FAIRLEA– In a brand-new basketball season, the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans look like they are going to be just fine in the 2023-24 campaign.
East (1-0) used a 44-to-10 run in the second and third quarters to open a huge lead over the Oak Hill Lady Red Devils en route to a dominating 69-30 season opening victory on Tuesday night, Nov. 28 at Spartan Gym.
With ‘Babydog’ cheering them on from the bench, the Spartan defense held Oak Hill to an ice cold 18 percent shooting night as the pressure from East really took the Red Devils out of any kind of rhythm all night long.
Hannah Fuller got the scoring started for East when she put in a layup for a 2-0 lead. Then, a Kennedy Stewart jumper and a Jada Waller 3 put the Spartans up 7-0 early. Oak Hill trimmed that deficit to 9-4, but a nice assist from Mackenna McClure to Fuller, a Stewart bucket, and a McClure mid-range shot put East back up 15-4. The score was 15-8 after one.
Stewart came out hot in the second with help from her backcourt mate, freshman Ava Workman. The former put in a quick five points to open the quarter while the latter answered with five of her own. Stewart then drained another deep ball, Fuller scored off an offensive board, Stewart scored again, and Fuller did the same, and just like that, East had taken a 34-8 lead they would never relinquish.
In case the Red Devils (0-1) had any hopes of a comeback, Workman erased those thoughts quickly in the second half. The guard carries herself well on the court and never slows down. She also is smooth with the ball, which helps too. She put in 12 third quarter points and got help from Stewart and Waller, who also hit shots from downtown. After three quarters, East led 59-18.
Head coach and Governor Jim Justice cleared the bench in the fourth and got some younger girls some invaluable time on the floor. Sandy Banton was quite impressive and had five points including a long ball and Hailey Heaster and Alizabeth Wooding each got a bucket as well.
The Spartans shot 42 percent for the game, including hitting 9-of-28 from 3-point range. They were outrebounded by Oak Hill 51-47 thanks in part to Oak Hill’s Carolyn smith who pulled down 15 of those.
East had 16 assists on their 29 made baskets. In the turnover department, The Spartans did commit 15, but forced the Red Devils into 19 miscues.
Workman and Stewart each had a game-high 19 points. Workman added six rebounds and five steals. Stewart had five rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. That backcourt duo is young but can cause problems this year for their opponents. Fuller added 10 points, seven rebounds, and two blocks.
Oak Hill did not have a double-digit scorer.
The Lady Spartans play again this Friday night, Dec. 1 when they host Moorefield.
