Lady Eagles finished the regular season as Region Runner-Up and Region Tournament Runner-Up. | @winn_sports
GREENWOOD – The Richard Winn Lady Eagles opened up the SCISA Region A-II tournament by taking down Newberry Academy, 47-30, but could not get past Laurens Academy in the championship game. Meredith Pope and Calee Thigpen earned All-Tournament honors. Additionally, Pope, Lydia Wilder and Taylor Spires were given All-Region recognitions.
The Eagles got off to hot tournament start against Newberry. Meredith Pope hit three shots from beyond the arc in the first quarter, and Calee Thigpen had six of her 16 points in the first to give RWA an early 17-2 lead.
Thigpen had eight more points in the second, and Newberry only managed to sputter out five second-quarter points. However, in the championship round against Laurens, a slow offensive going cursed the Eagles.
Calee Thigpen, left, and Meredith Pope, far right were named to the Region All Tournament Teams. Lydia Wilder,second from left, Taylor Spires, second from right, and Pope were given All Region honors. | @winn_sports
Laurens defense smothered Richard Winn’s offense for four quarters. Lydia Wilder notched the Eagles’ only bucket in the first quarter. Taylor Campbell had nine points for Laurens in the first. The Crusaders kept piling on with an explosive 20-point second period, and at halftime Richard Winn faced a 31-13 deficit.
The halftime break did not alleviate the Eagles’ offensive woes. They scored only six buckets in the second half, and the Laurens’ offense took full advantage of the slump. After three quarters, Richard Winn was down 36 points.
The Lady Eagles have a chance to avenge their loss when the SCISA state playoffs begin on Thursday, Feb.16. They’ll face Faith Christian at Heathwood Hall at 4:30.
Richard Winn 47, Newberry 30
RWA – 17-13-7-10 – 47
NA– 2-5-14-9 – 30
RWA – Calee Thigpen – 16, Meredith Pope – 14, Lydia Wilder – 5, Taylor Spires – 4, Gracie Atkerson – 3, Hannah Gibbons – 3, Emma Castles – 2.
NA – Daja Taylor – 20, Kathryn Wilbanks – 7, Amber Suber – 3.
Laurens 45, Richard Winn 23
LA– 11-20-12-2 – 45
RWA – 2-11-4-6 – 23
LA – Taylor Campbell – 17, Florence Mitchell – 10, Ruthie Moore – 8, Blair Quarles – 4, Jennifer Wu – 4, Reagan Williams – 2.
RWA – Lydia Wilder – 8, Taylor Spires – 7, Hannah Gibbons – 4, Emma Castles – 3, Calee Thigpen – 2.