Jeff Linville | The News
Mount Airy’s Symone Simmons first takes a foul from Elkin’s Madeline Carter, then takes a touch on the forearm by Kenley Burchette.
The Lady Bears used a potent, balanced offensive attack to nearly triple Elkin 74-29 Friday night.
Mount Airy led 18-11 after one quarter, but the Lady Elks scored a couple of times to close to 20-15.
Then at 23-17, the Bears ran off 14 unanswered points for a 37-17 halftime lead.
Symone Simmons jump-started the run with two baskets and a free throw.
Then Kathryn Beasley finished the half with a flourish. She hit a free throw and then two baskets. She also made a couple of steals and assisted to Andi Moore on the final hoop of the half.
Beasley finished with 12 points, four steals and three assists.
“Kathryn was very active,” noted Coach Howard Mayo.
Early in the third quarter, Alex Atkins eliminated any chance of a comeback by hitting a trio of three-pointers in a one-minute span. Those nine points were her only points of the game.
Alex is very capable of hitting that shot, Mayo said.
Rather than trying to replace last year’s player of the year, Jordan Hiatt, with one person, the Bears have a collective with several players who can step up and make plays, he said.
The team showed that offensive balance Friday with eight players scoring six or more points. With several threats on the floor, the defense can’t key on any one person, he said.
After Beasley’s 12, the Bears got 11 from Jasmine Varney, nine from Atkins and Simmons, eight from Ayano Shelton and six each from Makayla Seivers, Davi Barbour and Dana Brown.
Skylar Flippen added four points and Moore three.
From that 23-17 lead in the first half, the Bears finished the game on a 51-12 push.
Makayla and Davi did a good job tonight running the team from the point, Mayo said. They forced the tempo and provided that little spark that wore down Elkin.
“The way you take advantage of that is by running every possession,” he said.
Shelton, a freshman, led the Bears with six rebounds, while Simmons and Beasley had four steals each.
The Lady Bears host Forbush today at 5:30 p.m., while Elkin and East Surry play at 2 p.m.
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