By By SCOTT COOPER – Sports Writer
W.S. Neal High School was the site of a Jan. 14 Area-1contest between the T.R. Miller Tigers and W.S. Neal Lady Eagles.
The night belonged to Miller, as the Lady Tigers built an insurmountable opening-half lead before coasting through the final two quarters to a 55-12 win that improved their record to 13-3 on the season and 2-0 in the area.
Both squads began the game playing tough, intense defense that forced the offensive units to work for points.
Following a scoreless opening minute of action, KeonShaye Lane hit a baseline jumper to give the Lady Tigers a 2-0 lead. Jasmine Sanford then followed with a fast-break basket to put Miller up, 4-0. After Candace Smith hit a free throw for a 5-0 Miller lead, Ashley Samuel broke loose for six straight points that broke open the game at 11-0. A Lane free throw and bank shot closed-out the first-quarter scoring and placed the Lady Tigers a commanding position, 14-0, heading to the second stanza.
Miller's defensive assault continued in the second quarter and began to severely wear on the Lady Eagles' offensive efforts.
Akia Suarez's jump shot from the baseline got Miller going in the period while padding the cushion to 16-0. Joy McCorvey scored a basket on a putback to put Miller up 18-0 before Samuel, Sanford, and Lane lifted the Lady Tigers on a 17-0 run over the next six minutes.
Neal (2-11, 0-3) trailed 35-0 with only seconds remaining in the half when Mayisha Brown found the mark with a bank shot that put the Lady Eagles on the board at 35-2 as the teams headed for the break.
Lilly Fantroy's four points paced the Lady Eagles as they outscored Miller, 9-8, in the third quarter and reduced the deficit to 43-11 heading to the final period.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, the Lady Tigers reasserted their dominance with an 8-1 run that stretched the lead to 51-12 with just over two minutes left in the game. An Asher Moore basket coupled with two points from Ashley Herbert put the finishing touches on the Lady Tigers' 43-point victory.
Offensive leaders for the Lady Tigers were Ashley Samuel, 21 points; KeonShaye Lane, 11 points and Jasmine Sanford, 10 points.
Candi Williams and Lilly Fantroy led the Lady Eagles with four points each.