The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Sports Front

Related Photos

  • Greenbrier East’s Elizabeth Romeo goes in for the shot against Preston during their Class AAA game in the Big Atlantic Classic on Friday at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. The Class AAA No. 1 Spartans won the game 63-49. To purchase this picture and to see others visit our photo store at www.register-herald.smugmug.com. Chris Tilley

    romeo
February 2, 2013

East girls win impromptu game

André scores 27 as Lady Spartans defeat Preston 63-49

By Dan Stillwell Register-Herald Sports Writer

BECKLEY — Bianca André was back in form Friday in the Big Atlantic Classic.

Good thing.

André’s 27 points, nine rebounds and four steals were crucial as Class AAA No. 1 Greenbrier East held off a determined Preston squad 63-49 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

After playing a disappearing act Thursday in the 13-0 Spartans’ victory over St. Albans, the senior first-team all-stater came out on fire against the Knights.

André hit her first two shots, both from beyond the 3-point arc, and added two foul shots as East moved to a 20-13 first-quarter lead.

“This was Bianca’s best game of the season,” coach Jim Justice said. “She’s up and down like a yo-yo. I don’t know why if she is capable of this, she doesn’t simulate something like that every night.”

Andre started the second quarter with another 3, and battled the boards hard against Preston standout center Mary Braham.

Her efforts seemed to ignite her teammates, as East received 3s from Chaunté McDowell, Elizabeth Romeo and Chloe Honaker to move to a 35-27 halftime advantage.

Preston (9-4) was far from finished, however. While its own solid 3-point shooting mostly disappeared, the Knights’ inside game remained strong despite Braham’s foul trouble. Forward Jessie Feather scored four baskets to cut the deficit to 44-42 by the third quarter’s end.

East responded with a 6-0 run, keyed by two André buckets, and she added two more drives and a pair of foul shots as the Lady Spartans finished out with two more runs, 6-0 and 7-0.

“They just didn’t miss,” Preston coach Brian Miller said. “We shot well, too, up until the fourth. They continued, and we had to start fouling.”

Justice said, “We find a way (to win). We just kept changing defenses. We finished strong.”

Preston was supposed to have played Nicholas County in the lower bracket consolation game, but the Grizzlies were unable to play due to a county rule against traveling on days when school is canceled.

“We could use the game, but more importantly, this is the Big Atlantic,” Justice said. “Preston didn’t need to come down here and not get their games. We’ll play anybody.”

Miller was glad to have made the long trip to Beckley.

“We played the No. 1 team in the state, and for 28 minutes, nobody in the building knew who was going to win,” he said.

All-state guard Carley Kelly had six 3-point goals and led the Knights with 23 points. Feather added 15. Braham, who fouled out, finished with two points and no rebounds.

Maddee Carroll had a solid game inside for East, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds. McDowell added 10 points, while Honaker and Romeo scored eight points apiece. Honaker made four steals, while Romeo had three assists.

East will play its third game in as many days against AAA No. 6 University for the upper bracket championship at 5:40 p.m. today.

“You (sometimes) have to play three days in a row at the state tournament,” Justice said.

“No question University is a good team. They’ve got size and they shoot the ball well.”

— E-mail: dstillwell@

register-herald.com



Preston (9-4)

Carley Kelley 8-15 1-2 23, Kaitlyn Workman 2-6 0-0 4, Alexis Schoolcraft 1-80-4 2, Jessie Feather 7-9 1-2 15, Mary Braham 1-4 0-0 2, Karlee Good 1-4 0-0 3, Emma McCelland 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 20-48 2-8 49.

Greenbrier East (13-0)

Elizabeth Romeo 3-7 1-2 8, Bianca André 811 8-8 27, Maddee Carroll 4-4 2-4 10, Chloe Honaker 3-5 0-0 8, Chaunté McDowell 3-11 2-2 10, Kristen Talbott 0-0 0-0 0, Victoria Krystynak 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Kat Walton 0-1 0-0 0, Lexi Tincher 0-1 0-0 0, Caitland Boggs 0-0 0-0 0, CeCe Grant 0-0 0-0 0, Kaitlyn Mize 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 21-40 13-16 63.

P    13    14    15    7    —    49

GE    20    15    9    19    —    63

3-point goals: PC: 7-20 (Kelley 6-11, Workman 0-1, Schoolcraft 0-3, Feather 0-1, Good 1-3, McClelland 0-1); GE: 8-20 (Romeo 1-3, André 3-4, Honaker 2-4, McDowell 2-7, Walton 0-1, Tincher 0-1). Fouled out: PC: Braham; GE: None.

Text Only
Today's Sports Front
  • 052413 Woodrow.jpg Woodrow Wilson headed to states

    Hunter Greco will walk into the halls of Woodrow Wilson High School this morning for the final time. He’ll walk past his locker and the classroom of his favorite teacher.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • 052413 Indy.jpg Rain halts AA final in 5th

    It took nearly a week for PikeView and Independence to finally claim their sectional championships, largely because of persistent rain.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • 052413 James Monroe.jpg Mavericks fall in AA title game

    The James Monroe High School softball team scratched its way up to the championship game of Class AA softball this week.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • Months of waiting ends: Weeks signs with Marshall

    Adam Weeks probably could have helped usher in a historic first season for the Mountain East Conference at any member school he wanted. Instead, he waited — and waited — for the offer he really wanted.

    May 24, 2013

  • 052313 james monroe A dream start, nightmare end

    Lightning on the horizon brought Wednesday's final game of the state softball tournament to an end.
    The James Monroe Lady Mavericks had felt a shock long before that.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • 052313 woodrow One step away from Charleston

    A trip to Charleston — with a lot more on the agenda than a tour of the capitol building and a shopping spree at Charleston Town Center — will be up for grabs tonight for three area teams that are one win away from punching their ticket to the WVSSAC State Baseball Tournament at Appalachian Power Park.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • 052313 Tanner Tanner is Summers County coach

    After weeks of controversy, it appears Summers County High School officially has a new football coach.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • WVU baseball changes up pitching lineup for Big 12 Championship

    Randy Mazey’s attention has been on everything but baseball in recent days, as the West Virginia University coach has been out in front of his team’s effort to help the tornado victims in Oklahoma, where his team has been this week preparing for the Big 12 Baseball Championships, which begin today at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla.

    May 22, 2013

  • 052213 woodrow Woodrow downs defending AAA champs

    It’s a play that Woodrow Wilson has practiced everyday this season and has rarely had to utilize.
    It’s a good thing the Flying Eagles did practice it; it saved their season and led to a 2-1 victory over defending state champion Princeton.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • 052213 indy No repeat for Warriors

    Independence has been on a tear offensively the entire month of May. It didn’t stop Tuesday, even against Wyoming East ace Derek Thornton.
    The Patriots led 5-0 after two innings, and Brian Sexton — backed by that very offense and some sparkling defense — gutted out a complete game in a 7-5 win in the Class AA Region 3 semifinals Tuesday night.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo