Yetis Make History with First-Ever Region 10 Championship

Cleveland Community College made history at the Region 10 Tournament, stringing together three impressive wins to capture the conference championship for the first time in program history.

The Yetis opened the tournament with an 81-57 quarterfinal win over Wake Technical Community College on March 5, followed with a 71-53 semifinal victory over Brunswick Community College on March 6, and then sealed the title with a 71-53 championship-game win over Fayetteville Technical CC on March 7.

Cleveland came out firing in the opening round against Wake Tech and never let up. The Yetis led 20-17 after the first quarter, stretched the margin to eight by halftime, and then pulled away with a dominant 24-point fourth quarter. De'Mya Phifer put on a shooting clinic, pouring in 30 points behind 10 made three-pointers. Kari Lee stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals, while La'Tayshia Andrews gave the Yetis a big spark off the bench with 16 points. Ravin Brooks added nine points on three made threes, and Cleveland's ball movement and defensive pressure showed up in 19 assists and 12 steals.

The Yetis kept rolling in the semifinals against Brunswick. Cleveland jumped out early with a 22-11 first-quarter edge and stayed in control the rest of the way. Phifer once again led the charge with 18 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Jada Whitesides added 14 points, highlighted by a perfect 8-for-8 night at the free-throw line, while Kiya Shavers chipped in 12 points. Kari Lee contributed eight points and six assists, and Sydnie Enste controlled the glass with eight rebounds to go with six points. Cleveland also made its presence felt defensively, collecting 10 steals and four blocks on the way to the championship game.

In the title game, the Yetis delivered another complete performance to take down Fayetteville Tech and bring home the Region 10 crown. Cleveland once again set the tone early, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter and never surrendering control. Lee led the championship effort with 24 points, four assists, two steals, and a block. Enste added a strong inside presence with 15 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double, while Phifer finished with 11 points and nine rebounds. Whitesides turned in another steady all-around game with nine points and five assists, and Shavers added eight points. The Yetis dominated the boards with 39 rebounds and got key contributions throughout the lineup to finish the tournament on top.

Across the three-game title run, Cleveland showcased the balance, depth, and poise that defined its postseason push. Phifer delivered big scoring performances throughout the tournament, Lee consistently filled every column of the stat sheet, and Enste gave the Yetis a reliable force in the paint. With contributions from Whitesides, Shavers, Andrews, Brooks, and the rest of the roster, Cleveland put together a championship performance worthy of the history books.

The Yetis' Region 10 Tournament run was more than just three wins in three days. It was a statement finish and a milestone moment as Cleveland Community College claimed its first women's basketball conference championship in school history.