25 going in to the final quarter. Out of the gates in the fourth, they scored 15 unanswered points to lead 67-25. They would score a few more in the waning minutes of the game to take the 75-30 win.
Other Lady Braves scorers included: Macie Welch 4, Bree Stamper 4, Shelby Wolfe 4, Reagan Barnard 3, Tiffani Riggen 4 and Timiyah Brown 6.
Highlands scorers included: April Moss 7, Kirstyn Lamb 9, Annmarie Crowe 2, Madison Lloyd 10 and Courtney Henry 2.
To view and purchase photos from this game, visit https://onefeather.smugmug.com/SPORTS/BASKETBALL/LADY-BRAVES-BASKETBALL-201415/Vs-Highlands-December-12/
