It wasn’t everything the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans hoped for, but the experience they’ve gained will prove invaluable as the season progresses. The East went on vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, at the Carolina Invitational, losing 76-33 to Reynoldsburg (Ohio), a 65-55 win over Porter Gord (SC), and finally losing to Johnson Central. I was (KY) 62-43.
It was one of the few contests the East won outright in the opening game against Reynoldsburg. Reynoldsburg won the Ohio state championship last year and brought back several key players from that team. The Spartans won’t face a team this year with more talent and experience than the girls from Buckeye.
The East were tied 26-10 after the first quarter and were 49-19 at halftime. In the game, the Spartans had a shooting percentage of only 28{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} and turned the ball more than 30 times, his season-high.
Porter-Gaud’s first-half round-trip with the Cyclones set up an exciting winning finish in that first half.
Cadence Stewart hit a 3 to start the second half and hit two free throws before Caroline Dotson made a classic three-point play to give the Spartans a 34-32 lead at that point. In the second half of the third, Stewart personally scored 7-0 to extend his team’s lead to 43-37 late in the quarter, as the East finished his third inning with him leading 43-40. maintained.
Mackenna McClure hit a long 3-pointer early in the final period and it was clear Stewart wouldn’t let his team lose. She added her three more make-ups from downtown, including one in which she was fouled and changed her play by four points, while Sparta sealed the game from Charity her stripes. It was South’s only win.
Stewart scored 35 points and her sister Kennedy Stewart scored 11 points. Ryan White tallied his 8 points and his 12 rebounds and was named the Magic’s computer repair player.
Johnson Central was another team that sparked a Spartan game, but it didn’t compare to their opener against Reynoldsburg.
The pressure defense was something the East (7-3) faced a lot in the tournament and, as mentioned above, should provide a lot of positive energy when facing a West Virginia team as the schedule progresses. The East fought but fell short as Johnson Central shot his 50{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} off the floor.
The Spartans shot just 29{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} from the floor and just 24{ea2cba5bdf6fe62bbe85e24807814144a71e77d3ae7311fbc27a008558d1372c} from three. C. Stewart led the team with 13 points, followed by Dotson and K. Stewart with 12. East recorded over 20 turnovers. Dotson took home the game’s player of honor.
The East will return to the Mountain States and play at home to the South Charleston Lady Black Eagles on Saturday night, January 7th.
