Fast start fuels Lady Eagles tournament win

By Randy Lefko

Posted 12/26/18

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High’s girls basketball team raced to another first quarter scoring blitz with a 9-0 start and 24-10 first quarter lead against Thomas County Central High of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

To continue reading, you will need to either log in to your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.

If you are a digital subscriber with an active, online-only subscription then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.

Don't have an ID?

Print subscribers

If you're a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one.

Non-subscribers

Click here to see your options for subscribing.

Single day pass

You also have the option of purchasing 24 hours of access, for $1.00. Click here to purchase a single day pass.

Fast start fuels Lady Eagles tournament win

Posted Wednesday, December 26, 2018 12:00 pm

By Randy Lefko

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High’s girls basketball team raced to another first quarter scoring blitz with a 9-0 start and 24-10 first quarter lead against Thomas County Central High of Georgia in the opening round of the Battle on the Island Basketball Tournament hosted by Fleming Island High School before surviving a sub-par third period to win 50-35 Thursday afternoon.

The win puts Fleming Island in the semifinals on Friday (5 p.m.) against Tallaassee Rickards (10-3); a first round winner over Orlando Evans High School and a region semifinalist last year.

“We just have to learn to close games out,” said Fleming Island coach Joey Williams. “We have had big leads on some good teams, but failed to win the games; against Creekside up 20-8 after the first quarter and against Ribault up 30-16 at the half, and we lost both with dreadful third periods. We looked like that tonight, but held on for the win.”

Fleming Island opened up against Central with a jumper from Aubry Burke, a three pointer from freshman Avery Cannon and a nifty Burke to Emma Richards assist to layup.

Fleming Island ramped up their

defensive pressure and got layups to push the score to 24-10 at the first quarter buzzer.

Makenna Miller came through in the second quarter with seven points off two jumpers and a three pointer as the lead grew to 35-20 just before halftime.

In the third, Fleming Island scored just six points while Central crept to a 41-31 deficit going into the final period.

“I need someone that can turn a switch and take over a game in the second half,” said Williams. “Little mistakes become costly and against the better teams on our schedule, that has been our downfall.”

Fleming Island corrected course in the fourth, outscoring Central 9-4 to preserve the win, but Williams was still frustrated with the inconsistency.

“I know we are young and with new faces comes transition and I hope to iron this stuff out by the districts,” said Williams, who took Fleming Island to the Final Four two years ago and the region semifinals last year.