LINDSIDE- Lindside featured a hard fought, physical girls’ basketball game on Monday night, Dec. 11 when the Greenbrier East Lady Spartans traveled to James Monroe to take on the Class AA no. 4 Lady Mavericks.
It was a back-and-forth game until late in the second half as James Monroe held on and prevailed by a final score of 57-51.
The Spartans (3-2) started hot to open the game and took advantage of a couple early Mavs turnovers with Kennedy Stewart nailing an open 3 and Hannah Fuller converting 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Then, a Jada Waller basket made it 6-1 just three minutes into the contest.
Enter, Maggie Boroski.
Boroski is a skilled player with many capabilities on the court and she showed about midway through the first. She got going with a layup underneath, then hit two shots from downtown, and then stole a pass and converted another bucket that put James Monroe up 13-9 late in the first.
Ava Workman and Stewart combined to help East retake the lead in the second quarter before Boroski answered with a score to tie it back up 15-all. The two teams traded baskets for the rest of the quarter as Mya Dunlap stepped up for James Monroe (3-2) and East got contributions from Stewart and Waller, who hit a big 3 at the first half buzzer.
At the break, the Mavericks led 26-24.
After Boroski scored to open the third and Stewart immediately scored after, James Monroe went on a run that would eventually set them up to win the game. Dunlap, Mary Beth Meadows, and Boroski all pitched in the scoring column, as did Ava Dunlap and Aleigha Hill, and after three quarters the Mavs had built a comfortable 39-29 lead.
The Spartans made an attempt at a comeback, and it was led by two players that are auditioning to see a lot more playing time in Regan Rink and Sandy Banton. With James Monroe leading 54-46 with just two minutes left, Banton hit a short jumper, then followed that with a long 3 that cut the lead to 55-51 for James Monroe.
Mya Dunlap sank two free throws to seal the deal for the Mavs.
East’s 19 turnovers on the night led to 17 James Monroe points and the Spartans shot only 30 percent for the game.
In 15 minutes, Rink scored 5 points, had 9 rebounds and 2 assists. In just under three minutes of play, Banton had 6 points and 3 rebounds as both players may be big pieces to the East team moving forward. Stewart led East with 22 points.
Boroski finished with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and four steals. Mya Dunlap had 14 points and 6 boards.
The Lady Spartans head to Princeton on Wednesday, Dec. 13 to try and snap their two-game losing streak.
James Monroe travels to River View this Thursday, Dec. 14.
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