Mikeya Williams (5) and Mya Belton (23) stymie Jasrial Thompson’s (10) drive to the basket. (Photo/Kristy Kimball Massey)
BLYTHEWOOD – The Lady Bengals’ (7-15, 3-6) basketball team missed an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot Tuesday night and suffered a 49-40 loss to their crosstown rivals, Westwood. The loss drops Blythewood into a tie with Westwood with one game remaining in the regular season. Only the top four teams will receive an automatic bid to the postseason. Blythewood and Westwood are looking up at Spring Valley (19-4, 9-0), Dutch Fork (14-6, 6-3) and Ridge View (15-6, 5-3).
Westwood began the contest on a 5-0 run, but Blythewood battled back by scoring the next six points unanswered. Aubria Greene gave Blythewood their only lead of the game when she buried a 3-pointer to give the Bengals a 6-5 lead with 2 minutes to play in the first quarter. Greene finished with a team-high 17 points including four made shots from beyond the arc.
Blythewood gave up their slight lead late in the first quarter, when Westwood’s Kayla Atkins converted a 3-point play at the free throw line with 10 seconds remaining in the first frame.
Blythewood struggled to find an answer for Atkins’ 6-foot, 2-inch frame down low as the Lady Redhawk senior led all scorers with 19 points.
The Lady Bengals hung around within striking distance late in the first half and a free throw by Lauren Harley pulled Blythewood within 20-17, but Westwood was able to beat the buzzer once again when Mya Belton knocked down a 14-footer as the final seconds ticked off the clock to give the Lady Redhawks a 22-17 advantage heading into halftime.
Westwood continued to stay out in front of Blythewood in the third quarter. Jasrial Thompson hit the first bucket of the fourth quarter to cut Blythewood’s deficit to 34-29, but Westwood countered with a 6-0 run. Westwood connected on seven free throws late in the game to put the contest out of reach.
Westwood plays at Spring Valley Friday night while Blythewood travels to Ridge View.
Westwood 49, Blythewood 40
WHS: 8-14-12-15 – 49
BHS: 8-11-10-13 – 40
Individual Scoring – Blythewood: Keayra Jackson 2, Aurbria Greene 17, Jasrial Thompson 11, Lauren Harley 8, Ajane Williams 2. Westwood: Mikeya Matthews 6, Diamond Harling 4, Kyanna Samuel 4, Mya Belton 12, Kayla Atkins 19, Kenyana Tyler 4.
