In the Hawks Invitational championship game, the Allendale-Fairfax Lady Tigers out-clawed the Blackville-Hilda Lady Hawks 40-21 Thursday in Blackville.
For the Lady Tigers it was a series of runs, spurred by a tenacious defense that was the difference in the game. The Lady Tigers forced 28 turnovers, including six during a 9-2 run at the start of the third quarter.
The scoring run by the Lady Tigers made the score 31-15 with 5:19 left in the third quarter. Blackville-Hilda never recovered at that point, going just two of 18 from the field the rest of the way.
With the win, Allendale-Fairfax High improves to 6-2 in the season.
Allendale-Fairfax High coach Kamar Lee said the team improved as the game went on.
"We had a few pregame jitters. However, after the first quarter we settled down and played much better," Lee said. "This was a big win for our team. Offensively, we got the ball into the paint and scored easy baskets. Defensively, we contested shots and rebounded well."
Allendale-Fairfax High held Blackville-Hilda High to its lowest scoring output of the season as the team hit on only seven-of 38 shots from the field.
Blackville-Hilda High coach William Hammond said his team just didn't match the intensity of Allendale-Fairfax.
"It just seemed they were just one step ahead us whether it was on the boards or for loose balls," Hammonds said.
In the opening five minutes of the game neither team could buy a basket as they combined for 15 misses on 18 attempts.
However, late in the first quarter, the offensives emerged. For AFHS, Marcia Bolden got position in the paint and scored on a putback to put the team up 6-2. On the ensuing possession, the Lady Hawks answered when Shawanda Ferguson scored on a short jumper. Moments later, the Lady Hawks were on the fast break with Ansley Pope feeding Ferguson for a layup to tie the score at 6-6 with 1:18 left in the opening quarter.
Leading 8-6 early in the second quarter, the Lady Tigers stole the momentum back. Teneisha McKnight penetrated the paint and scored on a layup. After a steal by Anissa Taylor, Alexandria Gibbs scored on a layup. Two possessions later, Bolden made her presence in the paint, scoring on a putback to put the Tigers ahead 14-6.
Trailing 16-7, the Lady Hawks tried to keep things close early in the second quarter. Taylor Brown rattled in a jumper from the perimeter and Ferguson scored baskets on the next two possessions to narrow the lead at 16-13 with 1:39 left in the first half.
"We started out decent, but offensively, we struggled all night to put the ball in the basket," said Hammond.
Ahead 22-13 the Lady Tigers took control at the start of the third. Bolden and McKnight did most of the damage with four points each in the quarter as the Lady Tigers built the lead to 33-16. Alexandria Gibbs nailed a three-pointer during the run.
In the final quarter, the scoring slowed down. The teams combined for 12 points in the quarter. The Lady Tigers again held serve, netting seven points to close out the game.
For the game, Bolden led the Lady Tigers with 13 points and 15 rebounds. McKnight also had a good all-round game with 13 points, nine steals and seven rebounds. Anissa Taylor finished with four points and six assists. Alexandria Gibbs had six points and five steals.
For Blackville-Hilda, Ferguson led the way with 14 rebounds and 13 rebounds.
In other tournament action, (Dec. 28) the Lady Hawks downed Ridge-Spring Monetta 37-22.
Blackville-Hilda High, which trailed only once in the first half opened a 22-16 halftime lead behind the shooting of Ferguson.
Ferguson pumped in eight first-half points on four-of-six shooting. Also contributing in the first half was Shamon Harley with five points and six rebounds.
Leading 24-17 in the second half, the Lady Hawks maintained their advantage as Clark and Roundtree stepped up in the scoring department.
Tyeshia Clark and Latoya Roundtree combined for 13 points in the half as the Lady Hawks outscored the Lady Trojans 17-16 to close out the game.