Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

LUCASVILLE — Playing the second-seeded Eastern Brown Lady Warriors meant the Rock Hill Redwomen needed to play a near-perfect game.

They didn’t.

Offense and rebounding proved to be the decisive factors as Rock Hill fell to Eastern 46-32 on Sunday in the Division III sectional finals.

“Eastern is a nice team. We just couldn’t generate anything offensively and you need that if you’re going to beat them,” said Rock Hill coach Greg Damron.

“We didn’t do a good job limiting their second shots and you can’t do that with a good team like Eastern.”

Kaci Russell scored 15 points and Anna Darby had 10 points and six rebounds for Rock Hill (9-15).

Allison Day scored 18 and Lauren Towne 11 for the Warriors (19-4).

Towne scored 9 points and Day 7 as Eastern took a 16-9 first quarter lead. Darby scored 4 for the Redwomen.

The lead was 27-17 at the half, but Rock Hill got a stop and scored to cut the deficit to 8 points.

But the offense shut down and Rock Hill did not score the rest of the quarter and fell behind 36-19.

Day scored 9 points in the fourth quarter to offset 7 by Russell as Eastern killed any Rock Hill comeback hopes.

Although the loss snapped a four-game winning streak and ended the season, Damron praised his team and the leadership of seniors Madison Damron and Patty Riffe.

“I’m proud of the kids. I’m happy with the season. They won more games than they have in a long time and played hard every game,” said Damron.

Rock Hill 9 8 2 13 = 32

Eastern 16 11 9 11 = 46

ROCK HILL (9-15): Jill Hairston 0 0 0-0 0, Madison Damron 0 1 0-0 3, Taylor Hall 1 0 0-0 2, Anna Darby 3 0 4-4 10, Patty Riffe 0 0 0-0 , Caitlyn Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Samantha Dillon 1 0 0-2 2, Abbi Kline 0 0 0-0 0, Kyleigh Noel 0 0 0-0 0, Kaci Russell 3 1 6-6 15. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: None.

EASTERN BROWN (19-4): Maggie Fultz 0 1 0-0 3, Molly Prine 1 0 1-2 3, Whitney Broughton 1 0 0-0 2, Jenson Sowers 0 0 0-0 0, Abby Fulltz 0 2 2-2 8, Destiny Rose 0 0 0-0 0, Allison Day 8 0 2-5 18, Kendal Sowers 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Stamper 2 0 0-0 4, Lauren Towne 3 1 2-4 11, Lindsey Mallott 0 0 0-0 0, Kayla Farris 0 0 0-0 0. Fouls: 19. Fouled out: None.