Dreher girls power way to Upper State finals with easy win over Eastside
Since suffering its only loss to Spring Valley in December, the Dreher girls basketball team has played like it’s on a mission.
The Blue Devils won their 21st straight game with a 62-33 victory over Eastside on Monday in the Class 3A Upper State semifinals. Dreher advances to the 3A finals against Wren on Friday at the Bon Secours Arena in Greenville.
“After our loss to Spring Valley, that really turned us around,” Dreher coach Teresa Jones said. “Even if we are talented, we have to come to play at all times. I think the girls have come together as a team, and the girls are playing great defensively. And our bench has come in and gave us some great minutes.”
“That loss to Spring Valley in early December caused us to press harder and work harder,” Dreher senior Jhileiya Dunlap said. “I know I have been working harder, because I want to win state for my team.”
Dunlap is on a personal mission as she tries to win her third state championship before graduating and heading to play at North Carolina next season. She was a member of the Blue Devils’ 2012 and 2014 state title seasons. Dreher lost to Lancaster last year in the Upper State final.
As they have for most of the season, Dunlap and the rest of Dreher’s big three made up of Kamryn Lemon and Jaelynn Murray delivered again. The trio combined for 52 of the team’s 62 points.
Dunlap led the way with 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots. Lemon added 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and also had six steals. Murray finished with 15 points, nine in the second half.
Dreher (25-1) jumped out to a 19-4 lead and led 39-19 at halftime. The Blue Devils’ lead swelled to more than 30 points in the second half as they bothered the Eagles with their size inside.
“If we play great defense, move our feet and are not reaching or fouling, we can cause teams to make a lot of turnovers and get out of their rhythm,” Jones said. “We don’t have to always steal the ball, but we are going to press to up the tempo.”
Eastside (22-6) had 22 turnovers. Jessica Garlington and Taylor Thompson led the Eagles with 10 points apiece.
“They’re very talented,” Eastside coach Cindy Mattos-DeHart said of Dreher. “They have a lot of size, and you can contest it (for) so long, and I think it showed the difference in the ball game.”
D: Jhileiya Dunlap 19, Kamryn Lemon 18, Jaelynn Murray 15, Praylow 2, Brown 2, Hires 6. E: Thompson 10, Garlington 10, Rowley 4, Brown 2, Taylor 7.
This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 10:54 PM with the headline "Dreher girls power way to Upper State finals with easy win over Eastside."