BLADENBORO – Sophomores Rylee Chadwick and Makayla Wright combined for 33 points Tuesday to lead West Bladen to a 55-20 Three Rivers Conference girls’ basketball victory over South Columbus.
Chadwick filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, 2 assists and 2 steals. Wright fired in 15 points and added 3 steals and 3 rebounds. Junior Olivia McCarty grabbed 6 rebounds and tallied 6 points. Freshman Megan Pait racked up 5 points, 3 steals and 2 assists. Freshman Mallory Bryan added 5 points.
“After Friday the girls worked hard at practice, and it paid off with some really good things tonight,” said West Bladen Coach Brian McCleney. “We needed this one for our well-being and our confidence.”
Wright and Chadwick opened the game with baskets, and junior Hannah Pait hit a free throw, then stole the ball and pitched ahead to Chadwick for a lay-up. Wright drove for a lay-up, and Chadwick pulled up for a 10-footer then sent an in-bounds pass to junior Anniyah Phillips for a lay-up and a 13-2 lead.
Chadwick put back a pair of follow shots and drove for a lay-up to start the 2nd period. Phillips flipped in a follow, and a Chadwick assist resulted in a Wright lay-up. Wright and Bryan sank free throws, and McCarty muscled in a follow. Megan Pait sent a pass out to sophomore Azillyah McDonald who beat the halftime buzzer with a corner jumper that gave the Lady Knights a 29-6 lead.
“I thought we were much better offensively in the first half,” noted McCleney. “We moved the ball really well and cut down on our turnovers.”
Wright flipped in a runner then converted an assist from Megan Pait into a lay-up to begin the 2nd half. Megan Pait stole the ball and raced for a lay-up, Chadwick knocked down 2 free throws, and McCarty banged in a follow as the West lead grew to 39-15.
Chadwick and Wright drove for lay-ups, Wright powered in a follow, and freshman Brookee Singletary cashed in a free throw in the final period. Megan Pait nailed a 3-point shot, and Bryan tossed in a pair of lay-ups – one off of an assist from sophomore Cassi Humphrey. A McCarty lay-up closed out the Lady Knight scoring.
Alexis Jordan pumped in 10 points to lead the Lady Stallions, and center Bella Coleman followed with 6 points.
It was Senior Night at West Bladen, but the Lady Knights don’t have any seniors and only 3 juniors. The victory improved West’s record to 4-3 in league play and 6-4 overall. “I am really proud that this group of mostly freshmen and sophomores will finish with a winning record,” said McCleney. West Bladen will host East Bladen Friday.
South Columbus 2 4 6 5 – 20
West Bladen 13 16 10 16 – 55
SC (20) – Kyleigh Reeves 3, Jordane Cribb, Bella Coleman 6, Alexis Jordan 10, Bethany Lupo 1, Grace Byrd, Hailey Ward, Hailey Cook, Denisha Scott, Laney Cribb.
WB (55) – Megan Pait 5, Mallory Bryan 5, Cassi Humphrey, Makayla Wright 15, Azillyah McDonald 2, Rylee Chadwick 18, Kirsten Warwick, Brookee Singletary 1, Hannah Pait 1, Olivia McCarty 6, Anniyah Phillips 2.
About Author
