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To clarify, Thomasville (18-3, 12-1) didn’t lose on the basketball court, the Lady Bulldogs dropped a coin flip Saturday with Chatham Central that gave the Lady Bears the top-seed and first-round bye in the YVC tourney at South Davidson High School.
“We’re trying some new things,” said Thomasville coach Lacardo Means. “We’re trying to get ready for the playoffs and show some people some different looks. You never know who is in the stands watching. When you play a team for the third time, and we beat them pretty handily both times before, it’s hard to motivate them. They finally caught fire and did what they’re supposed to do.”
In what turned out to be an officiated practice for THS, the Lady Dogs shook off a listless opening couple of minutes to blow the game open faster than the trip down N.C. Highway 109 lasted. Seniors Tiana Hall and Tia Davis helped spark some life into Thomasville, both offensively and defensively. The duo scored 10 of the Bulldogs initial 12 points while creating all kinds of problems for the North Moore ball handlers. Deuces became wild in the first quarter as Thomasville led 22-2 after eight minutes.
“It’s my senior year and I want to go out with a bang,” Hall said. “As a senior, I felt it was time for me to step up. People have been telling me to step up since my 10th grade year and I haven’t really done a good job of that. That’s our main goal is to get back to the state championship game for the first time since our freshman year.”
It only got worse from there. Sharae Alford reeled off five points in 55 seconds to start the second quarter and Davis added four of her 16 points as the Lady Bulldogs went up 32-2 with 5:16 remaining until halftime. Brittany Brown’s 3-pointer and Katelyn Sheffield’s basket in the final minute seemed like an offensive eruption from the Lady Mustangs who went to the locker room trailing 43-11.
“Her defense, quickness and savvy for the game helps her out a whole lot,” said Means of Hall. “I was pleased with her performance and most of the others also. I just wanted to be able to sit here and relax. They talked about how tired they were and I told them the sooner they took care of business the sooner they could rest.”
Not to be out done, senior Secily Ray, who broke the 1,200-point plateau in her last outing, set her sights on 1,300, scoring eight points in the third quarter, crashing the boards and running the floor. All eight of THS’ baskets in the frame and all but one in the game came inside 10 feet. Christina Carter’s 17-foot jumper in the first quarter was the only perimeter shot the Lady Bulldogs made, mainly because their transition offense and relentless assault on the offensive glass made for easier opportunities.
Thomasville plays the winner of the East Montgomery against West Montgomery tilt on Wednesday in the semi-finals.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 233, or at eliotduke@hotmail.com.