Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

NEW BOSTON — It was a good story with a good plot, but Rock Hill Redwomen coach Greg Damron didn’t like the ending.

Damron wasn’t talking about a new movie. Instead, he was referring to a 66-46 loss to the Minford Lady Falcons in the finals of the New Boston Holiday Tournament on Tuesday.

Rock Hill trailed by just six points after three quarters against the heavily-favored Lady Falcons. But Minford erupted to outscore the Redwomen 29-15 in the fourth quarter to win going away.

“We had too many turnovers at the end. We played hard,” said Damron.

“We played pretty well by three quarters and we scored 15 in the fourth and it wasn’t enough. Depth and turnovers killed us for sure tonight. When you’re playing a good, solid basketball team, you can’t afford to turn it over.”

Anna Darby — who is averaging 13 points and 14 rebounds on the season — led Rock Hill with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

“Darby stepped her game up tonight and carried us, but that wasn’t enough. To win ballgames, it has to be as a team,” said Damron.

Kaci Russell added 11 points and six rebounds for Rock Hill (6-4) while Sam Dillon also had six rebounds.

Erin Daniels scored 21 points, Emma Shepherd 15 and Abby Grasso to lead Minford (7-4).

Minford led 11-8 after the first quarter despite 6 points by Darby.

Rock Hill got within 24-22 at the half as Darby scored 7 points in the second quarter.

Minford extended its lead to 37-31 after three quarters.

Darby and Russell combined for 13 points in the fourth quarter but turnovers ignited Minford’s offense.

The Redwomen host Portsmouth on Monday in a league game.

Rock Hill 8 14 9 15 = 46

Minford 11 13 13 29 = 66

ROCK HILL (6-4): Jill Hairston 0 0 0-0 0, Anna Darby 9 0 5-6 23, Taylor Hall 0 1 0-0 3, Sami Dillon 1 0 2-2 4, Abbi Kline 1 0 0-0 2, Kyleigh Noel 0 1 0-0 3, Kaci Russell 3 1 2-2 11. Totals: 14 3 9-10 Fouls: 14. Fouled out: Russell.

MINFORD (7-4): Caitlyn Puckett 0 0 3-6 3, Erin Daniels 4 2 7-7 21, Marissa Risner 0 1 0-0 3, Ali Hammond 0 1 0-0 3, Emma Shepherd 4 1 4-5 15, Mary Pica 1 0 0-0 2, Abby Grasso 6 0 1-1 13, Ashley Blankenship 3 0 0-0 6. Totals: 18 5 15-19 66. Fouls: 17. Fouled out: None.