ACS Lady Warriors reach 20-win plateau
Published 2:13 pm Saturday, January 20, 2024
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AHOSKIE – Sometimes your best offense is a better defense.
Morgan Wadsworth rises in an attempt knock down a pass upcourt by Heritage Christian’s Tabitha Greene during Friday night’s game at Ahoskie Christian. Wadsworth scored 30 points to lead the Lady Warriors to a 63-40 win. Staff Photo by Cal Bryant
Ahoskie Christian School’s varsity girls basketball team used a stifling full court pressure defense, resulting in four straight steals and lay-ups in less than one minute of the second quarter, turning a narrow lead into a working margin that eventually led to a 63-40 win over Heritage Christian Academy here Friday night.
With the victory, the ACS girls become the first local team to reach 20 wins this season as they improved to 20-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play.
Clinging to a 22-14 lead at the 4:30 mark of the second period, the Lady Warriors ramped up their defensive pressure. Over the next 54 seconds, Kaylee Jones and Morgan Wadsworth each connected on two lay-ups following steals as the ACS lead swelled to 30-14.
Ahoskie Christian led 33-14 at halftime.
The Lady Warriors were able to increase that advantage in the third quarter, mostly behind the effort of Carly Piland who scored seven of her 10 points over that eight-minute stretch, helping her team build a 48-23 lead by the end of the period.
Ahoskie Christian’s McKenna Perry (#10) passes to a teammate after diving to the floor to collect a loose ball in Friday’s win at home vs. Heritage Christian. Staff Photo by Cal Bryant
Wadsworth opened the fourth quarter by reeling off eight straight points (two free throws followed by three baskets), part of her game-high 30-point performance. That offensive outburst generated a 56-23 lead with 5:44 left in the game, allowing ACS coach Kelly Perry to substitute freely for the remainder of the contest.
Heritage Christian drained four three-pointers (two each from Cheyenne Anderson and Rebekah Tucker) to lead their team on a 17-7 run in the game’s waning moments.
The Lady Warriors will hit the road for their next two games: Jan. 22 at Terra Ceia Christian and Jan. 23 at Victory Christian.
Lady Warriors (63)
Morgan Wadsworth – 30, Carly Piland – 10, Kaylee Jones – 7, McKenna Perry – 4, Kinsley Dunlow – 4, Lacey Berryman – 3, Madison Masters – 2, Mara Dae White – 2, Lilly Lassiter – 1.
Lady Patriots (40)
Cheyenne Anderson (13), Rebekah Tucker – 11, Rachel Tucker – 9, Tabitha Greene – 3, Allison Dulay – 2, Amanda O’Neal – 2.
About Cal Bryant
Cal Bryant, a 40-year veteran of the newspaper industry, serves as the Editor at Roanoke-Chowan Publications, publishers of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald, Gates County Index, and Front Porch Living magazine.
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