The Northwood Academy Girl’s Remain Undefeated In region With 42-29 Win Over Porter-Gaud

 By Billy G. Baker

 Publisher

 Summerville—Clinging to a 20-18 half-time lead, the Northwood Academy Girl’s basketball team stepped up their defense in the second half, as the Lady Chargers (8-6) went on to claim their second region win of the season, 42-29 over Porter-Gaud on Jan.,14.

 The Chargers prepared for their region schedule with a very competitive non-region schedule losing games to bigger respected public schools including Westside High, Bishop England, Ashley Ridge,  and Oceanside Collegiate.  Their other two losses were against Trinity-Collegiate. 

 Besides P-G, Northwood has defeated Hanahan, ACA, Cathedral, Stratford, Ben Lippen, PCA, and John Paul II.

 Veteran Northwood Academy head coach, Ginnell Curtis talked about her half-time adjustments after the win over the Cyclones. “We pressed a little more and that gave us a spark in the second half and I told the team that I felt like Porter-Gaud had out-hustled us in the first half,” said Coach Curtis. “We picked up the tempo also and that helped us play better.

“We like having balanced scoring and this makes us a better well-rounded team,” said Coach Curtis. “We always try to schedule a tough early season schedule to get us ready for region and the play-offs,” said Coach Curtis. “Even though playing a tough schedule got us some losses, I feel we will benefit from the competition down the line. Our goal is to win region and be playing for a state championship at the end of the season.”

 The Chargers placed two players in double figures against P-G as talented sophomore combo-guard Maliyah Birch scored 15 points followed by junior small forward Alyvia Tocco who had 11 points. Senior center Rylan Dundon also contributed 8 points while also pulling down numerous rebounds during the game.

 To date, Birch leads the teams with a 16.4 points per game average. Birch also is grabbing 5.8 rebounds per game along with 5.3 assists and 4.6 steals a game. Tocco is averaging 7.3 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. Senior shooting guard Nevaeh Mathews played in the game with a tender ankle and she is averaging 7.3 points, 2.4 assists and 2.3 steals a game. Dundon is averaging 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds a game.

 Northwood out-scored P-G 12-2 in the third period to take a 32-20 lead into the final period. The entire starting line-up for the Chargers scored in the third period. Ava Reyes scored first on a short jumper, Birch made two free-throws and later drained the net on a nice shot off the dribble. Tocco scored an inside move and Dundon scored on a put-back shot in the paint.

 Senior center Ella Grace Ishie also played well as an inside player against the Cyclones and she is averaging 4.3 points and 5.3 rebounds a game coming into her team’s away game at First Baptist this Friday night.

 McKenzie Sellers and Charlotte Speights paced P-G with 8 points each. Head P-G coach Chris Evans missed the game. Assistant coach Dynasty Heyward filled in for Coach Evans. 

Some other hard-working members of the Northwood team include: 8^th grade guard Lauren Cosman, freshman Sarah Font, junior forward Isabella Heaton, senior forward Brielle Johnson.