By John Clark
BLADENBORO – Sophomore Monica Washington recorded a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds Friday night to lead Red Springs to a 54-42 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls’ basketball victory over West Bladen.
The Lady Knights trailed 41-24 in the 3rd quarter when senior Rylee Chadwick popped in an 8-footer, and senior Lainey Autry nailed a 15-footer from the left wing. Autry buried a 3-pointer from the corner, and Chadwick tossed in a baseline jumper. Junior Kiera Lewis’ free throw brought West to within 41-34, but guard Nakira Hunt’s lay-up kept Red Springs up 43-34 at the quarter break.
Washington powered in 4 baskets in the first 4 minutes of the final quarter to widen the gap to 54-35. Junior Brookee Singletary sank a free throw for West, Chadwick flipped in a runner then drained a 3-ball, and Lewis drove for a lay-up.
“We couldn’t handle Washington,” said West Bladen Coach Brian McCleney. “She is one of the top 2 players in our league. Our girls did everything they could. They played hard.”
West Bladen, now 1-9 in the SAC-7 and 8-11 overall, will host St. Pauls Tuesday night. Red Springs, now 6-4 in league play and 12-10 overall, will travel to East Bladen Tuesday. night.
Chadwick poured in 24 points and had 2 steals to lead the Lady Knights. Autry followed with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Lewis pulled down 6 rebounds, and sophomore Alina Chavez grabbed 4 rebounds and had 2 steals. Junior Megan Pait snared 3 rebounds.
Senior Sydney Bell scored all 15 of her points for Red Springs in the 1st half. Hunt finished with 9 points, and Rilee Sampson added 7 points.
Chadwick and Autry nailed corner 3-balls to start the game for the Lady Knights, and Chadwick connected from the lane for an 8-3 lead. Bell and Washington rallied the visitors, but Chadwick threw in a pair of 8-footers to tie the game 12-12. Bell’s lay-up put Red Springs up 16-12 at the break.
Chadwick bombed in another 3-ball to keep West within 18-15 early in the 2nd period. Chadwick hit a free throw, Autry hurled in a runner and Chadwick connected from the lane again. Autry darted ahead for a transition lay-up that kept the Lady Knights within 26-22 with 2:56 left in the half.
However Sampson and Bell connected on 3-balls as the lead grew back to 34-22. Chavez muscled in a West rebound basket, but Red Springs led 35-24 at intermission.
Red Springs 16 19 8 11 – 54
West Bladen 12 12 10 8 – 42
Red Springs (54) – Elora Oxendine 5, Sydney Bell 15, Nakira Hunt 9, Alene Oxendine, Monica Washington 16, Adrianna Locklear, Rilee Sampson 7, Jada Kells 2, Javonstaee McNeill.
West Bladen (42) – Lainey Autry 12, Megan Pait, Holland Davis, Rylee Chadwick 24, Kirsten Warrick, Brookee Singletary 1, Kiera Lewis 3, Natalee Sykes, Kali Allen, Alina Chavez 2.
About Author
