The fifth-ranked St. James girls basketball team cemented its spot atop the Region VIII-AAA standings by remaining undefeated in league play with a 61-42 road win over North Myrtle Beach.
With region foes Myrtle Beach and Wilson battling for second place, the Lady Sharks (17-3 overall, 6-0 region) avoided an upset that would have significantly tightened the race.
St. James’ Keyana Rutledge led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points, while Briahna Dickerson added 17 points and Stephanie Roberts posted a double-double with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks
But the Lady Sharks did it with defense, forcing the Lady Chiefs (13-7 overall, 3-3 region) into 26 turnovers and holding them to 27 percent shooting from the field. North Myrtle Beach was led by Taylor Allman’s 23 points.
* Boys: The St. James survived a serious comeback bid by North Myrtle Beach and held on for a 64-59 overtime road victory on Friday night.
The Sharks (10-7 overall, 5-1 Region VIII-AAA) led by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter before the Chiefs (9-8, 1-5) stormed back to tie the game with just two seconds remaining.
North Myrtle Beach’s Matt Lindsay was fouled on a 3-point attempt and drilled all three free throws to tie the game at 52-52 and send the game into the extra session.
St. James’ Caleb Duggan was held in check throughout much of regulation but the Sharks’ leading scorer could not be held down in the overtime session.
Duggan scored 10 of his team-high 20 points in the extra period to help St. James remain in a first-place tie atop the region standings.
Jaquan Grissett led all scorers in pacing the Chiefs with 25 points.
- Photo by Rancier Photography
