By John Clark
RED SPRINGS – Sophomores Nakira Hunt and Monica Washington combined for 17 2nd half points to spark a 27-13 surge that rallied Red Springs to a 61-49 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls basketball victory over West Bladen Friday night.
Hunt scored 10 of her game-high 18 points after intermission, and Washington rang up 7 of her 11 points in the 2nd half. Senior Sydney Bell fired in 12 of her 17 points for Red Springs in the 1st half.
Senior Rylee Chadwick led the Lady Knights with 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. Senior teammate Lainey Autry finished with 12 points and 3 steals. Junior Brookee Singletary added 6 points and 5 rebounds. Junior Kiera Lewis grabbed 3 rebounds, and sophomore Holland Davis had 2 steals.
Senior Kirsten Warrick and Autry nailed 3-point shots in the 1st quarter as West jumped in front 9-6. Chadwick tossed in 4 free throws and a lay-up, and Singletary sank 2 free throws for a 14-10 West Bladen lead.
Bell’s 3-ball sliced the lead to 14-13, but freshman Kali Allen answered with a 3-point shot for West, and Chadwick popped in a 10-footer for a 19-13 lead. Chadwick made 2 free throws, sophomore Alina Chavez hit one, and Chadwick sent an assist to Singletary for a lay-up that kept the Lady Knights on top 24-22.
Chadwick stole the ball and raced for a lay-up then put back a rebound. Lewis drove for a lay-up, before Autry buried another 3-ball for a 33-30 West lead. Chavez powered in a follow shot, and Autry canned a free throw to keep the Lady Knights in front 36-34 at halftime.
Chadwick stole the ball and pitched ahead to Davis for a lay-up to begin the 2nd half. Autry stole the ball and dashed to the rim for a lay-up and a 40-37 West lead. Chadwick flipped in a runner, and Singletary banged in a 4-footer, but an 11-4 run put Red Springs up 48-44 at the quarter break.
Autry sank a free throw then put back a rebound to trim the Red Springs lead to 50-47, but an 11-2 spurt ended the game. Chadwick converted 2 free throws for the final Lady Knight points.
“45 (Washington) is tough to contain in there with her size, and Sydney made some plays for them in the 1st half,” said West Bladen Coach Brian McCleney. “The girls did the best they could do. You can’t fault the effort.”
West Bladen, now 1-3 in SAC-7 play and 8-5 overall, will travel to St. Pauls Tuesday night.
West Bladen 14 22 8 5 – 49
Red Springs 10 24 14 13 – 61
West Bladen (49) – Lainey Autry 12, Holland Davis 2, Faith Wren, Rylee Chadwick 18, Kirsten Warrick 3, Brookee Singletary 6, Kiera Lewis 2, Natalee Sykes, Kali Allen 3, Alina Chavez 3.
Red Springs (61) – Elora Oxendine 6, Sydney Bell 17, Nakira Hunt 18, Genesis McCadney 4, Monica Washington 11, Adrianna Locklear 4, Rilee Sampson 1, Jada Kells, Javonstaee McNeill.
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