By Kenneth Armstrong, https://www.kenarmphoto.com/
FAIRMONT- Fairmont rode a 33-4 2nd half surge to a 52-17 victory over West Bladen in the opening round of the Southeastern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Amyrikal Vaught ignited the Lady Tornado spurt with a pair of 3-balls and led Fairmont with 12 points. LaKayla Chavis threw in a trio of baskets plus a 3-ball to finish with 10 points. Miah Smith scored 9 of her 11 points for Fairmont in the 1st half.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Junior Lainey Autry buried a 3-ball 36 seconds into the game, and sophomore Mallory Bryan cashed in a foul shot for an early 4-0 West lead. Miah Smith answered with a pair of lay-ups for Fairmont, but Bryan drove down the lane for a lay-up and a 6-6 tie at the quarter break.
A Vaught steal and lay-up edged Fairmont in front, before West junior Makayla Wright banged in a turn-around 13-footer. Wright sank 2 free throws 4:29 before halftime to vault the Lady Knights ahead 10-9.
Miah Smith turned a steal into a lay-up, and 3-balls by Smith and Haley George grew a 19-10 Fairmont lead. However sophomore Kiera Lewis bombed in a 3-pointer to trim the margin to 19-13 at halftime. Lewis and Wright made a free throw each, and Bryan connected on a 17-footer for West Bladen in the 2nd half.
Wright and Bryan led the Lady Knights with 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals each. Lewis finished with 4 points and 4 rebounds, and Autry added 3 points and 3 rebounds.
The Lady Knights, now 9-13, will wait until Saturday to learn if they are chosen for the NCHSAA play-offs.
West Bladen 6 7 1 3 – 17
Fairmont 6 13 23 10 – 52
West Bladen (17) –Lainey Autry 3, Megan Pait, Mallory Bryan 5, Holland Davis, Makayla Wright 5, Azillyah McDonald, Kirsten Warrick, Kiera Lewis 4, Alina Chavez, Anasia Baxley, Hannah Pait.
Fairmont (52) – LaKayla Chavis 10, Destiny Melvin 3, Haley George 3, Niah Smith 3, Miah Smith 11, Amyrikal Vaught 12, Zariah Locklear 2, Myasia Simms, Taniya Simms 5, Jaliyah Stephens 3.
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