COURTLAND
With a relatively large crowd on hand, the Southampton girls basketball team put forth its best effort of the season against Greensville High School on Wednesday night. It wasn’t enough, however, as the Lady Indians suffered their second loss in as many games against the Eagles this season, 50-25.

Southampton was able to overcome the difference in athleticism between the teams early on, jumping out to a 6-0 lead behind buckets from Bryona Knight and Jordan Lee. Greensville seemed to lack the same urgency as their opponents, meanwhile, turning the ball over on their first three possessions of the game.

“We came out focused and ready to play,” said Southampton head coach Littleton Parker. “We just executed the things we’ve been working on.”

Greensville’s coach, Sharon Manning, quickly called a timeout and ripped into her team, igniting a fire that would stay lit through the remainder of the contest. Switching to full-court man-to-man, the Eagles forced the Lady Indians to throw the ball away on multiple occasions, and Greensville found its first lead of the game with only two minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Lady Indians kept it close, though, as teams exchanged buckets on consecutive trips down the floor to end the quarter and give the visiting team an 11-10 break heading into the second quarter.

“I was real pleased that we played so well in the first quarter,” Parker said.

Facilitating the offense through their best player, Tiaquonna Connor, the Eagles were able to extended their lead to 13 before halftime, however. She made four shots from the field and dished out three assists in the period.

“They have some of the best players in the division,” Parker said, “and our fatigue from playing the night before set in.”

The second half was more of the same, as Tia Eason also got in on the action for the Eagles. The junior shooting guard was impressive, coming off of the bench to add eight points of her own in the third to put the game out of reach, 34-19. Greensville would coast from there.

“That was the difference,” Parker said of Eason’s play. “They substitute and are able to maintain the same play, while we don’t have the same depth.”

Sophomore Jordan Lee continues to play well as of late, and led the Lady Indians will 13 points and 12 rebounds. Bryona Knights and Jamaya Hunt pitched in a five apiece.

With the loss, Southampton falls to 6-11, 6-9 within the TriRivers District, in Parker’s first season at the helm. The team has three games remaining in the regular season, hosting Surry on Friday evening before traveling to Colonial Heights on Monday. The Lady Indians will then play host to the Minutewomen for Senior Night on Wednesday evening. Among those players donning “Lady Indians” across their chest for the last time in front of the home crowd will be Megan Simmons and Sierra Johnson.