The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The pennant-winning CH Reeves Raptors took game one of the GSSSA junior girls’ basketball championship series in a nail-biter, 15-14, over the HO Nash Lions.

A defensive struggle for much of the game, a costly turnover with just seconds left to play ultimately derailed the Lions and sealed a game one win for the Raptors yesterday at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium.

Trailing 15-14 with 11.8 seconds left to play and possession, Keshanique Moss was called for a carrying violation, ending the Lions’ comeback hopes.

A nip and tuck game throughout, neither team was able to lead by more than three possessions.

CH Reeves took the biggest lead of the game late in the second half when Deshanna Mints recovered an offensive rebound and scored on a putback to give her team a 15-9 lead.

It would be the last basket of the game for the Raptors as the Lions closed the game on a 5-0 run to nearly pull off the upset.

Mercedes Taylor made one of two at the line and followed with a layup two possessions later.

Ulrica Woodside would grab a rebound on the next play and take it the full length of the floor to trim the deficit to one, 15-14, with 17 seconds left to play.

CH Reeves had several opportunities to close the game out with free throws but went 0-4 at the line down the stretch.

Mints finished with a side high seven points while Shenique Knowles added five.

The game opened with both teams struggling to find offence.

Just one field goal was scored in more than five minutes in and the Raptors took a 3-0 lead.

Terelle Cox broke the scoring drought with a pair at the line at the 8:22 mark.

The Raptors continuously earned more trips to the line but only converted 1-8 at the line.

CH Reeves led 5-4 at the half.

“We came out strong. It wasn’t a good game for us but we came out with the win and now we keep going to game two,” she said, “We just have to make more shots.”

The Raptors opened the second half on a 4-0 run followed by a turnover heavy four-minute stretch for both teams.

The Lions attempted just two field goals in 10 minutes.

The Raptors took a 9-4 lead at 5:11 mark before the Lions scored their first basket of the half.

Game two in the best of three series is scheduled for 4pm today.

• In the senior matchup late last night, both top seeded teams took early one game leads in the series.

In the finale on the night, the CI Gibson Rattlers won 67-61 over the Dame Doris Johnson Mystic Marlins.

In senior girls’ play, the CR Walker Knights won 47-41 over the CV Bethel Stingrays.