The Daleville High School girls basketball team defeated Barbour County 48-27 Thursday, Feb. 14, to advance to the Class 3A South Regional Tournament.
“It was our first time winning this in a long time,” sophomore center La Tia Fils-Aime said. “The team’s been working hard all summer and season. We got together as a team tonight and did what we had to do.”
The Lady Hawks led 6-3 at the end of the first quarter. Daleville allowed only two points by Barbour County in the second quarter, and added 16 points to give the team a 22-5 lead at the half.
Daleville furthered its lead to 32-14 at the end of the third quarter, and added 16 points to Barbour County’s 13 in the final quarter to take home the win.
“It was a great effort,” Daleville coach Zach Kelley said. “We played a good game from start to finish. We started off slow but then we got some movement going, hit some shots and that just opened it up for us.”
Fils-Aime led the team with 19 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and one steal. Garry Richard followed with 10 points and five rebounds. Jazmin Cephus earned six points, four rebounds and one block.
Eternity Hayes scored five points, six rebounds and one steal. Kiara Blanks had four points and one steal. Payton Souders recorded two points and four steals, and Chyana Blanks had two points, four steals and one rebound.
“I can’t even put in to words how proud I am of them,” Kelley said. “I’m proud of everybody from top to bottom. From where we were to where we are now is crazy. I can’t believe it.”
The Lady Hawks made two of 12 shots from the free-throw line and recorded 34 rebounds and 12 steals.
Daleville will face Opp, which defeated Cottage Hill Christian 62-42 in the Class 3A South Sub-Regional game. Opp is 20-4 this season, while Daleville is 15-11.
The Lady Hawks have been to the South Regional Tournament only twice before, in 2002 and 2003, and the team is happy its hard work paid off.
“It feels amazing,” junior point guard Chyana Blanks said. “It’s a blessing. The team’s progressing.”
The Lady Hawks will play Opp in the South Regional Tournament Thursday, Feb. 21, at 6 p.m. at the Dothan Civic Center.
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