Chiefs exit playoffs with 58-52 loss

By John Smithson

The North Myrtle Beach Lady Chiefs put up an amazing battle last Tuesday night in their third round division II SCHSL playoff game with Berkley at the NMB gym but lost 58-52 to last year’s state champion.

The number two seeded Chiefs came into the game with the memory of losing their lower state championship game 67-32 to the Lady Stags in Florence last year. Berkley came into last Tuesday’s game as the three seed in this year’s lower state tournament with a 20-5 record, and second place in region 7 in the regular season.

On paper the game looked like a toss-up with both teams capable of winning. The Chiefs were 23-0, the Stags 20-5, their only two losses since late December were to the number one seed Goose Creek, the region 7 champion.

Maddie Vereen started the Chiefs scoring with a jump shot for a 2-0 lead and another basket in the paint for a 4-0 lead. Berkley scored on a drive and a three-pointer for a 5-4 lead. The Chiefs got two quick baskets from Sophia Powell and Aubrey Anglin and took the lead back 8-5.  Vereen’s rebound basket made it 10-5 with 3:40 left in the first quarter.

The Stags scored 8 unanswered points to lead 13-10 with less than a minute left in the quarter. Two free throws by Vereen ended the first quarter with the Stags in front 13-12.

Berkley opened the second quarter with two baskets before Powell’s basket narrowed the Stags lead to 17-14. Powell made two free throws, but the Stags scored 6 quick points for a 24-16 lead and Chiefs turnovers helped Berkley to a 28-16 lead. Powell hit a three-pointer on an inbound play, and it was 28-19. Bryant scored the last Chiefs point of the half and a 28-20 Berkley lead at halftime.

The Chiefs came out with an attitude in the third quarter. Veeen scored on a breakaway, Jurnee Blye had a layup basket and Vereen scored a bucket, cutting the Berkley advantage to 31-26 and a Stags timeout.  Blye scored and Maddie Vereen scored two straight baskets after the timeout and the Chiefs led 32-31.

Powell hit another three about a minute later and it was 35-31. There was plenty of action but no further scoring until Blye drove for a score with 1:25 left in the third quarter. Berkley finally added a free throw and a late basket, while Bryant scored a late basket for a 39-34 Chiefs lead after three quarters.

The Chiefs came out strong in the fourth quarter. A Vereen layup and a steal and layup by Blye increased the NMB lead to 43-34 and a quick Stags timeout. Berkley scored and added three more points on a three-point play to offset another Powell three and the Chiefs led 46-39. Vereen dropped in a free throw with 6:25 left in the game, but the Chiefs would not score again for almost three minutes.

Meanwhile the Stags scored on two quick layups and a three-pointer to trail 47-46. The Chiefs took a timeout but still could not get back on track with turnovers and missed shots failing to answer the Berkley charge.

With 3:56 left the Stags added two free throws. With 3:26 a three-pointer gave them a 51-47 lead. The Chiefs missed opportunities and trailed 53-49 with 1:52 on the clock. Blye hit three free throws in two trips to the foul line, and the Chiefs trailed 53-52 with 1:05 left in the game. The Chiefs and Stags tie-up gave the ball back to Berkley and a Stags layup with :27 left made it 55-52. The Chiefs were unable to score and four free throws by the Stags gave them a 58-52 lead, and the Chiefs last shot failed.

Disappointment filled the gym, the faces of the players mirroring the defeat. The game that seemed to be within reach instead ended their winless streak, ended their chance for revenge against the team that embarrassed them a year ago. It also ended their time together as a team.

Powell led the Chiefs scoring with 15 points and three three-pointers in her last game at NMB. Maddie Vereen scored 14 points, giving everything she could on the court. Blye scored 13 points in the second half.

Coach Heather Kearney’s comment after the game was fitting for a team that had given so much all year. “Tonight hurts and is not the outcome we wanted. However, we couldn’t be more proud of our young ladies. They competed with pride and tenacity tonight and every game this season. This team loved each other, worked extremely hard and allowed us to teach them at a high level. This team is truly special,” Kearney said.