Senior Taylor Spires (15) picked up her 1,000th career point on Tuesday. | Millie Lambert 
Senior Derek Branham battles to the goal. | Millie Lambert
WINNSBORO – Richard Winn opened 2021 with home games against Andrew Jackson Academy on Tuesday.
The Warriors were no match for the Eagles, falling behind 16-11 in the first quarter. Richard Winn’s momentum grew as the game progressed, and the Eagles held a 32-21 lead at halftime.
The second half was more of the same as the Eagles put up 16 more in the third and held the Warriors to only 6 points, setting Richard Winn up for the 59-37 win.
The Eagles’ senior duo Meredith Pope and Taylor Spires had hot hands, putting up a combined 49 of Richard Winn’s 59 points. Spires shot 80% from behind the arc and picked up her second career milestone during the game, scoring her 1,000th point with a layup in the first quarter. She grabbed her 1000th career rebound earlier in the season.
Spires had 27 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals and two assists in the win. Pope finished with 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals, and 2 charges taken.
The Eagles took down Ben Lippen 55-20 and PAC 55-27 last week in their holiday tournament. Pope finished the tournament with 45 points and Spires had 36.
The Richard Winn (2-1) boys picked up their first loss of the season on Tuesday.
The Eagles held a 16-12 lead at the end of the first, but the Warriors picked up speed in the second. At the intermission, Richard Winn’s lead narrowed to 29-28. A close third quarter put the Eagles down by one (48-49) heading into the final period. Andrew Jackson rallied in the fourth, outscoring the Eagles 18-9 for the win 67-56 win.
Senior Derek Branham led Eagle scorers with 20 points, followed by sophomore Lawson Wade with 14 and senior Preston Williams with 10.
The Eagles picked up their first wins of the season in last week’s holiday tournament. Senior Dru Caldwell finished the tournament with 30 points, followed by Branham with 26. Drew Spires tallied 16 points in the Eagles’ Monday win, and Rob Wilson put up 19 in the win over PAC on Tuesday.
Both Eagle teams were back in action on Wednesday against PAC, but scores were not available at press time. They are set to travel to Anderson Christian on Friday for their first taste of conference play.
Next week will be another packed one for the Eagles as they are pack in conference games at Cambridge on Monday and W.W. King on Thursday before closing the week at home with Newberry on Friday.
GIRLS
AJA – 11-10-6-10 – 37
RWA – 16-16-16-11 – 59
Richard Winn: Taylor Spires 27, Meredith Pope 22, Mikaela Miller 5, Brinson Baker 3, Maggie Hughes 1, Meagan Brigman 1.
BOYS
AJA – 12-16-20-19 – 67
RWA – 16-13-18-9 – 56
Richard Winn: Derek Branham 20, Lawson Wade 14, Preston Williams 10, Dru Caldwell 6, Landon Caulder 4, Drew Spires 3.
