BLADENBORO – Freshman Zhari Shipman poured in 16 of her game-high 25 points in the 2nd half Tuesday night to lead Whiteville to a 68-47 non-conference girls basketball victory over West Bladen.
Five different players scored in the opening period as the Lady Wolfpack capitalized on 13 turnovers and built a 12-5 lead. Sophomore Alina Chavez dropped in a lay-up off of an assist from junior Kiera Lewis for a West basket, and junior teammate Brookee Singletary tossed in 3 free throws.
Zhari Shipman and sophomore Elayzia Dawson combined for 13 points in the 2nd quarter as the Whiteville lead grew to 33-18. Senior Laney Autry nailed a turn-around 16-footer, and junior Megan Pait banked in a 12-footer for West. Lady Knight senior Rylee Chadwick sank 7 of 9 foul shots in the quarter. Chavez made a pair of free throws, and sophomore Holland Davis added one.
Zhari Shipman raced to the rim for 5 baskets in the 3rd period, and teammate Kailah Jordan flipped in a trio of buckets as the lead stretched to 56-37. Autry answered with a 4-footer, a lay-up and 3 free throws for West. Chadwick threw in a 10-footer, a follow shot and 2 free throws. Singletary spun to the basket for a lay-up, and freshman Kali Allen drained a 3-point shot and a free throw.
Autry stole the ball and dashed for a lay-up in the final period then raced end-to-end for a lay-up. Chadwick sprinted end-to-end for a lay-up, Pait buried a 16-footer, and Davis cashed in 2 free throws.
Chadwick led the Lady Knights with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Autry finished with 13 points and 4 steals. Singletary followed with 5 points and 5 rebounds. Lewis had 4 rebounds, and Pait, Allen and Chavez scored 4 points each.
“We didn’t rotate on defense, and we were too loose with the ball at the top of the zone and that led to too many live-ball turnovers,” said West Bladen Coach Brian McCleney.
Dawson tallied 13 points for Whiteville, and Mykelliona Shipman and Serenity Harvey added 8 points each.
The loss snapped West Bladen’s 8-game winning streak. The Lady Knights, now 8-2, will visit rival East Bladen Friday night.
West Bladen 5 13 19 10 – 47
Whiteville 12 21 23 12 – 68
West Bladen (47) – Lainey Autry 13, Megan Pait 4, Holland Davis 3, Rylee Chadwick 14, Kirsten Warrick, Brookee Singletary 5, Kiera Lewis, Natalee Sykes, Kali Allen 4, Alina Chavez 4.
Whiteville (68) – Zhari Shipman 25, Mauricia Bennett 4, Mykelliona Shipman 8, Elayzia Dawson 13, Idonia McCullum 2, Serenity Harvey 8, Kailah Jordan 6, Ceonna Dennis, Damonia McCullough 2.
About Author
