LELAND- Holding off a determined Charleston Lady Tigers team Friday night, the Leland Lady Cubs won 41-33 in a District 2A Region 3 contest.
The Lady Cubs first two field goals of the third quarter were an indication of how well the night had been going for the home team up to that juncture. Both Camariyah Butler’s three pointer and Imani Campbell’s foul line jumper bounced around the rim a couple of times before falling through the net. At the 4:59 mark of the third quarter, the Lady Cubs extended their lead to 31-11. But throughout the remainder of the third quarter, the Lady Tigers closed on a 16-3 run led by the inspired play of Keona Tillis and Mona Lisa Stokes battling for offensive rebounds and diving on the floor for loose balls. Leland led 33-27 at the end of the third quarter.
“The second half was a disaster,” said Lady Cubs head coach Patansy Miller Hampton. “I think we got too confident with how well we played in the first half. But the second half is also a testament to how hard our district opponents fought back tonight.”
Leland set the tone early as they were a step quicker to the ball than Charleston. Active hands and foot speed along with suffocating ball pressure triggered the Lady Cubs fast break as Butler knifed through the Lady Tigers defense for six of her teams 18 first quarter points.
Leland established its transition game early which led to open perimeter shots. Imani Campbell drained a three pointer at the end of the first quarter and confidently placed three fingers across her chest as the Lady Cubs took an 18-6 lead into the second quarter.
Charleston began breaking some of the Lady Cubs pressure defense in the second quarter for better looks at the basket. But, the visitors couldn’t capitalize tallying only one field goal and a free throw in the second half. Leland led 28-9 at the half. Butler led all scores with 19 points. Stokes led Charleston with 14 points.
