Lady Foxes dump Dawgs; Phillips scores 50

The Lady Foxes handed Marlboro County an 82-41 loss Tuesday night in girls’ varsity prep basketball action to improve the team’s record to 2-1 on the season.

Hartsville fans also witnessed an eye-opening performance from sophomore Jasmine Phillips. Phillips finished the game with 50 points, 27 rebounds, three steals and two blocks in one of the most complete games in Hartsville High School history.

Both teams began the game in the full court press, and both teams were able to find holes in those defenses.

The two teams stayed even in the first quarter after a lot of scoring and quite a few turnovers.

However, the Lady Foxes exploded in the second quarter to a 45-25 lead with two minutes remaining in the half.

The game was a very physical game, but the Lady Foxes dominated from the second quarter on. Marlboro was not conditioned to play at full speed with Hartsville, and the Lady Foxes’ defense was too intense for the Dawgs to keep up with.

Hartsville had a 47-27 lead at the half, and that lead doubled in the second half as the Lady Foxes out rebounded Marlboro County, and the Lady Dawgs were unable to stop Hartsville on its fast break opportunities.

Hartsville did get some bad news in the game, however.

With 4:31 left to play in the third quarter, junior point guard Kiasiah Ham planted her right knee to throw a pass and fell to the ground in obvious pain. She left the game and did not return.

According to Hewitt, Ham has probable anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, damage and will most likely miss the remainder of the season. She underwent an MRI Thursday afternoon, but the results were not expected to be good.

The loss of Ham will be difficult for the team, Hewitt said, but the coach said she would have to make a few line up changes.

Phillips took over after Ham’s injury and took all of the fight out of the Dawgs with her constant scoring. Throughout the night, Marlboro County had no answer for Phillips as she drove the lane at will and consistently brought down rebounds.

Even when she was fouled, she was effective. Phillips was 12 of 17 from the free-throw line. Although the Bulldogs are a physical team, Phillips dominated the paint for three and one half quarters.

Hartsville backed into a zone defense that closed off the inside in the fourth quarter, and Marlboro County was unable to get any consistency in its perimeter shooting.
In addition to Phillips, Kiasiah Ham finished with 10 points and 8 assists. Tammy Ham added 9 points, and Emily Jackson had 6 steals.

When asked how it felt to put up such numbers, Phillips said “Great” as she flashed a big smile. Phillips said she knew she was scoring a lot of points but had no idea she had 50. “Our team got a little bit down whenever (Kiasiah Ham) got hurt,” she added, “so I picked them up and carried the load.”

Marlboro County head coach Nequita Collins cited other issues with the game. "Officiating," she said quickly when asked about the game. "It was awful. It's the worst I've ever seen it at Hartsville. When that happens, there is nothing you can do but play."

Collins said the girls on the team became frustrated, and it showed.

Hartsville's coach Hewitt said it took a little time for the press to start working, but eventually it did. "That was the difference was the press," she said.

Hewitt also said she was impressed with Hartsville's reaction to such a physical team.

"We had everybody except Kiasiah crashing the boards. Jas(mine Phillips) just went in there and flat took control." She added the team's ability to score in transition was also a key in the game.

On Phillips' performance, Hewitt said, "She had the game of her life. The ball came off the boards, Jas had it. Fifty points in a ball game, that's unheard of. She does everything we ask her to do."

Phillips is now averaging 33 points per game and is one of the leading scorers in the state.

Hewitt said college coaches are already showing interest in Phillips.

The Lady Foxes improve their record 2-1 on the season.

They will host Darlington tonight at 6 p.m. at Hartsville High School. The Lady Falcons defeated Hartsville on Dec. 5, and this game is the second and final of the county rivalry between the two.