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Callaway took it to Elite Scholars Academy on Monday in a 54-26 victory that saw the Cavaliers clinch a playoff spot and inch one step closer to a region championship game. 

The Cavaliers put the hammer down early and took a 17-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Lacey Thomas and Jailyn Baker set the tone early with six points each in the first quarter and kept that level for the entire game. Aniyah McFarland scored five of her 12 points in the first quarter to spark the offense to life.

The Cavaliers offense stalled a bit in the second quarter, but they were still able to stretch out their lead to 24–8 heading into halftime. It only got better from there as the Cavaliers suffocated the life out of the game in the second half. 

The Cavaliers defense was stifling all evening and never allowed more than nine points in a single quarter of the game. 

Thomas was the game’s leading scorer and finished with 16 points but also garnered 11 rebounds, nine steals and eight blocks in a complete effort. McFarland chipped in with 10 and showed her range by connecting on two 3-pointers. Malaysia Parham offered a spark off the bench and finished with seven points. 

Tra’Niya Mitchell was getting into passing lanes all night and finished with a whopping 10 steals. Keiyunna Maddox led the Cavaliers in assists with six. 

The only negative for the Cavaliers was their 30% shooting from the free throw line, something that will need to be more efficient going forward as the games get tougher for the Cavaliers. 

Callaway is now in the semifinals of the region tournament and will match up with Landmark Christian at Columbia High School on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.