NEWBERRY — For a sixth straight season, Newberry High School will be sending at least one of its basketball teams to the state’s semi-finals.
The Lady Bulldogs punched their ticket for a fourth straight year to the Bon Secours Arena in Greenville after their 64-39 victory Monday at Fairfield Central.
Taking a quick 10-0 lead in the game’s first 4:15, Newberry ended the quarter on a 12-point run to have the 22-2 advantage at the end of the night’s first eight minutes.
The Lady Griffins took a time out 2:17 into the second quarter, staring at a 28-2 deficit.
Newberry ended the quarter on a 14-to-10 point run and the Lady Bulldogs would lead by 30 points at the break, 42-12.
It was the second straight playoff game that Newberry led by at least 30 points at the half.
Newberry had a 4-to-zero advantage in three-pointers in the first half over Fairfield Central.
Slowing their pace from overdrive to about a third gear, Newberry still outscored Fairfield Central 18-to-12 in the third quarter. They would head to the final eight minutes of play with the 60-24 lead.
It was the 15th straight time since Jan. 1 that Newberry would go on to end a game with at least 60 points.
If Newberry played their third stanza in about third gear, their fourth quarter pace was no more than in a second gear as the Lady Bulldogs ran ample time off the clock on each possession and only scored four points during this time.
Four of Newberry’s starters ended the night in double digits. Not only was she the only player to score in each quarter, but Kelsey Felks was also the game’s leading scorer with 17 points.
Rehgan Miller hit her 52nd third-pointer of the season and ended with 13 points.
Rayanna Davis and Zacharia Epps scored 11 points apiece, and Epps scored the game’s first five points.
Nigeria Davis and Kelsey Havird rounded out the Newberry scoring with six points apiece.
Five of the six scorers for the Lady Griffins ended in single digits.
The 23-2 Lady Bulldogs will be the home team Saturday for a 2 p.m. tip-off against the 19-7 Lady Wildcats of Seneca.
These two teams share two common opponents this season: Woodruff and Pendleton.
While Newberry defeated the Lady Wolverines in regional action 64-38 and 66-39, Seneca eliminated Woodruff from the playoffs with a 70-37 victory.
Meanwhile, Seneca defeated Pendleton 75-60 and 63-54, while the Lady Bulldogs of Anderson County saw their season come to a close earlier this month at Newberry with an 80-38 defeat.