A.C. Flora’s Kim Roach goes in for two of her game–high 17 points against Brookland–Cayce. Photos by Mike Maddock Nearly half of the once–huge lead was gone.

The full–court press by Brookland–Cayce’s starters was fueling a seven–point run, and A.C. Flora’s reserves, who had been on the court since late in the third quarter, were rattled.

But of all the starters to choose from on the bench, A.C. Flora coach Patti Moore turned to Kyeshia Dawkins.

Dawkins is a freshman.

“That tells me I can handle the ball well, and I can get the team together and settle it down,” Dawkins said.

The point guard rewarded that confidence, promptly taking an inbounds pass and darting through three players in the press to set up a fast break.

During the next two minutes, the Falcons committed one turnover and lost only one more point off their lead. That was enough to assure a 60–55 victory, even with a 13–2 game–ending run by the Bearcats on Tuesday night at A.C. Flora High School.

A.C. Flora’s Kyeshia Dawkins tries to block the shot of Brookland–Cayce’s Asia Benn. “Kyeshia is doing a better job running the floor and starting to distribute the ball really well,” Moore said. “At the beginning of the year, we knew we were a post– player oriented team, and that our guard play needed work. Now, that is coming around.”

In fact, Dawkins and sophomore Simoy Evans, the starting guards, combined to outscore do– everything forward Kim Roach in the first quarter. Of course, Roach erupted in the second quarter, scoring 11 of her game– high 17 points. However, Dawkins added 14 – one of her highest point totals of the season.

“It depends on what the other team is giving me,” Dawkins said. “I really like to penetrate and dish: I like to pass the ball. But, I will shoot when it’s open.”

Dawkins was frequently open in transition as Brookland–Cayce (4–5) struggled in the first three quarters and A.C. Flora (11–2) pushed the tempo while bringing the ball up court and stayed one step – or pass – ahead against the Bearcats’ defenses in the halfcourt.

When Dawkins recorded a steal by stepping in between and taking away what was essentially a hand–off between two guards and converted it into a basket midway through the third quarter, A.C. Flora led by 22. The lead reached 26 before Moore emptied her bench.

“Right now, we are concentrating more on the offensive end,” Brookland– Cayce first–year coach Tracey Adams said. “When shots don’t fall, we start to get discouraged and that carries over onto defense. We need to reverse that.”

Asia Benn led Brookland– Cayce with 21 points including 15 in the fourth quarter. Taylor Vinson and Kayla Stinson finished with 11 and 10 points respectively.