After Wayne Christian defeated Wayne Country Day on the Chargers’ home floor earlier this season, the Chargers got some payback on Tuesday evening at Wayne Christian.
In a hard-fought game, the Chargers came away with a 62-44 win against Wayne Christian to remain in the hunt for another Coastal Plains Independent Conference title.
“We were embarrassed on our home floor. I got kicked out of the game, and it was an ugly point, but it was a turning point for our season. That was one of our worst games, and since then, we’ve progressively gotten better,” Wayne Country Day head coach Maurice Jones said. “Wayne Christian scored 60 points last time we played them, and we did not want that to happen again.
“It was a good feeling to even it out on their home floor.”
The strategy was slow to develop for the Eagles as Wayne Country jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game, but toward the end of the first quarter, the Eagles’ Ella Fox drained a three-pointer to cut the Chargers’ lead down to 15-11.
In the second quarter, Wayne Christian used a 9-5 run to make it a three-point game, but with a minute left until halftime, Jordin Whitney hit a layup and Ja’Kea Brunson nailed a three-pointer to push the Chargers’ lead back up to six points.
However, Wayne Christian remained in the game and closed the gap to three points again at the end of the third quarter.
“Wayne Christian came to play,” Jones said. “We always know it’s going to be a tough game, and those girls hung in there. Wayne Christian has great players.”
But Wayne Country Day took control of the game in the fourth quarter. Brunson scored 11 of her game-high 26 points in the final seven minutes of the game, while Whitney scored eight of her 20 points in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles never recovered and struggled offensively in the fourth quarter. The Chargers held the home team to four points in the fourth period.
Brunson and Whitney did most of the scoring for the Chargers, but Jones said it took the whole team to outscore the Eagles 25-4 in the fourth quarter.
Hayden Nielsen and Kimora Cox both contributed seven points for the Chargers, and Carleigh Greiman finished the game with four points.
“In the beginning of the season, we depended a lot on Ja’Kea Brunson, and now toward the end of the season, the girls are really starting to find their space on the floor.
“They are really an unselfish team.”
Ella Fox led Wayne Christian with 11 points. Hayli Verme and Brianna Verme each scored 10 points. Brittney Butts added eight points and Carolina Fox scored six points.
Wayne Country Day (12-5) next hosts John Paul II (7-7) tonight, while Wayne Christian (11-2) will look to right itself at John Paul II on Friday night.
