Dreher girls hold off Wren, take aim at state title
Jhileiya Dunlap has made several big plays during her career at Dreher, but none might have been bigger than the one at Friday’s Class 3A Upper State championship.
Dunlap stole the ball on Wren’s final possession as the Blue Devils hung on for a 51-49 victory over the Hurricanes at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Dreher will play Myrtle Beach in the state title game next Saturday at the Colonial Life Arena at 5:30 p.m. The Blue Devils are looking for their third state title since 2012.
“We knew (Franks) was hot on her 3s, so Kam Lemon said she would play her so she wouldn’t get her shot off,” Dunlap said. “And that is what we did and I got the steal.”
The final play wasn’t Dunlap’s only big moment during the night as the North Carolina signee finished with 19 points, 20 rebounds and blocked seven shots .
“You could tell from the beginning she really wanted this win,” Dreher coach Teresa Jones said. “She came to play … it was like her show. She was playing defense, making steals, passes and taking the shots.
“I think she wanted it so badly being in the same position last year against Lancaster. But she was on the bench with foul trouble, so this was kind of redemption for her.”
Dreher (26-1) needed the effort from Dunlap and the rest of the Blue Devils’ big three, which includes Kameron Lemon and Jaelynn Murray. The trio combined for 47 of the team’s 51 points, but missed several easy shots in the fourth quarter as Wren began its comeback.
The Cyclones, who shot 3-of-25 from the field in the first half, got into a rhythm in the second half. Alex Lavore scored all eight of her points in the fourth quarter, and her second 3-pointer started a 9-0 run to tie the game at 47 with one minute left.
Dunlap put Dreher ahead with a free throw, and Lemon added two more to put the Blue Devils ahead 50-47 with 24.7 seconds left. Levore got Wren within 50-49 on a layup with 15.8 seconds left.
After Lemon hit 1 of 2 from the line, Wren got the ball back with 4.7 seconds left.
Lavore took the pass and headed into the middle of the lane when Dunlap stripped her of the ball to seal Dreher’s 22nd straight victory.
“I thought our nerves got the best of us going down the stretch,” Jones said. “We missed a lot of easy baskets in the end. I’m just glad we were able to perservere, play some solid defense in some areas and make the free throws and get the win.”
Lemon finished with 15 points, and Murray added 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Nakol Franks led Wren with 18 points.
D: Scott 2, Praylow 2, Jaelynn Murray 13, Kamryn Lemon 15, Jhileiya Dunlap 19. W: Leatherwood 6, Funk 2, Lavore 8, Nakol Franks 18, Collins 8, Bell 6.
This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 10:46 PM.