Airport’s Maya McCray tries to stop Dreher’s Tequila McNeal. Photos by Paulene Cruse Led by 21 points from Tequila McNeal and 9 points from Shakeina Smith, the Dreher Lady Blue Devils were able to run away from the Airport Eagles 53–39.

After spotting Airport an early 5–2 lead, Dreher stormed back on a 9–4 run to finish the quarter with an 11–9 lead. Lauren Dreher led the way with 4 points, McNeal and Krista Canty chipped in with three and two points respectively.

The Blue Devils extended their lead in the second quarter. After Airport’s Jessica Ellison hit a three–pointer to give the Eagles a brief 12–11 lead, Dreher countered with an 11–4 run. McNeal hit a three to begin the run to regain the lead at 14–12. Then buckets from Dreher and Jade Nathaniel helped extend the lead to 18–12. McNeal and Canty finished the run with a basket a piece to give Dreher a 22–14 lead. A basket from Shonta McNeal for Airport cut the deficit to six at 22–16 going into halftime.

Dreher’s Shakeina Smith takes a shot against Airport. In the third quarter, Dreher took over. It began with three points from McNeal from a basket and a made free throw. Smith chipped in with four points at the end of an 11–5 run to extend the lead to 33–21.

A pair of free throws from Julisa Muldrow cut the deficit inside of double digits at 33–24. That was when McNeal for Dreher took over with six straight points to end the quarter, giving the Blue Devils a 39–24 lead.

In the fourth, Airport tried to mount a comeback. The Eagles went on a 12–6 run to cut the deficit to ten points at 46–36. Made free throw attempts from McNeal and Muldrow helped fuel the run. However, Dreher proved to be too much. A basket from Gerrysha Sullivan ended the run for Airport, and Smith scoring the last five points for Dreher helped seal the win for the Blue Devils at 53–39.