By John Clark
FAIRMONT – A 15-2 2nd quarter spurt propelled Fairmont to a 24-10 halftime lead and eventual 56-31 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls basketball victory over West Bladen Wednesday night.
Senior Lainey Autry sparked the Lady Knights to the early lead, sinking a free throw, turning a Megan Pait assist into a lay-up then burying a 3-point shot from the left wing. Autry stole the ball and dashed for another lay-up and an 8-7 lead, but a lay-up and 2 free throws from 6-foot sophomore Taniya Simms pushed Fairmont ahead 9-8 at the quarter break.
Myasia Simms dropped in 2 baskets for the Lady Tornadoes in the 2nd period, and Paris Bethea and Shamiah Smith threw in 3-point shots to highlight the 15-2 run that produced a 24-10 halftime lead. Juniors Brookee Singletary and Kiera Lewis sank free throws for the Lady Knight points.
Senior Rylee Chadwick powered in a follow shot then flipped in a runner for West in the 3rd quarter. Sophomore Holland Davis tossed in a free throw, and Autry drilled in a 3-pointer from the right wing. Sydney Jacobs hurled in a 3-ball and 5 more points for Fairmont, and Taniya Simms added 4 points as the lead grew to 39-18.
Autry popped in a runner, and Lewis drove for a pair of lay-ups for the Lady Knights in the final period. Chadwick and Autry beat the Fairmont defense down the floor for back-to-back transition lay-ups, and senior Kirsten Warrick rattled in a corner 3-ball.
Autry topped all scorers with 15 points for West Bladen and added 3 steals and 2 rebounds. Lewis finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Chadwick followed with 4 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Singletary snatched 5 rebounds, and Pait had 2 rebounds.
Shamiah Smith led the Lady Tornadoes with 14 points, and Taniya Simms and Jacobs tallied 12 points each.
West Bladen, now 1-8 in SAC-7 play and 8-10 overall, will host Red Springs Friday night. Fairmont, now 9-1 in league play and 19-3 overall, will entertain East Bladen Friday night.
West Bladen 8 2 8 13 – 31
Fairmont 9 15 15 17 – 56
West Bladen (31) – Lainey Autry 15, Megan Pait, Holland Davis 1, Rylee Chadwick 4, Kirsten Warrick 3, Brookee Singletary 3, Kiera Lewis 5, Kali Allen, Alina Chavez.
Fairmont (56) – Paris Bethea 7, Sydney Jacobs 12, Shaniah Smith 6, Shamiah Smith 14, Kearstin Hunt, Amyrikal Vaught 1, Zariah Locklear, Taniya Simms 12, Myasia Simms 4.
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