OAKWOOD -- If not for a slow start, the West Hall girls basketball team could have pulled off the biggest upset in Class AAA so far Thursday night.
The Lady Spartans scored just six first quarter points, trailed by 10 at halftime, and rallied in the second half before finally falling to No. 3 and undefeated Walnut Grove 56-49 at the West Hall gym.
West Hall (7-12, 2-4 Region 8B-AAA) came in riding a two-game win streak and outscored the Lady Warriors 20-14 in the third quarter to pull within 40-36 heading into the fourth quarter.
But the Lady Warriors' Maya Crowder finally got untracked scoring eight of her 10 points in the final period to help hold off West Hall. Jessica Dambach hit a 3-pointer for West Hall to cut the lead to 54-49 with 1:12 left in the game but the Lady Spartans could not take advantage of two Walnut Grove turnovers in the final minute.
West Hall played Walnut Grove as tough as anyone in the region at this point. The Warriors came into the game with an average margin of victory of nearly 25 points a game in region play.
Amber Johnson had her third solid game in a row for West Hall pouring in a game-high 17 points. Brooke Reed and Jensen Hall each had seven points for the Lady Spartans.
Gia Banks led Walnut Grove with 14 points. Taylor Merritt had 10 points for the Lady Warriors.
West Hall next will play host to arch-rival Johnson on Saturday.
Friday
January 31st, 2025
5:39PM
