North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
Sophie Powell (14) watches her shot in the first quarter of last Friday’s 60-19 region win over Socastee. Powell was one of three seniors of the Lady Chiefs to be honored during senior night at North Myrtle Beach. Her basket gave the Chiefs a 14-0 first quarter lead over the Lady Braves.
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach Lady Chiefs basketball team enters its final scheduled games of the season this week after winning two more 6AAAAA region games last week over Conway and Socastee and remaining undefeated in the region with a 7-0 record and 19-0 for the season.
The Lady Chiefs continued their winning ways at Conway last Tuesday with a 59-15 victory. Both games last week featured their strong defense and an offense led by Maddie Vereen, Sophia Powell, Jurnee Blye and Aubree Anglin.
The Chiefs started strong against the Lady Tigers as they scored 41 points in the first half and added 18 more in the second half while most of the second half had a running clock due to the SCHSL scoring rules.
When it was over Sophia Powell scored points in every quarter and led all scorers with 22 points. Maddie Vereen scored sixteen points in the first half and finished with 18 points and 9 steals. Jurnee Blye scored 10 points with 9 rebounds and Aubree Anglin scored 5 points and had 7 steals.
Last Friday night the Lady Chiefs were back home for senior night, and honored Katlyn Powers and Sophia Powell, while beating the Lady Braves.
Blye opened the scoring with a basket and Anglin followed with a three-pointer and 5-0 Chiefs lead. Maddie Vereen scored the next three points on a basket and a free throw on her next drive to the basket. Blye put a missed shot up for two points, Powell hit a basket, Ke’Aisha Bryant rebounded for a basket and Blye scored four straight points for a 20-0 lead. Conway finally scored on two free throws and the Chiefs led 21-2 after one quarter.
After a three-pointer by Conway to open the second quarter Blye made a three-point play, Powell scored two consecutive baskets, and Jailah Livingston rebounded a missed shot in for a 30-5 score. A Powell drive and score and Blye free throw made it 33-10. The half ended with the Chiefs holding a 37-12 lead.
Anglin started the third quarter scoring for the Chiefs with a jumper and a three-pointer and 42-16 lead. Anglin added two more baskets, one a three, and Bryant scored for a 49-16 Chiefs lead. Vereen hit two straight field goals and Anglin dropped in another three-pointer for a 56-16 lead, and the quarter ended with the Chiefs on top 57-16 and the clock running as the fourth quarter began.
The fourth quarter went quickly with the running clock. Socastee had one three-pointer to open the scoring, and the Chiefs Tianna Sweeney nailed a three in the final seconds of the game for the 60-19 Chiefs victory.
The Chiefs had four players in double figures. Anglin scored 16 points with three three-pointers. Powell and Blye each had 12 points and Maddie Vereen scored 11 points. As a team the Chiefs had 23 steals, 13 assists and 16 turnovers. Socastee had 34 turnovers made only 5 of 35 shots and couldn’t attack the Chiefs defense with any success.
The Chiefs also learned that Carolina Forest had been beaten by St. James by a 33-32 score. North Myrtle Beach High School Lady Chiefs coach Heather Kearney was pleased at that result but also realized that the Chiefs have final matchups with both teams in the last three games of the season, so a lot rides on this week’s scheduled games as all teams look forward to playoff basketball.
The Lady Chiefs schedule was impacted by the weekend snowstorm. Tuesday’s game at Carolina Forest had to be rescheduled and the Chiefs finish the week with a home game tomorrow against Myrtle Beach. Next week the Lady Chiefs play St. James.
