North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
Maddie Vereen drives the lane and puts up a soft one-handed shot for two of her 13 points in last Tuesday’s 70-13 win over the viisting Conway Lady Tigers at the NMB gym. Her basket put the Chiefs ahead 53-11 in second half action. Vereen also had 6 assists and 8 steals in the Chiefs first region game.
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach High School girls and boys varsity teams began 6AAAAA region play last week with home and away encounters against Conway and Socastee.
The Lady Chiefs opened their region schedule at home last Tuesday with Conway visiting North Myrtle Beach. By games end it was apparent to the Lady Tigers that the Lady Chiefs were not very hospitable. The Chiefs won 70-13.
The Chiefs defense stopped the Conway offense often before they could cross midcourt. There were plenty of turnovers by Conway as they trailed the Chiefs 6-4 after three minutes of the first quarter.
About a minute later the Chiefs Aubree Anglin hit the first of her three-pointers in the game and Ke’Aisha Bryant scored on a nice turnaround jumper. Sophie Powell followed that with a layup, and the Chiefs led 15-4 with under three minutes to play. Anglin hit another three and Maddie Vereen scored on a steal for a 20-5 first quarter advantage.
Zoe Costello opened the scoring for the Chiefs in quarter two. Bryant hit a free throw and after a short lull in Chiefs offense Anglin’s third triple made it 26-7. The Chiefs ended the half on a Sophie Powell baseline drive and bucket for a 41-10 lead.
Maddie Vereen and Powell took over in the third quarter. Vereen scored 8 points and Powell 11 points, each with a three-pointer, as the Chiefs built their lead to 59-13 and two Bryant baskets ended the quarter with the Chiefs on top 63-13.
The fourth quarter went quickly with the clock running and no scoring by Conway, with the Chiefs subs in most of the final quarter. Costello made the final basket for the Chiefs, and the scoreboard reflected the outcome 70-13.
Powell led the Chiefs in scoring with 22 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 9 rebounds. Anglin scored 18 points and had 4 steals. Vereen scored 13 and had 6 assists and 8 steals. Kaitlyn Powers had three assists and three steals. Jurnee Blye had 14 rebounds.
The Lady Chiefs Friday game at Socastee was not as easy. Socastee outscored the Chiefs 10-8 after the first quarter, but the Chiefs led 19-15 at halftime. The Chiefs lead was down to 25-24 after three quarters. The Chiefs closed the game out with a 13-point fourth quarter and 38-30 win.
The final stats were telling. Maddie Vereen led the Chiefs scoring with 14 points, but Powell and Anglin were each held to one basket and no Chiefs player had a three-pointer. Vereen had 9 steals and the Chiefs 23 steals as a team. However, 27 turnovers put a crimp in the offense.
The Chiefs were back home Tuesday for maybe their toughest game of the season against Carolina Forest, 10-3 and 2-0 in region play. That game is followed by a visit to St. James tomorrow night.
The Chiefs boys team did not have the same fate as the Lady Chiefs. They got off to a decent start against Conway. The Tigers were driving the lane early and made six free throws on three Chiefs fouls to lead 6-2. A Mason Walker three made it 6-5 and a Primere Lewis three-pointer and Tavion Vereen basket down low gave the Chiefs a 10-9 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter.
The Tigers took advantage of Chiefs offensive misses to score the final six points of the quarter for a 15-10 lead.
The second quarter was a Chiefs offensive disaster. Walker scored the first points of the quarter on a three, but the Chiefs missed four free throws and had no baskets the rest of the first half while the Tigers built a 28-15 lead at the half.
The Chiefs made a little offensive move early in the third quarter, outscoring the Tigers 7-4 before a Conway timeout. Five of those points were scored by Porter Anglin on a rebound basket and free throw and another basket after a rebound. Luke Barrett also scored, and it was 32-20 with two minutes gone in the quarter.
The Chiefs got close again at 38-27, but the Tigers finished the quarter with a 43-29 lead.
Primere Lewis made one of two free throws and Chance Floyd scored after a steal and layup for a 43-32 Conway lead and 6:45 left in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Chiefs didn’t score another point until they scored three points in the last minute of the game.
Conway outscored the Chiefs 20-6 in the quarter and won 63-35.
The Chiefs made only 13 out of 49 shots and 4 of 13 free throws in the game. Travon Johnson led the Tigers with 16 points. The Chiefs were led by Porter Anglin’s 8 points and Tavion Vereen’s 7 points. Mason Walker made two threes in the game for 6 points.
The Chiefs trip to Socastee earned the Chiefs their first region victory, 43-41 over the Braves. The Chiefs took a 23-17 lead at halftime and outscored the Braves 13-12 in the third quarter before the Braves came within two points at the end of the game.
The Chiefs had 23 turnovers in the game but still squeaked out a win. Mason Walker led the Chiefs with 14 points and was 2 of six from three-point range. Primere Lewis scored 10 points and had 5 steals and 2 assists. Anglin had 5 points and 7 rebounds.
The Chiefs faced a 10-5 Carolina Forest team on Tuesday and then play the team that beat the Panthers when they tangle with St. James tomorrow night. Next week the Chiefs play Hartsville on Monday afternoon and then travel to Myrtle Beach on Friday, January 23.
