East Central girls fall to Chicago team at showcase
BY Staff Reports
Sunday, January 20, 2013
1/20/13 at 6:24 AM
FLORISSANT, Mo. - East Central couldn't sustain a strong first-half for four quarters and fell to powerful Whitney Young of Chicago, 62-40, Saturday in the MLK Girls Basketball Showcase.
Led by Arkansas signee Bria Pitts, the 5A No. 2 Cards started fast and led 22-21 at halftime. But the Dolphins, ranked 53rd nationally by MaxPreps and the defending Illinois Class 4A state champs, took over in the third quarter.
"We gave up a couple of layups and they got on a roll," East Central coach Samy Mack said. "They are a big squad and they rebounded well. They did what they needed to do against us, but we played right with them for a half. We showed we have kids capable of playing at the next level."
The Cards (9-3) get another chance Sunday in the three-day festival, facing Potter's House Christian Academy of Jacksonville, Fla., at 3 p.m. The Lions are ranked 37th in the Sunshine State by MaxPreps. On Monday, the Cards play Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge, the defending Class 5 champion in the Show-Me State.
Pitts had 16 points and nine rebounds and 6-foot-3 sophomore Sharayla Brown added eight points and 11 rebounds. Mack said Brown played well against Whitney Young's 6-foot-5 Khaalia Hillsman, helping hold her to 11 points.
Kentucky signee Linnae Harper led Whitney Young (16-3) with 17 points.
WHITNEY YOUNG 62, EAST CENTRAL 40 (girls)
| East Central |
12 |
10 |
8 |
10 |
- |
40 |
| Whitney Young |
9 |
13 |
20 |
20 |
- |
62 |
EC: Pitts 16, Brown 8, Arnold 7, Williams 4, Reed 3, White 2.
Young: Harper 17, Hillsman 11, Allen 10, Brame 9, Snower 7, Beck 3, Muhammed 2, Mckee 2, Morris 1.
