The Woodruff Lady Wolverines used a 23-4 run in the second quarter to down the Chesnee Lady Eagles 62-32 in the first round of the AAA Girls basketball playoffs.
“We played well in the first quarter," Chesnee Coach Carey Burns said. "Woodruff went to a full court press defense in the second and they were able to force us into turnovers." Chesnee came out strong in the first quarter as the Lady Eagles got strong play from seniors Sierra Bowen and Whitney Haulbrooks as Bowen scored eight of her team high sixteen points in the first quarter while Haulbrooks added four points in the quarter. The Lady Wolverines came alive offensively in the second quarter as they used a full court defense to generate fast break opportunities. Zavia Jeter helped jump start the Lady Wolverines offense as she scored eight of the points during the Lady Wolverines 23-4 run in the second quarter to give Woodruff a 34-21 halftime lead. Jeter continued her strong play in the third quarter as she scored twelve of the Lady Wolverines first sixteen points to open the second half. She led all Wolverines in scoring with twenty-three points. Kaliyah Gilliam also finished in double figures for the Wolverines as she scored ten points on Monday night. Even in a loss Chesnee got great leadership from their seniors which was no surprise to Coach Burns. “My seniors have been a source of leadership for many years. They have always shown respect to their coaches, their teammates and to each other," said Coach Burns. "Their attitudes are the best of the best and there is no doubt in my mind that they will be successful in whatever they chose to do in their future. They both will always hold a special place in my heart due to their love for the game." Bowen has been a four year member of the varsity squad and will look back fondly on her time at Chesnee, "I will always have great memories with my teammates,” said Bowen. “This year has been my favorite year just going to practice and having fun with my teammates, and working hard everyday to get better.” Bowen and Haulbrooks have left a solid foundation for the returning players to build upon and that is a legacy Haulbrooks is happy to leave. "It means a lot to me that the younger players look up to me and that I was able to push them in practice," said Haulbrooks. "We continued to get better everyday and that is something I hope the girls continue to do." Chesnee outscored the Carolina Trojans 48-39 in the second half and overtime of a crazy basketball game to win the fourth place tiebreaker in Region II-3A and qualify for the playoffs.
"I'm glad we pulled out the win and kept playing hard,” said senior Ahmad Smith. “We never gave up." Both teams came out hot to start the game especially Ahmad Smith for the Eagles who scored five of the Eagles' first seven points. The Trojans closed the quarter on a 10-2 run with Quiozell Bunkley scoring the final five points for Carolina to give them a 21-12 lead after the first quarter. The Trojans were able to maintain their lead in the second quarter in part due to missed free throws from the Eagles as Chesnee went five of eleven from the line. Chesnee was able to cut Carolina's lead to four with just over two minutes to go in the first half after an Ahmad Smith basket but back to back baskets from Carolina’s Da'Marcus Williams to close out the first half gave the Trojans a 39-31 halftime lead. Chesnee's Alijah Means made two of his five three pointers in the second quarter to help keep the Eagles close. Means finished the game with five three pointers after making six each in two out of his last three games. "Coach Pitt has had me in the gym on the gun every morning and night,” said sophomore Alijah Means. “I can't make the shots if I don't work at it. Being in the gym daily has helped me make shots." Dez Tate and Ahmad Smith were the story of the second half as Tate came out with a strong start as he led the Eagles on a 5-1 run to open the third quarter cutting the Trojan's lead to four. Smith and Tate combined to score seventeen of the Eagle's eighteen third quarter points with the biggest basket coming from Smith with twenty seconds left in the quarter to give Chesnee a 49-48 lead. “I came out in the second half with a lot of energy. I knew we had to win to make it to the playoffs,” said senior Dez Tate. “We came out and played team ball and it was a good team win." The teams would continue the exciting play into the fourth quarter as Carolina opened the quarter on an 11-2 run to give them a 59-51 lead with 5:33 left in the contest as Williams scored seven of his team high thirty-one points during the run. The Eagles would use a 12-0 run of their own to grab a 63-59 lead with the last bucket coming on an Alijah Means driving layup with just over four minutes left in the game. A big free throw from Carolina's Williams gave the Trojans a two point lead with twenty seconds left but Chesnee's Alijah Means would calmly sink two free throws with five seconds left to tie the game at seventy and send the game to overtime "I have to make these, I have to make these for the team." Means said when asked what was going through his mind as he stepped to the line in the final seconds of regulation. Seniors Dez Tate and Ahmad Smith once again stepped up in overtime as the duo went a combined seven of eight from the free throw line to help the Eagles pull out a 79-78 win as the duo combined for all nine of Chesnee's points in the overtime period. "It is either win or go home, senior year we had to step up. Malik (Busby) also stepped up by drawing a couple of charges and Chris (Jackson) stepped up talking on the bench." Tate said about how the Chesnee seniors helped lead the Eagles to victory in the overtime period. In the second half when Chesnee needed a big stop senior Malik Busby stepped up and drew a charge call on the Trojans. He was able to draw five charges at pivotal moments of the game. "He takes so many he has to be careful and make sure it a no doubter late in the game, said Coach Pitt about Busby’s contributions. “He helped us get some big stops." Tate lead the way for the Eagles as he scored a team high thirty-four points with twenty-seven of those coming in the second half. "Dez had some opportunities in the first half he didn't take advantage of, but he found a way in the second half. That is what good senior leaders do." Coach Pitt said. Chesnee will travel to Newberry to open the 3A playoffs on Tuesday. The Chapman Panthers used a 10-1 run to close out the third quarter to help them down the Chesnee Eagles 81-75 to win the Region II-3A championship. “We fought hard and but we just didn't finish," said Chesnee Head Coach Andy Pitt on his team's performance. "We struggled with free throws at when you throw that many points away it's tough to win." The loss along with a Carolina win over Broome puts Chesnee into a tiebreaker game with the Trojans for the final playoff spot in Region II-3A. The game will be played Thursday at Chapman. The first quarter saw both teams come out hot as Chapman lead 26-20 after the first quarter behind fifteen points from Mikele Colasurdo including a 9-0 run that saw him score all nine points. Chesnee's Dez Tate responded with eight second quarter points to help the Eagles stay close to the Panthers. Chapman took a 43-37 lead into the halftime break behind five three pointers as a team. Chesnee came out on fire in the second half as they opened the third quarter on a 13-0 run to take a seven point lead with over five minutes left in the quarter. Chapman responded with a 10-1 run of their own to close the quarter with a 61-60 lead. Banks Atkins and Paul Mitchell came up huge for the Panthers in the final quarter as the duo combined for fourteen of Chapman's twenty points in the quarter, none perhaps bigger than Atkins back to back three pointers with three minutes left to give Chapman a seven point lead. Dez Tate had a huge night for the Eagles as the senior scored twenty five points on Senior Night while fellow senior Ahmad Smith added ten points for the Eagles. "I can't say enough good things about those seniors,” said Coach Pitt. “The effects this senior class had on the younger guys will be seen over the next few years." While Tuesday night was a night to honor the seniors two younger Eagles stepped up as KJ Valentine scored eleven points and Alijah Means added twenty points. Means came within one made three of tying the school record of seven threes in a game. "Alijah played well he has matured and grown this season, and continues to improve," Coach Pitt said. Lady Eagles Fall To Panthers The Chapman Lady Panthers used an 11-0 run to close the second quarter and to open the third quarter to help them down the Chesnee Lady Eagles 76-60.
The win locks Chapman in as the second seed in Region II-3A and Chesnee earned the three seed. Chapman got off to a fast start in the first quarter with a 17-1 run to open the game behind eleven points from Ke'Asia Anderson who had a huge night for the Lady Panthers. The Lady Eagles would respond in the second quarter using a 18-6 run to cut Chapman's lead to two midway through the second quarter. Abbey Ray and Jessa Beech had a big second quarter for the Lady Eagles as the pair combined for fifteen points in the quarter. Chapman got off to another fast start in the second half as they opened on a 15-4 run to push their lead to twenty-one midway through the third quarter. Chesnee would fight back in the fourth quarter to cut the lead down to nine but Chapman used an 11-4 run to close the game out and grab the victory. Abbey Ray had a huge night for the Lady Eagles as she had a team high twenty points including three three-pointers. Jessa Beech also had a strong game for the Eagles as she finished with ten points, and sophomore defensive stalwart Kymiah Blair a good offensive night as well as she finished with six points. "Kymiah has gotten better throughout the year and she hit a big three pointer tonight." said Coach Dove, who was filling in for head coach Carey Burns. Seniors Sierra Bowen and Whitney Haulbrooks played their last game on their home court as Bowen finished with twelve points and Haulbrooks added four points. "It's emotional for the coaches and the players," said Coach Dove. "Both of those girls give everything they got in practice and in the games. I can't say enough about them." Chesnee will travel to Woodruff on Monday to open the 3A playoffs. |
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