Lady Bears lose close game at ASU

By Dusty Harper (Contact) | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, February 17, 2010

MONTGOMERY — The Akron Lady Rams jumped on the Lady Bears of Edward Bell from the start, scoring 10 of the first 12 points in Monday’s Central Regional Tournament game, and hung on in the fourth quarter for a 61-46 victory.

It was the second straight year Akron ended Edward Bell’s season.

Following the slow start, EBHS managed to cut the lead to four at the end of the first quarter on a Kierra Billingsley 3-pointer. After Akron pulled ahead by nine points, Billingsley sliced the lead back to six with another triple with 5:54 left in the half.

However, that would be the last points of the quarter for the Lady Bears, as Akron shut them out the rest of the way. Kadijah Small and Jasmine Robinson helped Akron take a 28-16 lead into the locker room.

EBHS could only pull back to within single digits once – on a Desharte Edwards 3-pointer with 4:26 left – in the third quarter and trailed 40-29 going into the fourth quarter.

But, EBHS made things interesting with a late rally. After the Lady Rams extended their lead to 15 with 6:33 left, Caneshia Smith scored, Edwards made a lay-up and Jamelia Wilkerson made back-to-back buckets.

Edwards scored five straight points for her team to make the score 48-44 with 3:07 to go. However, Akron went on a 13-2 spurt to close the game and eliminate EBHS.

EBHS shot 21 percent in the first half, but finished at 31 percent for the game after making 13 of 35 second-half attempts. The Lady Bears were beaten bad on the boards (49-32) and at the free throw line (EBHS was 5-10, AHS was 15-27).

Valencia McCain (20 points, 16 rebounds) and Small (19 and 12) both closed with double-doubles for Akron. Robinson scored 15 points. Edwards (21) and Billingsley (15) finished with 36 of EBHS’ 46 points

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