HICO – Greenbrier West asserted itself early and often in a 47-30 defeat of the homestanding Midland Trail Patriots Monday night. Using a swarming defensive strategy, Greenbrier West forced the Patriots into a myriad of mishaps.
Capitalizing on steals and unforced errors, the Lady Cavaliers burst out of the gates to build a 14-2 first quarter advantage. If not for a cold-shooting start that mimicked the frosty temperatures that kept the Cavaliers from having more than one practice the previous week, West might have tested the scoreboard even further in the newly renovated Flournoy Center.
Coach Mark Agee’s West squad went a frigid 1-9 from the three-point line in the opening quarter. Maddie Fields nailed the only three of the period. Preslee Treadway led the Cavaliers with 5 points and Brilee Redden added four. Abigail Thomas and Treadway cleaned the boards for Greenbrier West with five and four rebounds, respectively. Freshman Raelyn Morris knocked down the only bucket for the Patriots.
In the second quarter, Treadway continued to lead the way for West with 11 points and five rebounds. Fields was the only other Cavalier to score in the second quarter. Greenbrier West outscored Midland Trail 13-8 to build a 27-10 halftime bulge.
Morris followed suit for the Patriots, scoring all eight of her team’s points. Morris was the sole Patriot to score in the first half. Treadway pumped in six third quarter points and Fields added a basket, allowing the Cavaliers to increase their lead to 18 points at the end of the quarter. Navaeh Hall got in the scoring column with four points for the Patriots while Jayla Barnhouse added a three. Greenbrier West led 35-17 going into the final quarter.
Three-pointers were the story of the fourth quarter. After Fields’ first-quarter trey, Greenbrier West was an icy 0-25 from behind the arc. Fields finally broke the ice and knocked down a fourth quarter triple. Hannah Sweet got in the scoring column with a three of her own, but the Cavaliers went only 3-30 on the night. Morris mirrored her first half effort going 2-7 from three on a 4–14-night.
Morris led the Patriots with 16 points in a losing effort. Hall added ten points, doing all her scoring in the second half.
Treadway led all scorers with 24 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. For Greenbrier West, Fields added 12 points, Redden four, Sweet three, and Kenna Fields and Keylee Clere each added two. Greenbrier West, ranked #4 in Class A in the West Virginia Schools Athletic Coaches Association poll, improved to 9-4 on the season.
A clash with #2 James Monroe looms for the Lady Cavaliers this Friday in Charmco. The Lady Mavericks defeated Greenbrier West in the season opener on November 28. Midland Trail began their season with a 5-1 mark, but with the loss to Greenbrier West, the Patriots have dropped eight straight games. Midland Trail heads to Independence on Thursday. Treadway earned M & M Barbeque Player of the Game honors with her 11th double-double of the season.
