Alaira Evans launches a 3-pointer in Chapmanville's win over Charleston Catholic last week in the Lady Tigers final regular season home game (Photo courtesy of CKG Graphics).
Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
FAIRLEA A 31-point loss wasn't the exact regular season ending that Chapmanville coach Kristina Gore had envisioned for her Lady Tigers heading into postseason play.
Sisters Cadence and Kennedy Stewart combined for 50 points as the Lady Spartans led from start to finish Saturday night ending Class AA No. 9 Chapmanville's four-game winning streak in a 67-31 win over the Lady Tigers.
"I was disappointed in the lack of intensity from the tip," Gore said. "We were lethargic on both ends of the floor and were not aggressive offensively, we were passive and the physicality we've shown the past four games was just not there."
Chapmanville trailed 10-5 after one quarter and drew to within two, 10-8, in the second quarter: however, the Lady Tigers would get no closer as Greenbrier East went on a 7-0 run to take a 17-8 lead with 4:07 to play prompting Gore to pull all five starters off the floor.
"That move might not have been popular, but a message needed to be sent," Gore said. "It's tournament time. Once the clock starts winding down, you don't get to add any time back because you had a bad start."
Greenbrier East outscored Chapmanville 16-3 in the final 4:07 and led 33-11 at halftime. The Lady Spartans continued to add to their lead in the second half and led by as many as 36 points in the fourth quarter.
Cadence Stewart, who became the second Lady Spartan to reach 1,500 points in her career during a win at Moorefield on Feb. 16, posted a double-double to lead Greenbrier East with 32 points and 11 rebounds. Cadence's sister, Kennedy scored the Lady Spartans first five points and finished with 18 points while Caroline Dotson added eight points.
Greenbrier East coach and West Virginia Governor Jim Justice's squad improved to 15-7 with the win and will open sectional tournament play Tuesday night at home against Princeton.
"Greenbrier East is a good ball club and Cadence Stewart is a special player. Her little sister will be fun to watch over the next three years," Gore said. "We appreciate the Governor and his hospitality in allowing us to come back to the Greenbrier for another visit."
Alaira Evans had 10 points to lead Chapmanville in scoring. Haley Fleming and Lakin Parks each had six points for the Lady Tigers.
Chapmanville finishes the regular season with a 14-8 record and will host Liberty (Raleigh) Tuesday night in the Class AA Region 3 Section 2 tournament.
A win Tuesday and Chapmanville will travel to Mingo Central to face the top seed and second-ranked Lady Miners for a third time this season on Friday night.
"This group is talented enough to raise a banner this season in double-A," Gore said. "We've made great strides these past few weeks. I'm hopeful this was a temporary setback that we got out of our system."
Greenbrier East 67, Chapmanville 36
Chapmanville (14-8)
Fleming 2-9 2-2 6, Mahon 1-4 0-0 2, Christian 0-3 0-0 0, Blair 1-4 0-0 3, Evans 2-7 5-6 10, Lucas 1-1 0-1 3, Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Parks 2-2 0-0 6, Kirk 1-2 0-0 3, Pritchard 0-1 0-0 0, Thompson 0-0 1-2 1, Smith 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 11-35 8-11 36.
Greenbrier East (15-7)
Stewart, K. 7-13 2-2 18, Stewart, C. 11-18 6-11 32, Dotson 3-6 1-2 8, White 1-6 0-0 2, Fuller 1-2 0-0 2, Brammer 0-1 0-0 0, Whited 0-2 0-0 0, McClure 2-5 0-2 5, Wooding 0-2 0-0 0.
Totals: 25-55 9-17 67.
Chapmanville 5 6 8 17- 36
Greenbrier East 10 23 15 19- 67
3-point field goals_Chapmanville 6-20 (Fleming 0-2, Mahon 0-3, Christian 0-3, Blair 1-2, Evans 1-5, Lucas 1-1, Parks 2-2, Kirk 1-1, Pritchard 0-1), Greenbrier East 8-23 (Stewart, K. 2-4, Stweart, C. 4-9, Dotson 1-2, White 0-4, Whited 0-1, McClure 1-2, Wooding 0-1). Fouled out_None. Rebounds_Chapmanville 27 (Evans 4), Greenbrier East 34 (Stewart, C. 11). Assists_Chapmanville 7 (Miller 3), Greenbrier East 9 (Stewart, K. 4). Total fouls_Chapmanville 9, Greenbrier East 11. Technicals_None.