By JOHN SMITHSON
The North Myrtle Beach High School Lady Chiefs had another frustrating week of 6AAAA region basketball as they lost last Tuesday’s home encounter with Hartsville 46-23, then traveled to South Florence for a 50-35 loss to the Lady Bruins.
North Myrtle Beach played their second game against the Lady Red Foxes on Tuesday, having lost to them 40-32 in their first region meeting at Hartsville. The Chiefs simply did not have a good offensive night against the pressure defense that Hartsville employed. The Red Foxes opened the scoring with a three and added a basket after a steal before Jaden Berger made a basket off the glass for a 5-2 score and 6:32 on the clock. The teams then traded possessions twice without points until Maddie Vereen rebounded her own missed shot for a 5-4 Hartsville lead about two minutes later.
Hartsville scored the next seven points of the first period on a three-pointer by Brooke Mitchell and two free throws and a basket by Jazzy Frierson. The Chiefs were only able to add two points just before the period ended, when Faith Farmer was fouled and made two free throws with 20.9 on the clock for a 12-6 first period margin for the Red Foxes.
The second period was even worse for the Lady Chiefs on offense. Ty Woodard scored a bucket underneath for the first points of the period just 16 seconds into the period, but the Chiefs added only two additional points before halftime on a basket by Berger.
Hartsville scored five points early in the period to lead 17-10 after Berger’s basket, with Frierson responsible for an early basket. Frierson scored all the remaining Red Foxes points on three drives to the basket and a made free throw. Hartsville went to halftime leading the Chiefs 24-10.
Kristin Livingston scored the first Chiefs point of the third period on a free throw after being fouled driving for a basket. Farmer nailed a three from the corner as the Chiefs trailed 24-14 after the first 1:10 of the period. Both teams then failed to score again until Hartsville scored a basket about halfway through the period to lead 26-14. The Chiefs added only one free throw the rest of the period, while Hartsville added three free throws for a 29-15 lead after three periods.
The Chiefs scored the first four points of the fourth period on a Farmer reverse layup right after the opening inbound play. A minute later Woodard scored and the Chiefs were down 29-19. Once again Hartsville responded with a seven point run, with Frierson scoring on three free throws and a three point play to up the Red Foxes lead to 36-19 with 5:41 left in the game.
The Chiefs were at the foul line twice in the next minute but Vereen and Woodard made only one of two free throws. Hartsville added a basket and two more Frierson free throws for 40-21 lead with 4:40 left. The Chiefs didn’t score over the next two minutes with three turnovers and missed shots. Hartsville also failed to score until they rebounded a shot in for a 42-21 lead with two minutes left. Woodard hit a basket underneath for the Chiefs 23rd point. Hartsville finished the game with a basket and two more free throws made by Frierson and a 46-23 victory.
Jazzy Frierson ended up outscoring the entire Chiefs team with 28 points, eleven of those in the fourth period. Faith Farmer had eight points and Woodard six points to lead the Lady Chiefs.
The Chiefs traveled to South Florence last Friday to take on the region’s first place Lady Bruins, 7-1 in region play going into the game. The Chiefs started the game with only four points in the first period, with Ty’Wreanna Woodard scoring the first points to trail 6-2. The Chiefs added single made free throws late in the period, while the Lady Bruins finished the period with a 10-4 lead.
The Chiefs offense improved in the second period as they scored the first six points of the period on a Ver’Quavouis three-pointer, a Maddie Vereen basket and a Farmer three for a 12-10 lead over South Florence. The Bruins tied it at 12-12, but the Chiefs led 14-12 on a Berger basket with half the period to play, before the Bruins outscored the Chiefs 10-1 to lead 24-15 at halftime.
South Florence scored a basket and a three to start the third period. Woodard made a basket to interrupt the scoring, but the Bruins were back on offense and led 35-17 before the Chiefs Farmer scored to make the South Florence lead 35-19. The Chiefs outscored the Bruins over the last minutes of the period, with baskets by Berger, a three by Farmer, and a Vereen field goal making the score 40-26.
The Chiefs couldn’t overcome the Bruins big lead in the fourth period and ended the game losing 50-35. Woodard scored seven points in the fourth period, with her 12 points total leading Chiefs scoring.
The Lady Chiefs finished the week with a 13-11 overall record and 3-6 region record with a remaining regular season game at rival Myrtle Beach this Tuesday.