CERRO GORDO – Senior guard Kasee Singletary poured in 24 points, and West Bladen’s Lady Knights closed the game with an 18-7 surge to claim a 42-24 Three Rivers Conference girls basketball victory over West Columbus.
With West Bladen clinging to a 24-21 lead, freshman Rylee Chadwick pumped in a 16-footer, and senior Lexie Corrothers put back a rebound to push the lead to 28-22 at the third quarter break.
Singletary knifed through the Lady Viking defense for a pair of lay-ups to start the final period. Corrothers popped in a 12-footer, and Singletary nailed a 3-point shot then drove for a lay-up and a 39-22 lead. Corrothers beat the Lady Viking press for a lay-up and a 3-point play that pushed the lead to 42-24.
Corrothers finished with 11 points, and Chadwick followed with 6 points. Haley Brown led West Columbus with 15 points.
Singletary sparked the Lady Knights to an early 19-11 lead by driving for a lay-up, tossing in a 10-footer and 2 free throws and bombing in a trio of 3-point shots. Corrothers cashed in 2 free throws, and Chadwick drove for a lay-up.
Sophomore Haley George hit a free throw and Chadwick buried a baseline jumper to keep the Lady Knights up 22-19 at halftime. Corrothers sprinted for a lay-up to begin the second half.
“Timmy Charles Williams (West Columbus coach) did a good job of packing in their zone and cutting off our driving lanes,” said Lady Knight Coach Brian McCleney. “That’s why we held the ball in the second half to get them to loosen it up. Our defensive effort in the second half was much better.”
“After losing those 2 games last week, it was big for us to come over here and get a win,” continued McCleney. “Last year they beat us in a similar situation after we had suffered a couple of losses.”
The Knights, now 10-3 in league play and 13-5 overall, will host St. Pauls Friday night.
West Bladen 19 3 6 14 – 42
West Columbus 11 8 3 6 – 28
WEST BLADEN (42) – Lainey Autry, Haley George 1, Ocean Woody, Kasee Singletary 24, Lexie Corrothers 11, Seniah Johnson, Rylee Chadwick 6, Mikayla Meadows, Essance Murphy, Jamiyah Melvin-Hall.
WEST COLUMBUS (28) – L. Gerald 2, R. Collins 2, G McKinney 2, Haley Brown 15, Crytaisa Page 5, D. McDuffie 2, Saudia Hemmingway.
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