Three-pronged attack makes Dreher girls tough to beat

Teresa Jones knows the luxury she has this season.

Jones, the Dreher girls basketball coach, has three go-to players in senior Jhileiya Dunlap and juniors Kamryn Lemon and Jaelynn Murray.

The Big Three, as they are known, account for 81 percent of the team’s scoring, 66 percent of its rebounding, 71 percent of the steals and 74 percent of the blocks and are a key reason the Blue Devils are in the Class 3A championship game for the third time in the past six years.

Dreher will play Myrtle Beach on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at Colonial Life Arena.

“It is a great feeling. I have been blessed,” Jones said. “We have had Jaelynn and Jhileiya for so long. Kam transferred to us. That was a surprise and much-needed breath of fresh air. She is capable of doing so many things.

“With Jhileiya, Jaelynn and Kamryn, we have three options. If one is not doing well, the other two could step up. The versatility is tremendous.”

Each has led the team in scoring at least twice with Dunlap and Murray having multiple 30-point games. And all can play more than one position.

Dunlap, a North Carolina signee, is listed as a guard, forward and center and leads the team in scoring at 20 points a game. She had a triple-double of 19 points, 20 rebounds and 10 blocks in the Upper State title game against Wren last week.

The Class 3A Player of the Year also is looking for the third state title in her career after being on the 2012 and 2014 squads.

“This is my redemption,” Dunlap said. “We lost in the Upper State and I had to sit on the bench with fouls and we lost. I told my coach that this is my redemption year.”

Murray is listed as a forward and center, but showed the ability to play point guard during the Blue Devils’ second-round win against South Pointe. Dunlap and Lemon were on the bench more than a quarter with foul trouble.

“Everyone has to step up at different times and you can’t just depend on two or three people to get things,” Murray said after the game.

Lemon joined Dreher after transferring from Lakewood and is playing in her second straight title game. She was a starting guard for the Gators, who lost to Lancaster last season in the 3A championship.

With Lakewood, she was second on the team in scoring at 14.2 points a game and led the team in 3.7 steals a game. In her first year at Dreher, Lemon’s scoring is up to 16.8 points and she leads the team with 4.4 assists and 4.1 steals.

Lemon is shooting 44 percent from 3-point range and is second on the team behind Murray in field goal percentage at 61 percent.

“I knew it was going to be a pretty tough adjustment but it went better then I thought,” Lemon said. “We’re a family which plays a great role in our season and a top reason why were winning.”

“Kam is just a great guard and shooter,” Dunlap said. “She can dribble, shoot, penetrate, and is a great passer.

“She didn’t think she would fit in with us. But I had to tell her she would fit in and that we are all a family. We loved her, and tell her not to be nervous. She fit right in on the court and you can see that.”

Dunlap said the trio’s relationship extends past the basketball court and they are always encouraging and goofing off with each other. Jones points to the team’s chemistry has been one of the team’s strengths.

“They aren’t selfish players, so it hasn’t been an issue. They share the ball and work well together,” Jones said. “Any given night one of them could be leading scorer. And they seem to be fine with that.”

This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 11:08 PM with the headline "Three-pronged attack makes Dreher girls tough to beat."