Lower Richland’s Beatrice Williams shoots over Travelers Rest’s Kelly Melton and Beth Youngblood. Photos by Paulene Cruse The Lower Richland Lady Diamond Hornets advanced to the Upper State finals with a 59–56 victory over the visiting Travelers Rest Lady Devildogs Monday, February 22. The game was a back and forth battle, but Lower Richland was able to outlast Travelers Rest in the second half, turning a 31–30 deficit at halftime into a three point win.

Jasmine Harrison led the way for the Lady Diamond Hornets with 20 points. Jasmine Richardson chipped in 12 points.

The Lady Diamonds started the game slow, scoring their first point near the six minute mark of the first quarter. TR’s Kayla Jenerette started the scoring, however a bucket from Harrison helped spark an 8–0 run for Lower Richland, giving the Diamond Hornets an 8-2 lead. The Lady Devildogs answered with a 5–0 run, coming off two free throws from Kelly Melton and a free throw followed by a basket from Jenerette, to close the gap to 8–7. Harrison answered the run with a three pointer, followed up later with a basket from Ashley Edmond as Lower Richland escaped the quarter with a 12–10 lead.

LR’s Jasmine Harrison floats in for a basket. A three pointer from Rebecca Clanton gave Travelers Rest the lead back but, Lower Richland recaptured the lead with a bucket from Edmond. However, Travelers Rest fought back to regain the lead at 17–14 with four straight points from Jenerette. The lead was extended to as high as seven following two free throws from Jenerette.

The Lady Diamonds mounted a come back with a Harrison three closing the gap to 27–23. Travelers Rest maintained the two possession lead until Richardson hit back–to–back baskets to cut the deficit to 31–30 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Lower Richland quickly regained the lead with a basket from Harrison. The Lady Devildogs took the lead right back with two baskets from Jenerette to make the score 35–34. Beatrice Williams put LR back on top with a bucket and then followed it up with another one to extend the lead to three at 38–35. Travelers Rest never allowed the lead to grow any higher than four points, 43–39, and ended the quarter with a pair of free throws from Jenerette to trail Lower Richland 43–41 entering the fourth quarter.

The Diamonds fought to extend the lead in the fourth quarter. Two buckets from Que Rice gave Lower Richland a 53–46 lead. However, the Lady Devildogs had one more run in them. A bucket from Melton followed by a free throw from Jenerette quickly shrank the deficit to 53–49. A bucket from Harrison was answered by a bucket and three free throws from Clanton to make the score 55–54 in favor of Lower Richland.

The run wasn’t enough for Travelers Rest, as Lower Richland was able to seal the game from the free throw line. Harrison hit four free throws in the end to give Lower Richland the 59–56 win.

The Diamond Hornets will play either J.L. Mann or Daniel for the Upper State championship at the Bi–Lo Center in Greenville Saturday, February 27 at 6 pm.