Greer Head Coach Carlton Greene was pleased with his team’s comeback. “Once we got acclimated to their style of play we did OK.”
Caroline Neely made consecutive three-point goals in the fourth quarter that helped the Yellow Jackets cut a 12-point Lady Rebels lead to six points, 33-27, with five minutes remaining in the game. Byrnes held a 10-point lead, 31-21, at the end of three quarters.
Kayla Barbare added a field goal and Neely made one of two free throws to cut the lead to 35-30 with 3:35 left. Both teams scored in four-point spurts and Sonyelle Gray’s one of two free throws and field goal got the Lady Jackets to within 41-37. Byrnes’ Breanna Hines scored the next four Byrnes points to keep Greer out of reach.
“Neely’s threes got us back in the ball game and we played stiffer defense after the first quarter,” Carlton said.
Greer’s 21 points scored in its first three quarters were only two more than it scored in the final eight minutes. “It’s the first time we’ve played on the road. Anytime we can compete with the size of a school as big as this I think we’re fine,” Greene said.
Greene used several combinations of players during the comeback. “The most important thing a coach has to do is figure out who on the team can play in certain situations.”
Alexis Miller (6 points), Jessica Gay (3 points) and Gray (9 points) were among other players Greene signaled out for their outstanding play.
Greer plays its next two games at home vs. Travelers Rest Thursday and Riverside on Friday. Both non-region games begin at 6 p.m.
BYRNES 45, GREER 40
GREER: Sarah Stevenson 1 0-0 2, Jessica Gay 1 0-0 3, Caroline Neely 4 1-6 12, Kayla Barbare 2 2-2 6, Sonyelle Gray 3 2-2 9, Shamyia Darby 2 0-0 4, Alexis Miller 1 2-6 4. TOTALS: 15 7-16 40.3-point goals: Gay 1, Neely 3, Gray 1.
BYRNES: Alexis Davis 2 0-0 4, Charrion Morgan 4 2-4 10, Sidney Dempsey 1 0-0 2, Lauren Duggar 0 0-0 0, Kandance Starks 5 0-1 10, Lilian Funderburk 4 0-0 8, Breanna Hines 4 1-7 9, Rebecca Howell 1 0-0 2, Catherine Gilliard 0 0-2 0. TOTALS: 21 3-13 45.3-point goals: None.
Greer 4 12 5 19 – 40
Byrnes 12 11 8 14 – 45