The Whale Branch girls split a pair of games Saturday to finish third at the Blackville-Hilda tournament.
The Warriors erased most of a 17-point halftime deficit before coming up short in a 63-61 loss to Estill in the semifinals, but they bounced back with a dominant defensive effort in a 45-27 win over Ridge Spring-Monetta in the third-place game.
Kynew Barnwell scored 22 of her 28 points in the second half of the semifinal loss to the Gators, nearly leading Whale Branch all the way back after trailing 37-20 at halftime. Jazmin Diaz added 13 points, and Zhani Thompson had 12.
The Warriors locked down on defense in the third-place game, holding RS-M to single digits in every quarter. Barnwell scored 19 points, Thompson added 13, and Diaz had nine to lead Whale Branch.
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Whale Branch (10-3) hosts Wade Hampton on Jan. 7.