Lauren Harley glides into the lane. (Photo/Kristy Kimball Massey)
BLYTHEWOOD (Dec. 16, 2015) – Third-quarter play has been the bane for the Blythewood girls’ basketball team this year. But on Tuesday night, the Lady Bengals used the third stanza to carve out a come-from-behind 45-33 victory over Chester.
“Usually the third quarter is our worst quarter. Tonight we flipped it,” said Blythewood coach Steve Inabinet. “They got together at a key time and a good time. We were in danger, we had to step it up and we did. I’m really proud of them.”
Blythewood (3-7) allowed Chester, led by Deja Marshall, to control the first half. Marshall had 9 points, five rebounds and five steals in the first and second quarters as the Lady Cyclones held a 19-16 halftime lead using its transition game.
Lady Bengals’ leading scorer Lauren Harley got off to a slow start herself. The 5-10 senior who averages 18.6 points per game, came up with just 4 points over the first two frames. Even so, Harley was Blythewood’s leading scorer in the first half.
Blythewood scored just 16 first-half points, but Chester wasn’t exactly running away with the game either. The Cyclones held a 19-16 edge going into that fateful third quarter.
Almost immediately, Harley found her stroke with an early basket. The teams traded baskets over the course of the next 5 minutes.
Blythewood closed out the third with a 10-2 scoring run over the last 3 minutes to take a 34-29 lead. The Lady Bengals added to that a light-scoring 11-4 run over the fourth quarter to close out the win.
Harley finished the night leading all scorers with 23 points and 15 rebounds.
“We haven’t been too good lately, and it’s been getting to her (Harley),” Inabinet said. “But tonight she decided to turn it up a little and step it up.”
Marshall had 17 points to lead Chester (3-3).
Blythewood is at Ridge View Thursday.
Blythewood-45, Chester-33
CHS: 12-7-10-4 – 33
BHS: 8-8-18-11 – 45
C – Deja Marshall 17, McCrary 6, Boyd 3, Bowser 2, Beam 2, Killian 2, Noods 1. B – Lauren Hartley 23, Kes. Jackson 6, Kea. Jackson 4, Greene 4, Gallman 2, Mims 2, Weeks 2, Lott 2.
REC: Chester 3-3, Blythewood 3-7.
