RAEFORD — The Hamlet Middle School girls’ basketball program hit the road for the first time in 2020 and picked up a big win against West Hoke Middle School on Thursday.
After dropping their first game of the season, the Lady Red Rams rebounded with their third straight win. Behind double-digit scoring performances from Ryelan Lyerly and Saquanna Bostic, Hamlet rolled the Lady Tigers 42-16.
Lyerly, who netted 21 points earlier this week, followed up with a game-high 11 points. She was hot out of the gates with five points in the first, and added five more before the half. Bostic scored four points in the opening frame to give Hamlet an 11-4 lead.
“I was impressed by how the girls shared the ball,” head coach Mitch Coe said. “We did a good job of moving the ball and finding the open man.
“Saquanna did a fantastic job applying defensive pressure and had several steals on top of pumping in 10 points from the field,” he added. “Jamia Crowder also did a fine job for us collecting 10 rebounds and scoring 9 points.”
Coe went on to say he was “very proud of our girls” and they all “contributed in today’s win.”
Eleven more points in the second quarter gave the Lady Red Rams a 22-9 lead at the break. Setting the tempo in the second was Lyerly with five points, and teammate Orena Drake added four of her six total points. Crowder ended the first half with a bucket and four points.
Bostic led the charge at the start of the second half, knocking in two field goals. Elise Dimery notched her lone basket of the game in the third, while Lyerly finished her scoring with a made free throw.
With the game out of reach at the start of the fourth, Coe sent in several players to record points in the final 10 minutes. Crowder went off for five points on two field goals and a free throw, while Bostic and Drake combined for four points.
Netting their first points of the game were Kimora Ingram and Ti’Naisha Lindsey, who each added a field goal.
The Lady Red Rams (3-1) will have off until next Thursday when they host Carver Middle School at 4 p.m.
