Lady Hawks Drop Demons

Maya Belton (23) drops one in for the Lady Redhawks. (Photo/Ross Burton)

Maya Belton (23) drops one in for the Lady Redhawks. (Photo/Ross Burton)

BLYTHEWOOD (Jan. 13, 2016) – Tuesday’s game against Lugoff- Elgin was over just about when Westwood’s Unique Drake fired a 3-pointer after a turnover 20 seconds into the game.

Drake’s shot followed Taylor Britt’s quick basket off the tipoff, as the Lady Redhawks blasted to a 22-2 first quarter lead and finished off the Lady Demons 54-17 at Westwood.

Although there was little drama in how the game played out, with mass substitutions and a running clock in the second half, keeping the young Redhawks (14-1, 2-0) focused in the midst of Region IV-4A play became the coaching staff’s immediate concern.

“All week was a challenge, because I think our players kind of sensed that they were that type of team,” Westwood head coach Gregory Bauldrick said. “We were trying to keep them focused, we had to tell them, hey look, we’ve still got to do the things we do. We’ve still got to be the team that plays on a very high level.”

As it turned out, the Lady Demons (4-9, 0-2) didn’t turn out to be much competition for the Redhawks.

Mya Belton led all scorers with 12 points. All but two Redhawks players scored in the game.

Westwood led 41-6 at the half.

“By then we started focusing on the simple things,” Bauldrick said. “Did we meet our rebounding goal, did we meet our assists goal, did we meet our turnover goal, some of those things.”

Tuesday’s game followed Friday night’s region-opening 65-60 victory over Ridge View.

The Redhawks trailed 33-28 Friday, but came back with a 23-15 effort in the third quarter and a 14-12 effort in the fourth.

“I’ve been preaching to our young team that region play is so much different,” Bauldrick said. “It’s playoff type intensity, much more up-tempo, much more physical, much more aggressive. I think our kids felt the pressure early on, but they went into the game expecting to win, and they never got away from that.”

The Redhawks play host to Dutch Fork Friday then travel to Blythewood Jan. 19. The Lady Silver Foxes are off to a 2-10 start going into their Tuesday night game against Ridge View. Noting Dutch Fork’s winning tradition with the girls program, the Silver Foxes can’t be taken lightly.

“That’s why we took that approach today,” Bauldrick said. “Regardless of the skill level of the team, we’ve got to be sharp and ready to go Friday night.”

Westwood 54, Lugoff-Elgin 17

L-E: 2-4-8-3 – 17

WHS: 22-19-8-5 – 54

L – Weems 5, Bracey 4, Sullivan 4, Simon 3, Sexton 1. W –Mya Belton 12, Marshall 9, Drake 8, Lockett 6, Britt 5, Tyler 4, Samuel 3, C. Davis 3, T. Davis 2, Houston 2. REC: Lugoff-Elgin 4-9, 0-2, Westwood 14-1, 2-0.

 

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