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The Happy Valley Lady Warriors capped off the Carvers Bay Girls Christmas Showcase with an impressive 34-29 win over 3A Andrews High School from South Carolina. Despite a shaky start that saw them fall behind 7-0, the Lady Warriors battled back with a 5-0 run to end the first quarter, trailing just 9-7. Cayden Anderson led the early charge, scoring three points in the opening frame.

Andrews extended its lead in the second quarter, outscoring the Lady Warriors by two to take a 17-13 advantage into halftime. However, the Lady Warriors came out of the break with renewed energy, dominating the third quarter 15-5 to flip the script and secure a six-point lead heading into the final period. Ashlynn Sommers was instrumental during the third-quarter surge, scoring all six of her points, while Alex Moore added five of her game-high 11 points in the frame.

In the final quarter, the two teams traded baskets, but a clutch 3-pointer by Josephine Zeoli halted a brief Andrews rally, helping Happy Valley hold on for the win. Balanced scoring was key for the Lady Warriors, with Anderson, Sommers, Shaniece Gardner, and Zeoli each contributing six points to support Moore’s standout performance.

“We did a much better job of limiting turnovers today, which gave us more opportunities to score,” said head coach Dana Hill. “Cayden did a great job distributing the ball, and Alex was consistent throughout the game, hitting some big shots for us.”

Coach Hill praised the team’s rebounding and defensive effort, especially against a much taller Andrews squad. “Ashlynn, Alex, and Shaniece held their own inside, and all eight players contributed in some way. This tournament has been a fantastic experience for us, and I’m proud of how much growth we’ve shown.”

Cayden Anderson’s strong play throughout the tournament earned her a spot on the All-Tournament team.

The Lady Warriors will return to their home court on Tuesday, Jan. 7, for an inter-county rivalry game against the Unaka Lady Rangers.

 

Happy Valley 7 6 15 6 — 34
Andrews 9 8 5 7 — 29

Andrews: Gibson 9, Skipper 3, C. Gibson 13, Singleton 4.
Warriors: Moore 11, Sommers 6, Anderson 6, Zeoli 5, Gardner 6.