It was a scrap for three quarters, but the Whale Branch girls wore down visiting Kingstree and pulled away for a 51-31 win Friday in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.
All-State wing Zhani Thompson scored 22 points — including nine in the fourth quarter — to lead the Warriors. Kynew Barnwell added 11 points, and Jazmin Diaz and Erin Rivers tacked on seven apiece.
Whale Branch continued its outstanding defensive play, limiting the Jaguars to 11 points or fewer in each quarter by stopping Kingstree’s dangerous guards from getting to the basket.
“We gave up a few three-pointers, but our main thing was to stop the guards from driving,” Whale Branch coach LaToya Mack said. “My girls found some extra gas in the fourth quarter and shifted their defense into third gear.”
The Warriors led 20-18 at halftime and 33-28 after three quarters before outscoring the Jaguars 18-3 in the final period. Thompson did most of the damage at the offensive end, knocking down a couple of shots — including a three-pointer — and going 4-for-4 from the foul line.
“We just had to make shots,” Mack said. “Stay in the flow of the offense and make shots.”
The Warriors (20-7) will travel to No. 3 Latta for the Lower State semifinals Monday.