They were off for three weeks, but Hilton Head Christian Academy’s girls haven’t missed a beat. The Eagles backed up their Georgia gauntlet success with a dominant region victory at home Friday, downing Beaufort Academy 86-54.
HHCA started rolling in a flash, opening up a 13-0 run to start the game through terrific defensive intensity and five quick points from electric guard Devon Yarde. Then Abby Peduzzi showed off her skill in the paint, powering her way to the rim before adding another quick bucket to cap a nine-point quarter with HHCA holding a commanding 32-6 lead.
BA needed a spark in the second and found it with Mike’Ala Washington, who racked up 12 points in the period including a pair of threes. But Peduzzi, Yarde, and Jaida Grayson picked it up in the final minutes before Skylar Smith banked in a deep three at the buzzer to put the exclamation point on a 52-24 first-half explosion.
The three-time defending SCISA 2A champs kept it rolling after the break, earning trips to the free throw line and playing tough defense to raise the advantage to 72-38. Yarde put the finishing touches on a terrific night in the fourth, adding 11 more points including a gorgeous 3-pointer to cap off the region win.
Yarde was sensational both passing and scoring the basketball, leading the Eagles with 24 points, Peduzzi was uncontainable near the hoop with 20 points on the night, Tamya Hutchinson scored 12 points, and Grayson added 11.
Washington put on a brilliant performance for Beaufort Academy in the defeat, posting a game-high 33 points, and Tahleea Heyward added 12.
Hilton Head Christian (9-1, 2-0) hosts rival Hilton Head Prep on Tuesday. Beaufort Academy (9-4, 0-1) plays at Colleton Prep on Tuesday.
By Wes Kerr
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