By John Clark
BLADENBORO – West Bladen sophomore Natalee Sykes drained a pair of 3-point shots in the final 1:13, but Clinton escaped with a 38-36 victory over the Lady Knights in their Southeastern Athletic Conference girls’ basketball opener Tuesday night.
Larkin Best’s lay-up and Ciara Stuart’s free throw had stretched the Lady Dark Horse lead to 37-30 at the 1:29 mark, before Sykes buried a corner 3-ball. Clinton’s Ava Williford canned a free throw to pad the lead to 38-33, but another Sykes 3-pointer cut the deficit to 38-36 with 5 seconds left.
A pair of missed Clinton free throws gave West another chance, but the Lady Knights couldn’t get a shot off from the backcourt.
“I am proud of the comeback,” said Lady Knight Coach Brian McCleney. “But we were running out of bodies with a short bench and 3 girls fouling out. We missed some scoring chances in the first half and got out-rebounded. Fatigue and not playing in 2 weeks hurt us. I hope we can get back on a normal schedule.”
Senior Kiera Lewis just missed a double-double for West with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals. Sykes tallied 6 points on the pair of 3-balls. Junior Holland Davis finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds. Sophomore Kali Allen added 5 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals. Senior Mallory Bryan grabbed 7 rebounds and had 2 steals.
Stuart led Clinton with 8 points. Williford and Janiya Mosley followed with 7 points each. The Lady Dark Horses connected on 12 of 21 free throws, while West made only 6 of 18 foul shots.
Defenses prevailed in the 1st period. Lewis nailed a 3-point shot to crack the scoring ice at the 2:28 mark, and Best netted a transition lay-up for Clinton to make it 3-2 at the quarter break.
Lewis drove for a lay-up to put West up 5-2, but a Williford 3-ball and 2 baskets by DaNiyah Coxum helped the visitors to leads of 11-5 and 13-7. Junior Alina Chavez powered in a lay-up for West, and Lewis canned a free throw then turned a rebound into a lay-up that whittled the margin to 13-10 at halftime.
A Lewis free throw and a transition lay-up by Bryan pulled the Lady Knights to within 15-13, before Davis banked in a runner and tacked on a free throw for a 16-15 West lead. Stuart turned a rebound into a 3-point play, and Mosley converted a steal into a lay-up and a 20-16 Clinton lead.
Allen swished 2 free throws for West, but Mosley answered with 4 foul shots. Jayla Pickett snatched a rebound away from several opponents and laid it in for a 24-18 Clinton lead. Bryan’s free throw trimmed the margin to 24-19 at the break.
Allen bombed in a 3-ball to begin the final period, and Chavez and Davis banged in follow shots to keep West within 31-26. Lewis turned an Allen assist into a lay-up then drove for another lay-up that sliced the Clinton lead to 32-30 with 2:30 on the clock.
The Lady Knights, now 4-6, will travel to Midway Friday night.
Clinton 2 11 11 14 — 38
West Bladen 3 7 9 17 — 36
Clinton (38) — Ciara Stuart 8, Evan Gillespie, Rubi Davila 2, Jianna Pickett, Jayla Pickett 2, Janiyah Simmons, Ava Williford 7, DaNiyah Coxum 6, Larkin Best 6, Giana Smith, Janiya Mosley 7.
West Bladen (36) — Faith Wren, Mallory Bryan 3, Janavia Adams, Natalee Sykes 6, Holland Davis 5, Kiera Lewis 13, Kali Allen 5, Alina Chavez 4, Zamariah Ward.
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