ROCKINGHAM – If the Rockingham Middle School girls’ basketball team wanted to reclaim the Southeastern Middle School Athletic Conference title from rival Hamlet, it needed to do one thing – stop Ryelan Lyerly.
Since January, Lyerly has scored 112 of the Lady Red Rams’ 203 total points, including a couple of clutch game-winning shots. The Lady Rockets proved that they were up to the challenge, limiting Lyerly to a season-low three points in a 33-17 rout of Hamlet on their home court in the championship game.
With fans chanting “Rocket Nation,” Teresa Mason gathered her Lady Rockets at the center of the court to celebrate with hugs, flowers and tears. The victory capped a perfect 11-0 season and returned bragging rights back to the Rock after spending a year with the red and black.
The championship game itself was never in doubt. Rockingham’s Jamyia Lindsey and Edriana Davis – the game’s only double-digit scorers with 13 and 12 points, respectively – got off to a strong start. The pair netted a combined 10 points in the opening quarter leading the Lady Rockets to a 12-4 advantage after one complete.
A huge three-pointer by O’Rena Drake in the second quarter helped to temporarily shift the momentum to Hamlet (8-3). The Lady Red Rams actually outscored the Lady Rockets 8-6 in the second quarter, cutting the Rockingham lead to six at 18-12 going into the break.
Even with Lyerly in check, Hamlet still managed to benefit from a quick flurry of points in the second quarter. The Lady Rockets returned from intermission with a new philosophy – the best defense is a good offense.
After Rockingham inbounded the ball to start the third quarter, Keyoni Nichols dribbled towards the top of the key and just waited. Occasionally, she passed the ball to teammate Joy Styles who was camped out on the right wing, but it took nearly a minute and-a-half for Hamlet to bring any pressure and force the Lady Rockets to make a play.
Once the Lady Red Rams began to apply pressure, Rockingham put on a passing clinic. An impressive series of behind-the-back and bounce passes kept the Hamlet defense off-balanced and eventually led to an open look for Lindsey, who delivered a floater that dropped through so perfectly that the net barely moved.
Lindsey’s shot not only extended Rockingham’s lead to eight points, but nearly half of the third quarter had already been wiped from existence by the time the first points had been scored.
After a Hamlet turnover, Lindsey went to work again. She drove into the paint and lifted one over the outstretched hands of two Hamlet defenders to put the home team up by double-digits with 2:44 on the clock.
A pair of Da’Veah Robinson free throws temporarily stopped the bleeding, but Rockingham responded by ending the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 27-14 lead into the final period.
Just seconds into the fourth quarter, Lindsey recorded a layup off of a nifty bounce pass through traffic from Nichols. Not to be outdone, Styles bounced one into the paint to Davis on Rockingham’s ensuing possession which resulted in another easy layup.
With the lead extended to 17, Rockingham took its foot off the gas in the final four-and-a-half minutes and went to work on the clock ending with the 33-17 final.
Nichols ended the game with four points for the Lady Rockets, Styles and C’Nedra Hinson each added two.
Drake was the leading scorer for Hamlet in the loss with seven points. Jamia Crowder netted four and Robinson finished with three.
“I want to give special recognition to all of the players who have worked so hard all season to achieve this perfect season,” Mason said. “Also, thank you to all who have supported us throughout the season. “
The win served as Mason’s and the Lady Rockets’ seventh SEMSAC title in the last eight seasons.
