GREER, S.C. – According to the 3A girls’ basketball bracket, it was listed as a first round game between Chapman and Blue Ridge on Monday night. But, it truly felt like a 12 round heavyweight fight, with each team trading proverbial jab for jab and punch for punch.
Both clubs entered the game in search of win number 13 on the season and a trip to the next round of the playoffs. In the end, sixth-ranked Blue Ridge (13-2) held off a furious rally, edging eighth-ranked Chapman by a final tally of 66-59. With under five and a half minutes remaining, Asia Anderson found a gap in the middle of a 1-2-2 full court press, split three defenders, and finished strong at the basket for a 50-48 Chapman lead. On the ensuing possession, Quadaija Langley got the home bounce on a triple, handing the lead back to Blue Ridge, 51-50. “I told my girls in the pregame huddle,” Chapman head coach Leslie Boyd said while fighting back emotions. “I told them that if we’re going out tonight, it’s all in on the floor. As a coach, I can’t ask for anything else. Our seniors led the way with their exceptional leadership on the court… the team did everything I asked them to do tonight and I’m so, so proud of them.” Late in the contest, sophomores Clara Gramling and Caroline Garner each knocked down a three pointer, helping Chapman cut the deficit to one possession each time. Krislyn Wilder converted on a one-and-one opportunity, making it a one point game with 2:17 to play. Throughout the duration of the game, neither team held an advantage any larger than seven points. Over the last 5:16 of the contest, Blue Ridge outscored the Lady Panthers by six points, 15-9. “We earned the right to be here,” Boyd stated. “From the opening tipoff to the very last buzzer, they played knowing that they deserved to be on that court tonight. You’re excited to see a player like (Clara) come back, knowing that she has two more years… I expect her to continue improving and really make a mark on our program.” Gramling led the Lady Panthers with a team-high 17 points. Asia Anderson and Krislyn Wilder scored in double figures with 16 and 12 points, respectively, while Farrah Grohs also finished with eight points. Quadaija Langley had a game-high 29 points for Blue Ridge. With the season coming to a close, Chapman (12-12) will see three seniors graduate – Asia Anderson, Farrah Grohs, and Lailonie Terrell. “Asia, Lailonie, and Farrah are fighters,” Boyd explained. “It’s not just what they do on the court, but things that they go through in life off the court. They made a mark on this team and really honed in on our theme, ‘The Sisterhood’, this year. I’ve told them that they’re more than basketball players. Tonight, it was the fight that they all had on this court that I told they’re going to carry on in life. I’m really thankful to have had this class of seniors and I know our program will be better because of them.” -Justin Mathis Comments are closed.
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