FAIRMONT – Paris Bethea and LaKayla Chavis sparked Fairmont to a 16-5 halftime lead en route to a 39-20 victory over West Bladen in the Three Rivers Conference girls basketball opener for both teams.
Bethea led the Lady Tornadoes with 10 points, and Chavis followed with 8 points.
Sophomores Lainey Autry and Makyla Wright threw in first half baskets for the Lady Knights, and teammate Rylee Chadwick sank a free throw.
Wright worked inside for a trio of West Bladen baskets in the 3rd quarter, and Chadwick dropped in a basket and a free throw to trim the Fairmont lead to 24-14.
Chadwick popped in a basket and 2 free throws in the final quarter, and junior Olivia McCarty tossed in a basket.
Wright and Chadwick shared scoring honors for Coach Brian McCleney’s Lady Knights with 8 points each. West Bladen, now 2-1, will host Red Springs on Thursday, January 28th.
West Bladen 3 2 9 6 – 20
Fairmont 12 4 8 15 -39
WB (20) – Lainey Autry 2, Megan Pait, Mallory Bryan, Makayla Wright 8, Rylee Chadwick 8, Brooke Singletary, Hannah Pait, Olivia McCarty 2.
Fairmont (39) – Jakirra White 4, Angelaysha Thompson 2, Paris Bethea 10, LaKayla Chavis 8, Destiny Melvin 4, Secret Davis 6, Myasia Simms 2, Jamia Carmichael 3.