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Second-half spurt propels Greenbrier girls past Springfield





Greenbrier's Makenlee Jones (3) fights past Springfield's Shermauria Pope (00).Christina Moore

Greenbrier’s Makenlee Jones (3) fights past Springfield’s Shermauria Pope (00).Christina Moore

Greenbrier’s girls basketball team used a 12-2 run across the third and fourth quarters to take a lead for good against Springfield on Friday.

After falling behind 32-31 in the third, the Lady Cats (6-3) responded with a scoring run that lasted over five minutes of game time, giving them an edge across the last 10 minutes in their 53-48 win.

Interim head coach Danny Magrans said his team’s defensive intensity and use of the bench unit was key to the run and in picking up their first two-game sweep of Springfield since 2016.

“Every team has to develop their identity,” Magrans said. “From a basketball perspective, we have good basketball players, but we don’t have that dominant post player. We don’t have that stroker from 3-point range that can stroke it every time; we have a team that is learning how to play with one heartbeat.”

Makenlee Jones and Kendall Peterson go for the ball.Christina Moore

Makenlee Jones and Kendall Peterson go for the ball.Christina Moore

Greenbrier’s lead grew to 43-34 in the fourth quarter before Springfield (2-4) trimmed it to five with scoring plays by Amaya Walker and Taniya Partee. The Lady Cats had a response, though, hitting seven of their final 10 free throw attempts to seal the win.

A 3-pointer from Partee cut the lead back down to its smallest margin at the buzzer.

Springfield dropped its third straight game with the loss, with each of its last two defeats coming by single digits. Coach Tara Koran said the trend comes down to a lack of leadership on the floor.

The Jackets have started different lineups in each of their first six games to try and correct the issue.

“At the end of the day, we have teams showing up that really want to beat us, and I’ve got kids on my team that are not playing with as much heart as they need to,” she said.

“I think if you put our players side-by-side, I think we’re more talented (than Greenbrier). But hard work beats talent all the time. We just got out-worked, and we’ve got a lot of work that we need to do.”

Bane the puppy gets cuddles from a Greenbrier cheerleader.Christina Moore

Bane the puppy gets cuddles from a Greenbrier cheerleader.Christina Moore

Partee did not start for Springfield but led all scorers with 19 points in the loss. Abby Stacey, Keren Poha and Makenlee Jones combined for 28 of Greenbrier’s 53 points.

The Lady Cats – who are still without head coach Brianna Gillen – moved just three games away from matching last season’s win total on Friday. They’ve won three of their last four and host Sycamore in their next contest Tuesday.

“You wouldn’t be able to script it, considering the fact that our head coach has been out, then we have a coach who’s been a longtime coach but this is his first time he’s coached for us, and now all of the sudden we’re 6-3,” Magrans said.

BOX SCORE

Greenbrier (53): Makenlee Jones 13, Abby Stacey 8, Keren Poha 7, Rielyn Freeman 6, Kayleigh Andrews 4, Logan Henry 4, Allie Beth Moses 3, Ellie Clark 3, Zoe Hadley 3, Kendall Peterson 2.

Springfield's Taniya Partee leaps toward the basket.Christina Moore

Springfield’s Taniya Partee leaps toward the basket.Christina Moore

Springfield (48): Taniya Partee 19, Shermauria Pope 8, Kielee Bradley 6, Amaya Walker 5, Adrianna Hudson 4, Rayne Erickson 4, Tamara Royster 2.

Keren Poha (left) and Rayne Erickson (right) battle for the ball.Christina Moore

Keren Poha (left) and Rayne Erickson (right) battle for the ball.Christina Moore

Shermauria Pope goes for the lay up.Christina Moore

Shermauria Pope goes for the lay up.Christina Moore

Makenlee Jones (3) lines up her shot.Christina Moore

Makenlee Jones (3) lines up her shot.Christina Moore

Greenbrier interim coach Danny Magrans chats with his team.Christina Moore

Greenbrier interim coach Danny Magrans chats with his team.Christina Moore

Taniya Partee watches her free throw attempt.Christina Moore

Taniya Partee watches her free throw attempt.Christina Moore

A Greenbrier player drives on Springfield's Adrianna HudsonChristina Moore

A Greenbrier player drives on Springfield’s Adrianna HudsonChristina Moore

Coach Tara Koran speaks to her Springfield team during a time out.Christina Moore

Coach Tara Koran speaks to her Springfield team during a time out.Christina Moore

Logan Henry steals the ball.Christina Moore

Logan Henry steals the ball.Christina Moore

 

 

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