It has been a tough start for Beaufort High girls basketball under new coach Dominique Cureton, but a young Eagles squad broke through for a satisfying win Friday, beating crosstown rival Battery Creek 32-30 on the road to snap a four-game losing streak.
Topaz Fripp-Williams collected eight points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, and Quinn Wilson added seven points to lead the Eagles, who are finding their way after losing star guard Layla Warren to graduation and breakout candidate Ki’Ayisa Moultrie to injury.
Kiara Wilson posted 11 points and two others had five, but Battery Creek couldn’t close out a second-half comeback.
It looked as though Beaufort would run away with the game early, as the Eagles went up 10 heading into the second quarter, but the Dolphins battled throughout to keep it close.
Beaufort started the quarter off an 8-0 and kept the Dolphins off the board until there were 19.6 left in the opening frame. Ashante Shaw knocked down both ends from the free throw line to finally score for Creek.
Creek’s defense picked it up during a strong second period, only allowing Beaufort to score six points. Felix and Wilson combined for seven of the Dolphins’ 11 points and the score was 18-13 at the half.
The defense for Battery Creek continued its strong play during the third quarter, only allowing four points throughout the frame. Wilson drove to the basket and scored to put the Dolphins up for the first time at 23-22.
Beaufort scored the first bucket of the fourth period, but Wilson drove to the hole and found Iesha Shaw, who found the basket for her first points of the night. The Eagles pulled ahead 31-29 with only 90 seconds remaining, and Wilson made it a one-point game with only 10 seconds remaining, but the Eagles went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe with just 0.4 seconds left to ice the game.
Beaufort (2-4) opens Region 7-4A play at home against Bluffton on Tuesday. Battery Creek (1-6) hits the road for the first time during the regular season Saturday, traveling to Colleton County.
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