By Chris McCarthy/Editor
Westbrook Christian got off to a good start in Class 3A, Area 11 play on Tuesday (Dec. 1), posting a 60-42 victory over Ashville in Rainbow City.
Senior guard Abby Lockridge and sophomore guard Olivia Graham both had huge games for the Lady Warriors (4-1, 1-0), as the former finished with 23 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and four steals and the latter contributed 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and six steals.
“They complement each other extremely well,” said Westbrook head coach Jamie Barkley. “A strong point guard was the missing piece to the puzzle, and Olivia has stepped into that role and taken some of the pressure off Abby.”
Westbrook used nine points from Lockridge and eight from Graham to take a 21-10 lead after one quarter.
The Lady Warriors shot 69 percent (20-for-29) from the free throw line, while Ashville made just 27 percent (3-for-11) of its foul shots.
Tabitha Martin’s basket early in the second period drew the visitors within nine points, but the Lady Bulldogs never again got within single digits. Maddie Loyd’s layup at 5:25 started a 10-1 Westbrook run, and Graham’s foul sot in the final minute of the first half provided the Lady Warriors with a 32-17 advantage.
The hosts pushed their lead to 43-26 midway through the third frame, but a 6-0 spurt by Ashville narrowed the gap to 10 points.
“We let off on the intensity a little bit in the third quarter, and that can cost you in a close game,” said Barkley. “As the girls grow together and learn how each other plays, I think that will correct itself.”
The Lady Warriors regrouped and ended the quarter with a 7-0 run to go ahead 47-33, and Ashville never threatened again.
Also for Westbrook, Mattie Lloyd had seven points, 13 rebounds and five steals.
Lasondra Looney led Ashville with 13 points, while Martin added eight.