TAR HEEL – Ariel Cromartie lit up the scoreboard with 24 points Tuesday as she led Elizabethtown to a 39-20 Waccamaw Middle School Conference girls basketball victory over Tar Heel.
Cromartie fired in a 3-point shot, a pair of 2-point baskets and a free throw in the 1st quarter. Niyah Wooten worked the paint for a pair of Lady Cougar baskets, and Mariah Ward boosted the lead to 14-7 with a bucket.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Jahyrah Priest, Leidi Zuniga and Tahlela Bethea threw in a basket each for the Lady Panthers in the period and Zuniga tacked on a free throw. Zuniga sank 2 free throws and a basket in the 2nd period. Priest tossed in 2 free throws, Bethea added a basket, and Janavia Adams netted a free throw, but Cromartie popped in 2 baskets and 3 free throws to keep Elizabethtown up 21-16 at halftime.
Cromartie drained a 3-point shot and 2 more baskets to key a 9-0 3rd quarter burst for the Lady Cougars that opened up a 30-16 lead. Wooten connected on both of her free throws in the period.
Sanaa Singletary opened the final quarter with an old-fashioned 3-point play. Wooten, Cromartie and Arian Fields pumped in a basket each for Elizabethtown in the period. Priest answered with a basket and a free throw for Tar Heel, and Zuniga made a free throw.
Wooten finished with 8 points for Elizabethtown. Zuniga topped the Tar Heel scoring with 8 points, and Priest finished with 7 points. Bethea added 4 points.
Coach Cedric Owens’ Lady Cougars improved to 3-5 and will travel to Whiteville Central for a make-up game Wednesday. Tar Heel will close out their regular season at East Columbus Thursday.
Elizabethtown 14 7 9 9 – 39
Tar Heel 7 9 0 4 – 20
Elizabethtown (39) – Niyah Wooten 8, Ariel Cromartie 24, Nia McKoy, Sanaa Singletary 3, Mariah Ward 2, Nyasia Blanks, Tanaisha McKoy, Arian Fields 2, Alayah Powell, Harmony Richardson, A’Nide McKibben, Aaluyah Monroe, Hailey Bennett, Tmyah Brown, Kmyah Brown.
Tar Heel (20) – Jahyrah Priest 7, Leidi Zuniga 8, Serenity Council, Janavia Adams 1, Zionasti Robinson, Abigail Dew, Jamaiya Ballard, Delijah Smith, Jasmine Robeson, Amiracle Robinson, Tahlela Bethea 4, Za’Asia Lewis, Adreanna Toney.