ASHEBORO — Huge runs paved the way for giant Wheatmore win over the Lady Jets of Jordan-Matthews.
The Lady Warriors opened both halves with big scoring bursts to first seize and later maintain control in overpowering J-M 49-28 in consolation round action on the second day of the 29th annual The Courier-Tribune Christmas Invitational Tournament at Asheboro High School Saturday afternoon.
Defeating Jordan-Matthews for the third time in seven tourney meetings, Wheatmore lifted its overall record to 7-4, while the Lady Jets dropped to 2-8 for the season.
The Lady Warriors placed three starters in double figures, led by Taylor Comer’s game-high 16 points. Kylie Biggs and Kara Comer contributed a dozen points each for Wheatmore, which connected on 47 percent (22-of-47) of its field goal attempts while only committing nine turnovers.
Avery Headen notched 12 points to lead J-M, which shot just 26 percent (11-of-42) from the floor but out-rebounded the Lady Warriors 29-16 despite turning the ball over 20 times.
“We came out a little flat and fell behind 5-0 at the outset before finally settling into our game by running the offense and getting aggressive on defense, which allowed us to run off 12 straight points and take command,” remarked Wheatmore coach Pete Kilcullen.
“Playing solid defense is a big key for us, as our goal is to convert turnovers into run-outs and easy transition baskets. It also helps when you get balanced scoring by putting three players in double figures.”
Lady Jets’ coach Charles Byrd commented his team never developed any consistency in its game.
“Our guards didn’t do a good job penetrating gaps this afternoon and we were very stagnant offensively,” said Byrd.
“Wheatmore played a lot harder than us and was much more aggressive on the floor. One positive we had was the good job we did on the boards, but they really hurt us with their transition game.”
Headen’s jumper from the right wing and three-pointer from the left side got Jordan-Matthews off to a 5-0 start in the first four minutes of the initial stanza before the Lady Warriors closed out the opening period with 12 unanswered points to forge a seven-point advantage after one quarter.
Following Ellia Wright’s jumper from the left wing that drew J-M within 14-12 with 3:31 to go in the first half, Wheatmore responded with Taylor Comer’s conventional three-point play, Kara Comer’s mid-court steal and layup plus Biggs’ put-back in the lane at the horn to surge to a nine-point lead at the break.
With Jasmine Scotten recording the Lady Jets’ only points of the third stanza on a jumper off the left baseline and a rebound bucket in the paint, the Lady Warriors proceeded to outscore Jordan-Matthews 15-4 in the frame to carry a 36-16 advantage into the last eight minutes.
After a layup and free throw by Makayla Glover got the Lady Jets within 17 at the start of the fourth period, Wheatmore never let J-M edge any closer the remainder of the contest and equaled its biggest lead of the day at 49-26 following Taylor Comer’s three-pointer from the right wing with 1:44 to play prior to a Wright foul shot with 34.7 seconds remaining that accounted for the final margin.
Jordan-Matthews will now face Trinity at 1 p.m. Monday afternoon in a match-up to decide seventh place, while the Lady Warriors will meet Eastern Randolph at 2:30 p.m. Monday for fifth-place honors.