SUMTER – While the Lady Eagles soared through the first round of the SCISA A state playoffs (literally, their opponent forfeited after brackets were released), they sparred with a tough Lowcountry Prep opponent in the quarterfinals on Monday.
Richard Winn traded points with the Marlins in the opening quarter but held a tight 13-12 as they moved to the second. Lowcountry Prep managed to stifle Eagle scorers Meredith Pope and Taylor Spires in the second period, allowing only five points from the field at the hands of freshmen Meagan Brigman and Brinson Baker. Sophomore Mikaela Miller put up four points from the foul line, but the Marlins outscored Richard Winn 12-10 to take the 24-23 lead at halftime.
The Eagles recovered in the third, putting up 10 points to Lowcountry Prep’s three and stretching the lead to 33-27 heading into the fourth.
The Marlins mounted a comeback in the final quarter, but Richard Winn’s 89% free throw shooting in the fourth kept the lead for the 45-39 win. Spires scored the only four points from the field in the fourth, the other eight points came from nine attempts at the foul line.
Pope finished the game with 15 points to lead Eagle scorers, seven from the charity stripe. She also had six steals, eight rebounds and four assists. Rayne Williams also pulled eight rebounds in the win. Spires finished with 11 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, two blocks and an assist. The game was her twelfth double-double of the season.
Mikaela Miller added eight points, six of which came from the foul line. She also had seven rebounds, two blocks, a steal and an assist. Brigman also had two blocks on the night.
The win advances the Eagles (18-2, 10-2) to the semi-final round tonight, when they will face off with another one-seed, Patrick Henry Academy (17-0, 9-0).
Patrick Henry topped Region II teams as they went undefeated in region action, while Richard Winn finished in second with two losses to Newberry Academy. The Patriots defeated Wardlaw Academy, a familiar foe for Richard Winn, 60-32 in the quarterfinal round on Monday. The Eagles beat Wardlaw in both meetings this season, with 47-35 and 34-21 finals.
Tonight’s game will be held at Wilson Hall in Sumter. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
RWA – 13-10-10-12 – 45
LCP – 12-12-3-10 – 39
RICHARD WINN: Pope 15, Spires 11, Miller 8, Baker 4, Rayne Williams 3, Maggie Hughes 2, Brigman 2
LOWCOUNTRY: S. Readen 16, B. Ashton 9, P. Sorenson 8, L. Joseph 4, K. Boivin 2
