Hot-shooting Clover girls basketball team ends Irmo’s bid for state-title appearance
One of the strengths of the Clover girls basketball team is its ability to shoot from outside.
The Eagles showed that during a stretch in the first half and ended any hopes for Irmo to get back to the state championship game.
Clover hit six 3-pointers in the first half on its way to a 67-47 victory over Irmo in the Class 5A Upper State title game. The Eagles play Goose Creek for the state championship next Friday at Colonial Life Arena.
“It was horrible,” Irmo coach Monica Williams said of her team’s play during the first half. “Our body language was bad, and we just didn’t make the plays. The defense let us down tonight, but give credit to Clover. They played really well.”
Irmo’s season ends at 24-4. It was looking for its first state title trip since 2004. But the Yellow Jackets couldn’t survive Clover’s barrage from late in the first quarter that spilled into the second.
The Eagles went on a 24-3 run in a nine-minute stretch and led 35-16 at halftime.
Alesha Wade led the way for Clover with 25 points. Marianna Ballard had 16 and La’Destiny Worthy had 11. The trio combined to hit eight of the team’s nine 3-pointers.
Clover entered the game with 168 3-pointers made this season.
“We knew we had to get out on the perimeter, and we were slow getting out a few times and they made us pay,” Williams said.
Jayla Lovett led Irmo with 15 points and Maliyah Mason had nine.
This year was a big step forward for the Irmo program after a 14-12 season from a year ago. The Jackets lose five seniors, including Lovett, but return a talented group led by Mason
“This game doesn’t take away anything we did. I’m proud of our seniors,” Williams said. “The seniors did a great job and left a great legacy, and I’m looking forward to the future.”
C: Wade 25, Ballard 16, Worthy 11, Thomas 6, Farmer 5, Carter 4.. I: Lovett 15, Mason 9, Wagstaff 9, Johnson 5, Thomas 5, Seabrook 3.
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 7:28 PM.
