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The Cavaliers are playoff-bound. The Callaway girls basketball team officially punched their ticket to the state playoffs on Monday, trouncing Rutland 65-25 in the opening round of the Region 2-2A tournament.

The Cavaliers would get off to a quick start in the game, going on a quick 4-0 run to start and never looking back from there as they led wire-to-wire.

The impenetrable Callaway defense was on full display on Monday, especially in the first half when the team allowed just two points in the first quarter and one point in the second. The Hurricanes would not even crack double figures until over halfway through the third quarter. 

The outcome was no longer in doubt heading to halftime as Callaway had a comfortable 28-3 advantage. 

The Hurricanes offense showed some improvements to start the second half, but it had little effect on the outcome as Callaway continued to pour it on, taking a 53-12 lead to the fourth quarter. 

The offense for the Cavaliers was largely spread around with 11 total players getting in the scoring column on the night. Raniya Mahone and Kenzli Howard would lead the charge for the Cavaliers with 14 and 13 points, respectively. Mahone earned herself a double-double with 10 rebounds while stuffing the stat sheet with six steals and four blocks. Howard led the team with three assists on the night.

These two have been constants for Callaway this season and Mahone was announced as a member of the All-Region first team with Howard earning a spot on the honorable mention list on Monday. Joining them as an All-Region selection from Callaway was Aubrey Chelcy, who made the second team. 

Chelcy finished with seven points and eight rebounds on Monday and gives the Cavaliers a real force on both ends of the court.

The Cavaliers are playing some of their best basketball of the season at the right time. The team has won six of its last seven games, with the only loss in that span being a 42-35 loss to region leader Morgan County, which went a perfect 10-0 in region play this season. 

Callaway is 14-8 overall heading into the second round of the region tournament. The Cavaliers will play Westside on Thursday at Morgan County, and a spot in the region championship game is at stake. Callaway and Westside split the regular season matchups. A win over Westside will secure a home playoff game for the Cavaliers.