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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

In the third quarter against visiting Reynolds on Dec. 9, the Davie JV girls basketball team went from seven ahead to four down. But for the second straight game, the War Eagles were up for the challenge in the decisive fourth quarter.

Britany Hernandez, Carleigh Croom, Kaylee Lynch and Tasia Tarpley shared the scoring spotlight in the fourth as Davie pulled out its second hard-fought game in a row, including a 49-45 comeback win over West Rowan the week before.

The second quarter was all Davie, which scored nine of the 10 points to take a 12-5 lead to the locker room. But the third quarter was dominated by the Demons, who roared to a 19-15 lead.

But Davie (2-3 overall) got the last laugh in the Central Piedmont Conference opener. Coach Lamar Russell beamed with pride after Davie outscored Reynolds 16-6 in the final seven minutes.

Leading the way was Hernandez, a freshman who scored a team-high 12 points. She has produced eight or more in every game.

“Britany had another big game,” Russell said. “She hit another big shot (like she did against West Rowan) to put us up by three in the closing minutes. She has been stepping up to the moment. I tell them: ‘If you feel confident, take the shot.’ And she has stepped up twice.”

Give credit to Croom (seven points) and Lynch (six points, 15 rebounds).

“Carleigh didn’t have the biggest (scoring) game tonight, but as far as leading and being a general, she did her job,” he said. “Without (Lynch’s) rebounds, we don’t get second-chance opportunities. In the first two games when we didn’t have KK, the rebounding wasn’t there and we didn’t get extra possessions. I said it last year and I’ll say it again, KK cleans the boards better than any girl I’ve seen in the post.”

Tarpley had six points and America Stockton had five rebounds.

EF 31, Davie 25

After winning two games by a total of 10 points, the War Eagles suffered a pair of coulda/shoulda defeats. The first came at East Forsyth (2-2) on Dec. 13.

It was anybody’s game going into the fourth quarter, with Davie leading 23-22. But it only managed two points in the final period and lost by six.

Croom had nine points, Tarpley eight, Madison Lewis four, Hernandez two and Lynch two. Lynch collected 15 boards and rejected two shots. Stockton grabbed six rebounds.

Reagan 32, Davie 31

A home loss to Reagan on Dec. 16 was another tooth-and-nail battle that ended in heartbreak for Davie.

Tarpley hit a 3-pointer in a first quarter that ended 6-6. Reagan held small leads at halftime (14-11) and after the third (26-25). Tarpley’s six points and Lewis’ three kept Davie in contention in the third.

Why did the War Eagles fall short? They suffered through a brutal day at the free-throw line, missing 19 foul shots. Go just 11 of 28 from the line – instead of 9 of 28 – and it’s a different outcome.

“That’s a killer,” Russell said of the 32-percent shooting from the charity stripe. “We had open shot after open shot. We got to the free-throw line; we did everything right. But we did not hit the free throws.”

The biggest reason Davie (2-5, 1-2 CPC) was in position to win was Tarpley, who hit three 3s and scored 13, or eight above her average. Croom had eight. Lewis had five points, five rebounds and two blocks. Lynch had three points and 15 boards – her third straight game with 15 rebounds. Hernandez and Aubrey Speckin had one point each.

“My girls played a great game,” Russell said. “I think they played as hard as they can play. Just a few free throws made, we win the ballgame. I said we were going to make some noise in conference. We’ve still got a chance.”