NORTH MYRTLE BEACH – The Westwood girls have had a season full of learning experiences.
While the Redhawks struggled to finish some games, the team has shown in recent weeks that they have turned the corner and come into their own.
Westwood (14-15) fell 53-42 to No.2 North Myrtle Beach Tuesday night, ending the season for the young Redhawks.
This year’s team is the youngest of any of head coach Gregory Bauldrick’s teams, including a seventh-grader in starter Amari Alexander, three freshmen including starter Lyric Rogers, two sophomores including starter Aneya Britt, five juniors and two seniors.
“We couldn’t put together a complete game most of the season,” Bauldrick said. “And maybe I’m a little bit biased, but I always figured we’re a much better team than someone would see just looking at our record.”
Teams are finding out how good the young Redhawks are now. Westwood finished the regular season on a three-game winning streak, then opened the 5A Division 2 playoffs as a No.6 seed with a 51-14 win over No.11 Conway Feb. 17. Three days later Westwood hit the road and battled No.3 White Knoll to a 71-69 victory.
“Late in the region we started to put some full games together, had some significant wins, and now this playoff season we’re playing complete games,” Bauldrick said. “We’re pretty excited about the future of this young team.”
At White Knoll Westwood led 35-24 at the half, but held off a constant surge from the Timberwolves, to claim the victory.
“We knew that they were going to make a run, we talked about that at the half, that at some point that was going to happen and we had to level the bubbles and stay settled,” Bauldrick said. “They got a little rattled at times because of the moment, which is understandable, but it was a teaching moment, and it didn’t take them coming up short in this game for them to learn that lesson. It was sink or swim tonight, and I’m glad we swam.”
Freshman Rogers scored 21 points to lead the Redhawks, with Britt adding 20 and Alexander contributing 16 points.
White Knoll, also a team that has been resurging after last season’s 6-22 season, finished 17-9. Shaelyn Hayes led the way with 20 points, and Emory Waters-Inman had 17 points.
At North Myrtle Beach, the Chiefs got off to a 16-8 lead and held a 31-18 advantage at intermission. NMB led 46-26 after three quarters.
Britt and senior Destiny Omeire led the Redhawks with 10 points apiece. Rogers had 9 points and Alexander had 6 points.
North Myrtle Beach will play No.1 seed Berkeley, 53-36 winners over Goose Creek Tuesday, for the 5A Division 2 lower-state championship Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Florence Center.
