Lady Hawks finish area play with wins

The Daleville girls basketball team played what was perhaps its most complete game of the season last Friday in a 63-21 win against Geneva.

“I think we played together as a team probably better than we have all year this year,” Daleville coach Zach Kelley said. “Overall (it was) probably our best game of the year, really.”

La Tia Fils-Aime’ scored the first five points of the game for the Lady Hawks, who started a 20-3 run. Daleville led 22-9 after the opening quarter.

The Lady Hawks outscored Geneva 10-4 in the second frame and took a 32-13 lead at the half.

Daleville scored 17 points in the third quarter and allowed just seven to take a 49-21 lead.

The Lady Hawks shut out Geneva in the final frame and added 14 to earn the victory.

“Our guards did a good job of pestering their guards and made them throw some (passes) away,” Kelley said. “A couple of times our forwards were able to get their hands on it and take it the other way. Overall (it was) just a good job by everybody really.”

Daleville had success in the paint, and Kelley had a simple message for his players.

“I told them, ‘Make sure you take your time on the shots around the basket. Take your time on the outside shots, but we really need the ones inside,’” he said. “They knocked them down. They made most of the shots around the basket.”

Fils-Aime’ led DHS with 22 points, and Jazmin Cephus followed with 12. Garry Richard posted six, and Eternity Hayes had five. Jada Brooks added four. Cidney Scott and Payton Souders each had three. Chyana Blanks, Ellyce Lascano, Kiara Blanks and Alasia Stewart each had two.

The Lady Hawks finished Class 3A, Area 3 play undefeated after the win against the Panthers and a 44-19 victory Jan. 21 against Slocomb. Daleville will also host the area tournament.

“It’s big,” Kelley said of finishing the area slate without a loss. “It lets you know our hard work is paying off (and) our senior leadership. Everything’s just going our way. If we can just keep working hard we can still maintain all of our goals.”

Daleville led 9-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Hawks scored 13 points in the second quarter and allowed five. They led 22-8 at the half.

The second quarter was important for Daleville, because Kelley allowed younger players to play significant minutes.

“They played (well) too,” he said. “They held their own. I think we had 13 points in the quarter when they came in. That’s pretty comforting.”

Daleville stretched its lead to 35-15 at the end of the third quarter.

Fils-Aime’ led the Lady Hawks with 19 points. She also had 10 rebounds and six blocks. Richard had five. Chyana Blanks had four points, and added seven steals and six assists. Cephus and Souders each had three points. Gabe Lascano, Ellyce Lascano, Jada Brooks and Scott had two apiece.

The Lady Hawks will host Luverne Jan. 30. Games are set to begin at 4:30 p.m.

The win against Geneva showcased Daleville’s ability to play as a team late in the season.

“They just gelled together so much (against Geneva),” Kelley said. “I think they just wanted to capture that home-court advantage. I think we already had it, but they just wanted to go undefeated (in area play). We don’t want to go 5-1. We want to go 6-0. I guess we were just hungry for it. They came out and gave it their best shot.”