Published: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 / Updated: Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2010 12:36 PM
Lady Jackets pick up key win
FORT MILL --
The Fort Mill High School Lady Yellow Jackets picked up their first Region III-AAAA victory in three years with a 61-44 win over the Clover Blue Eagles Friday night.
Led by a dominant inside game, Fort Mill controlled the game from the opening tip and never really looked back. Junior Jenna White led the way with 23 points and senior Alexia Grevious had 19 points.
“We played hard and we played well,” said Fort Mill head coach Christine Benyak. “They didn't back down.”
Fort Mill took control of things in the second quarter as it went on a 9-3 run to make it 23-13. Senior Lisa Nichols scored eight of the nine points during the run. Nichols scored eight of her 12 points in the quarter.
Clover struggled from the field in the first half, going 8-27, but finished strong in the second quarter by scoring six straight to make it close at 28-17.
In the second half, Fort Mill's defense stepped up and created points off turnovers.
The Lady Blue Eagles cut the Lady Jackets' lead to eight at one point at 35-27 with three minutes left, but a three-pointer by junior Haley Bonner put the Jacket back with a double- digit lead.
“Fort Mill is a very solid team and they do the right thing at the right time,” Clover head coach Sherer Hopkins said. “We are young and we made some mistakes, but the kids are working real hard.”
Fort Mill started the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run and slowed the pace down holding the ball and looking for inside shots.
Grevious scored 10 of her 19 in the fourth and White scored eight of her 23 in the fourth, mostly from the foul line. White quietly led the way going 7-16 from the field and 7-10 at the foul line.
Fort Mill is now 5-7 on the season and has equaled its win total for the past two seasons combined. The lady Jackets won two games last season and three the year before.
The Region win is the first for Fort Mill since the school split two with Nation Ford High School.
Earlier in the week, Fort Mill struggled against Lancaster High, falling 49-37. The Lady Jackets didn't score more than double digits in any quarter until the fourth, when they put in 20. In fact, Fort Mill struggled in the first half, scoring only nine points including just two in the second quarter.
White led Fort Mill with 12 points.
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