The Lady Skins held on in a close game that featured seven lead changes and five ties, slipping past Middlesboro 48-42 in both teams' season finale.
Sarah Adams, a junior forward, the Lady Skins with 19 points.
Cumberland coach John Bond said the physical game couldn't have come at a better time, with the district tournament approaching.
"Tonight's game may have helped us to grow up a little bit, as far as getting physical and aggressive," he said.
Early on, the game seemed to be a repeat of Monday's matchup as Middlesboro took a 7-0 lead. But the Lady Skins kept their composure, and four of the five starters chipped in to give Cumberland an 8-7 lead.
Middlesboro forward Mary Flanary drew a foul as she connected on an acrobatic shot, and then capitalized on her free throw to put the Lady Jackets back on top.
Both teams struggled to put the ball in the bucket over the final two minutes of the quarter before Middlesboro's Sophie Robinson drained a 3-pointer to give the Lady Jackets a 14-9 advantage. Cumberland hit only one of four from the charity line in the period.
Cumberland was unable to gain any ground in the second quarter as the two teams traded baskets. Middlesboro took a 26-20 halftime advantage. Cumberland shot 41 percent (7-for-17) from the free throw line in the first half.
Cumberland controlled the third period. The Lady Skins' defense held Middlesboro to four points in the period, all from Flanary. On the other end, Brianna Cornett, Erika Letanosky and Adams combined to spark a 12-4 run. Adams converted a three-point play to give the Lady Skins a 32-30 lead, their first since the 3:30 mark in the first quarter.
Robinson opened the fourth period by nailing a trey and giving the lead back to the Lady Jackets. Leslie Emmett followed Robinson's trey with a 13-footer in transition to cap a 5-0 run, prompting Bond to call a timeout.
Cornett drained one of two free throws to pull Cumberland within two. A careless Middlesboro pass led to an easy basket by Cumberland center Ashley Massey, knotting the score at 35-35.
Emmett nailed another jumper, but Adams answered with a pair of free throws to tie the game again. Massey then picked off a wayward Middlesboro pass and fired the ball down the court to Adams for a layup that put Cumberland ahead 39-37.
Middlesboro's Brooklyn Jimison converted a three-point play to give the Lady Jackets a 40-39 lead.
A tie-up between Adams and Middlesboro's Shaleesha Coleman, provided what might have been the game's most pivotal moment. Coleman was whistled for a technical foul after apparnently saying something to Adams, who went to the line and hit one of two to tie the score for the fourth time at 40-40.
Flanary and Massey exchanged layups to knot the game at 42-42 with 2:08 remaining. A basket by Adams gave Cumberland the lead for good and sparked a 6-0 run that closed the game.
Cumberland (17-9) will travel to Harlan to face Cawood in the first round of the 52nd District Tournament on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. Middlesboro (14-10) will play Bell County in the 51st District Tournament at Middlesboro on Monday at 6.
MIDDLEBORO (14-10)
Sophie Robinson 3-6 2-2 10, Emily Osborne 1-3 0-0 3, Shaleesha Coleman 0-4 0-0 0, Mary Flanary 4-18 3-4 11, Brooklyn Jimison 1-3 2-3 4, Leslie Emmett 4-6 0-0 8, Ashley Williams 2-4 0-0 4, Danielle Gilbert 1-2 0-2 2. Totals: 16-46 7-11 42.
CUMBERLAND (17-9)
Brianne Cornett 3-10 4-14 11, Brianna Cornett 1-5 2-2 5, Sarah Adams 5-13 6-7 16, Erika Letanosky 3-8 2-3 8, Ashley Massey 3-5 2-7 8, Kendra Russell 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-42 16-33 48.
Middlesboro 14 12 4 12 42
Cumberland 9 11 12 16 48
3-point goals: Middlesboro 3-11 (Robinson 2-4, Osborne 1-3, Coleman 0-1, Gilbert 0-1, Emmett 0-2), Cumberland 2-5 (Brianne Cornett 1-2, Brianna Cornett 1-2, Russell 0-1). Rebounds: Middlesboro 24 (Flanary 10), Cumberland 36 (Massey 13). Assists: Middlesboro 7 (Robinson, Flanary 2), Cumberland 10 (Brianne Cornett 5). Turnovers: Middlesboro 25, Cumberland 29. Fouled out: Middlesboro (Gilbert). Technical fouls: Middlesboro (Coleman).
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