Hayes keys Riverdale girls’ win over Stewarts Creek

SMYRNA – Riverdale’s pressure defense wasn’t effective and Stewarts Creek was hitting 3-pointers, but Anastasia Hayes was the difference.

Hayes scored 30 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead Riverdale to a 75-62 victory over Stewarts Creek in their District 7-AAA meeting Tuesday.

“I was just going in there and playing hard,” she said.

The Lady Red Hawks (16-8 overall, 2-7 in 7-AAA) tried several different defenses to try to stop her. None of them worked.

“She’s a phenomenal player,” Stewarts Creek coach Jessica Jackson said. “We tried a little bit of everything on her. She’s so quick. Her first steps are so quick.

“She’s got a nice touch on the ball, she can shoot from outside. She’s so multidimensional.”

Hayes scored 12 points in the second quarter, as Riverdale (19-5, 6-2) outscored Stewarts Creek 24-13 to take a 10-point lead to the half at 41-31.

“I wasn’t too thrilled with our defense, but we had our offense going tonight,” Riverdale coach Cory Barrett said. “We made some shots, had some kids make some three’s on kickouts. I thought everybody did a good job.”

Stewarts Creek led 18-17 after the first quarter, beating Riverdale’s pressure for most of the period.

“I didn’t feel like we were matching up out of the press very effectively,” Barrett said. “I figured we could make them take longer to score if we got back in the halfcourt.”

The Lady Red Hawks’ Briannah Ferby battled to help her team get back into the game in the third quarter. She scored 13 points and was 5 of 5 from the field, including three 3-pointers to finish with 15 points before suffering a head injury at the quarter.

She had to be assisted off the floor and was taken to the emergency room to be checked for a concussion.

“They’ve got a great basketball team,” Barrett said. “If they were in any other district, they would be sitting just about one or two (in the standings). Jessica’s done a great job with her program, her kids are playing hard.”

BOYS

Stewarts Creek 72, Riverdale 58: Stewarts Creek (14-8, 6-3) closed out the game with a 17-8 run.

T.J. York led Stewarts Creek with 17 and Jy’lan Washington added 16, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Paul Kaelin also had 16 for the Red Hawks.

Brad Woodson scored 20 for Riverdale, including his 1,000th-career point.

GIRLS

Riverdale 75, Stewarts Creek 62

Riverdale 17 24 21 13 -- 75

Stewarts Creek 18 13 19 12 -- 62

Riverdale: Anastasia Hayes 30, Brinae Alexander 13, Caroline Patrick 11, Alexis Whittington 10, Destiney Williams 8, Kahliyah Murry 3.

Stewarts Creek: Jasmine Neal 16, Briannah Ferby 15, Sydney Floyd 9, Shaina Robinson 7, Brandi Ferby 8, Jasmine Smith 5, LaToya Darby 2.

BOYS

Stewarts Creek 72, Riverdale 58

Riverdale 14 17 15 12 -- 58

Stewarts Creek 22 17 10 23 -- 72

Riverdale: Brad Woodson 20, Brandon Somerville 7, Kashka Edwards 4, Gentry Bonds 9, Sidney Bell 9, Johnathan Mathews 7, Anthony Wiggins 2.

Stewarts Creek: T.J. York 17, Jy’lan Washington 16, Paul Kaelin 16, Cameron Marsh 7, Jalen Fearn 6, Sean Kromah 6, Tyler Conley 2, Richard Vaughn 2.