LAKE WACCAMAW – St. Pauls pulled away with a closing 8-2 run and defeated West Bladen 47-33 Wednesday night in the Three Rivers Conference Tournament girls basketball semi-finals.
Senior Kasee Singletary and sophmore Haley George threw in early baskets as the Lady Knights grabbed an early 4-0 lead. Freshman Jakieya Thompson rallied the Lady Bulldogs with a trio of baskets. George popped in another basket for West, but St. Pauls led 12-6 at the quarter break.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Singletary drained a 3-point shot to slice the lead to 12-11. George nailed a 3-point shot, and senior Mikayla Meadows and sophmore Hannah Pait worked inside for baskets to keep West within 21-16 at halftime. Five points from center Iyania Evans pushed St. Pauls in front.
Thompson tossed in 3 baskets and a free throw in the third period to stretch the lead to 32-23. George sank another 3-point shot and 2 free throws, and Meadows scored again inside for the Lady Knights.
Senior Seniah Johnson and Singletary buried 3-point shots in the fourth quarter. George and freshman Rylee Chadwick pumped in baskets as the Lady Knights pulled to within 39-31 with 4:10 remaining. St. Pauls’ T. J. Eichelberger connected for a pair of 3-point baskets to seal the win.
George topped the West Bladen scoring with 14 points. Singletary finished with 8 points, and Meadows added 4 points. Thompson led St. Pauls with 15 points. Taliya Council followed with 11 points, and Eichelberger totaled 10 points.
“We gave up about 14 points on second chance shots,” said Lady Knight Coach Brian McCleney. “That was the biggest problem we faced.”
The Lady Knights, now 15-8, will wait for the NCHSAA Class 2A play-off brackets to be released Sunday afternoon to see if their season will continue.
West Bladen 6 10 7 10 – 33
St. Pauls 12 9 11 15 – 47
WEST BLADEN (33) – Lainey Autry, Haley George 14, Ocean Woody, Kasee Singletary 8, Lexie Corrothers, Seniah Johnson 3, Rylee Chadwick 2, Mikayla Meadows 4, Hannah Pait 2.
ST. PAULS (47) – McKenzie Ransom 2, T. J. Eichelberger 10, Jakieya Thompson 15, Larkan Maynor 2, Braxtin Kinlaw, Shakiya Floyd 1, Taliya Council 11, Tamyra Council 1, Iyania Evans 5.
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