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NEWPORT—Host Cocke County used s big third quarter Monday night to take control and went on to a 56-40 victory over cold-shooting Morristown East.

The Lady Red held a slender 28-27 lead at halftime but outscored the visitors 17-7 in the third frame and was never really threatened the rest of the way.

Paige Niethammer was too much for the Lady Hurricanes to handle as she tossed in 22 points and hauled down 10 rebounds as Cocke County improved to 11-7 for the season.

Doing most of her damage inside and off the glass, Niethammer was the only player in double figures for the Lady Fighting Cockes. Halle Kitchen added nine points and Destiny Reese and Blake Clevenger chipped in eight each for the winners.

Hailey Hall led the Lady Hurricanes, now 8-9 with 16 points. Nearly all of those came on five three-point baskets in the first half as she kept East in the game. Finley Surber added eight points and Ella Wampler scored seven.

It was a miserable shooting night for East. The Lady ‘Canes managed to hit just 3 of 22 two-point shots and 7 of 27 behind the arc. That put them at 10-49 in the game for an ice cold 20.4 percent.

First-year coach Justin Combs said, “You’re not going to beat anybody when you shoot the ball like that. I think some of it was trying to adjust to playing without Harmony, but it wasn’t a very good effort by us from the get-go tonight.

“There’s not a lot to say except that I have to do a better job of getting us ready to play,” he remarked. “We’ve got to find a way to score besides Hailey Hall making three’s. We just missed way too many shots around the rim tonight. We looked out of sorts.

“Give Cocke County a lot of credit. I thought they played well. They had a lot of energy and were very physical inside,” Combs added. “Niethammer did a really good job for them and they did a good job of getting the ball to her.

“We hung around until halftime but we came out in the second half and let it get away from us quick. Paige outscored us by herself in the second half by 15-13.”

It was the first game without point guard Harmony Sullivan who is likely lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in Friday night’s victory over West. Although it’s not official yet, Sullivan is to have an MRI today and will find out definitely.

Cocke County shot 45.6 percent by making 24 of 55 including 4 of 10 from three-point range. The Lady Red had a 45-34 rebounding edge as Niethammer led the way. Surber raked off 14 rebounds for the Lady Hurricanes with Wampler grabbing eight. The home team scored the first six points and still led by 12-6 when East ran off seven straight to take the lead. Hannah Hall sandwiched a basket and two free throws around a three by Hailey in the spurt.

It was 14-14 at the first rest stop and Niethammer scored to open the second stanza. However, Hailey Hall and Surber hit back-to-back threes to give East its biggest lead of the night at 20-16.

But the Lady Fighting Cockes had four different players score in a 10-2 run that put them back in front. The home team opened a 28-22 margin before East scored the final five of the half to pull within one.

Two free throws by Wampler early in the third period put East in front by one but Niethammer scored nine straight as the Lady Red went back in front 37-32.

Surber’s two free throws got East within 37-34 but the home team scored the last eight points to take a 45-34 lead into the fourth quarter.

East scored first but the Lady Red reeled off eight in a row and won it going away.