HAMLET — For the first time in the new year, the Hamlet Middle School girls’ basketball team hit the floor for its home opener on Monday.
Hosting Spring Hill Middle School, the Lady Red Rams cruised to a 47-20 win over the Lady Spartans. Eighth grader Ryelan Lyerly was the pace-setter for Hamlet, scoring a game-high 21 points in the win.
First-year head coach Mitch Coe saw his team improve to 2-1 on the young season.
“It was a good win for us,” Coe commented. “We played better today overall, but we still need to keep working hard to reach our full potential.”
Lyerly didn’t waste any time getting on the board, as she scored eight points in the first 10-minute running clock period. She followed up with three more field goals and a free throw in the second quarter to enter the break with 15 points.
Also contributing to the win was Saquanna Bostic, who netted 8 points for the Lady Red Rams. She, like Lyerly, had a productive first quarter, netting six points on three field goals.
Teammates Orena Drake and Elise Dimery would each contribute six points, while Jamia Crowder rounded out Hamlet’s point total with four points.
Hamlet jumped out to an 18-4 lead in the first quarter, using baskets from Lyerly, Bostic and Dimery to distance the home team. Spring Hill would outscore the Lady Red Rams in the second stanza, but Hamlet took a 29-17 lead into the break.
Up by a dozen at the start of the second half, Coe rotated players into the lineup, who proved to continue the up-tempo offense. Lyerly added six points in the third to end her scoring. Four of Drake’s points came in the second half and Crowder netted all four of her points in the third quarter.
Bostic chipped in her final two points in the last couple of minutes in the game while the Hamlet defense shut down the Lady Spartans’ offense to secure the win.
“Ryelan was big for us today,” Coe said, adding the team spread the scoring around well. “She is an amazing player and person. She works hard in practice and it shows.”
Hamlet will look to earn its third win of the season Thursday when the Lady Red Rams make the road trip to Raeford to play West Hoke Middle School. Tip is set for 4:15 p.m.
