FAIRMONT – The tall duo of Taniya and Myasia Simms combined for 23 points Monday night as they sparked Fairmont to a 59-39 girls basketball victory over West Bladen in the opening round for the Southeastern Athletic Conference tournament.
Taniya, a 6-foot sophomore, powered in 12 points, and Myasia, a 5-10 junior, followed with 11 points for the Lady Tornadoes. Seniors Amyrikal Vaught and Paris Bethea chipped in with 8 and 7 points respectively.
Senior Rylee Chadwick topped all scorers with 19 points for the Lady Knights. Senior Lainey Autry pumped in 8 points.
Chadwick and Autry drilled in 3-point shots in the 1st quarter, and both of them added another basket each to keep West within 14-10 at the quarter break. Chadwick sank 4 free throws and a basket in the 2nd quarter, junior Kiera Lewis tossed in 2 free throws, and senior Kirsten Warrick made 1 foul shot.
However, 7 points from Bethea and 6 from Taniya Simms helped build a 28-19 Fairmont lead. A trio of baskets from Myasia Simms and 2 baskets each from Vaught and Shamiah Smith helped extend the Lady Tornado lead to 46-30 at the 3rd quarter break.
Chadwick popped in 2 baskets and a free throw in the 3rd period for West, and junior Megan Pait and freshman Kali Allen buried 3-point shots.
Autry nailed another 3-point shot in the final quarter, and junior Brookee Singletary and Chadwick connected on 3 free throws each.
The Lady Knights concluded their season with an 8-14 record, while Fairmont, now 22-3, will play East Bladen in the tournament semi-finals Wednesday night in Clinton.
West Bladen 10 9 11 9 — 39
Fairmont 14 14 18 13 — 59
WEST BLADEN (39) – Lainey Autry 8, Megan Pait 3, Holland Davis, Rylee Chadwick 19, Kirsten Warrick 1, Brookee Singletary 3, Kiera Lewis 2, Natalee Syke, Kali Allen 3, Alina Chavez.
FAIRMONT (59) – Paris Bethea 7, Sydney Jacobs 2, Shaniah Smith 4, Shamiah Smith 6, Kearstin Hunt 2, Amyrikal Vaught 8, Zariah Locklear 1, Taniya Simms 12, Myasia Simms 11, A. Boyce 2, J. Stephens 4.
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