LEXINGTON – It’s still early for the Blythewood girls basketball team. The Bengals (3-2) are just two weeks into the season, but they are showing growth under first year head coach Emily McElveen.
Blythewood played tough in a 64-53 loss to Westwood Dec. 5, and rebounded with a 47-45 victory over Ridge View two days later.
And Tuesday night the Bengals dispatched White Knoll 58-33.
“We’re having a good year so far,” McElveen said. “One of our main things is working together as a team. That’s one of our big goals is getting the culture moving to where we’re utilizing all of our players.”
Three players returning from last year continue to make a presence on the court.
Sophomore Chase Thomas, who averages more than 20 points per game thus far this season, led the way with 24 points against the Timberwolves (2-6). Fellow sophomores India Williams and Hayley Hightower scored 16 and 10 points, respectively.
Thomas, Williams and Hightower led the team in scoring last year and helped the Bengals to a 15-14 record and a third-place finish in Region 3-5A. In all, seven players return from last season and are expected to contribute alongside the newcomers.
“We can’t be a three-person team,” McElveen said. “We need to make sure we’re utilizing all of our players.”
The Bengals have plenty of opportunities to refine their skills before region play tips off at Fort Mill Jan. 9. They have a rematch at Westwood Friday and travel to South Pointe Monday.
After those games Blythewood heads to the Y.C. Winborn Showcase in Rock Hill Dec. 21-23. There, they tip off the 24-team showcase against Spartanburg Dec. 21 and Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw, N.C.) the next day.
“We lost some games early, but we’re not worried, we’re headed in the right direction,” McElveen said, noting that region play will be the real test. “There’s some good teams out there, but we should definitely be able to compete with anybody if we play the way we know how to play.”
In the boys game Tuesday, Blythewood (5-2) made light work of White Knoll (0-7), winning 79-43.
Will Olden scored 12 points and Taurus Lewis Jr. added 10 to lead the Bengals. Every player on the roster saw significant playing time. Twelve out of the 13 Bengals on the roster scored.
That win put distance on the Bengals’ 66-54 loss to Ridge View in The Bash Saturday night.
Kishan Chung scored 24 points that night to lead Blythewood, but Ridge View’s defense held the Bengals to single digits in the first and third quarters, and the offense outscored the Bengals 22-16 in the fourth quarter.
Next for the Bengals is a rematch with the Redhawks Friday. The Blythewood boys topped Westwood 54-52 in overtime Dec. 5.
After Blythewood’s road trip to South Pointe Monday, the boys head to the Lemon Street Classic in Marietta Ga. Dec. 21-23.
Boys
Blythewood – 24-20-23-12 — 79
White Knoll – 12-11-8-12 — 43
Blythewood: Will Olden 12, Taurus Lewis Jr. 10, Coker 9, Whyche 9, Sims 8, Jones 7, Little 6, Chung 5, Mazyck 5, Washington 3, Stephens 3, Mack 1, Major 1.
White Knoll: Xyrian Funderburk 11, Jennings 8, McLeod 7, Sims 5, Posey 4, Fanning 4, Griffin 2, Geronomi 1, Beu 1.
Saturday at The Bash
Blythewood – 7-22-9-16 — 54
Ridge View – 10-24-10-22 — 66
Blythewood: Kishan Chung 24, Austin Coker 13, Olden 7, Jones 4, Lewis 2, Stephens 2, Sims 2.
Ridge View: Korie Corbett 14, J. Smith 9, Wiley 9, Staley 8, Pretty 7, Davis 6, Cooper 5, Mack 4, T. Smith 2, McCleary 2.
Girls
Blythewood – 15-13-17-13 — 58
White Knoll – 0-9-9-15 — 33
Blythewood: Chase Thomas 24, India Williams 16, Hayley Hightower 10, Brown 5, Fluker 2, Anderson 2.
White Knoll: Shaelin Hayes 17, White 8, Daniel 6, Butler 2.
Thursday
Ridge View – 15-5-10-15 — 45
Blythewood – 10-15-13-9 — 47
Blythewood: Chase Thomas 26, Williams 9, Spain 8, Fluker 2, Brown 2.
Ridge View: Simone Johnson 13, Sian Banks 10, Bailey 9, Harvey 6, Carter 2, Waters 2, Drakeford 2, Singleton 1.