Lower Richland’s Jasmine Harrison avoids the charge for a layup against Daniel. Photos by Paulene Cruse Lower Richland’s run to a fifth consecutive State Title came to a crashing halt Saturday afternoon with a 59–46 defeat to Daniel. The Lady Lions opened up the game with a 15–0 run from which the Lady Diamond Hornets could never fully recover. Daniel used a combination of stifling defense and easy shots to help build a lead and keep Lower Richland from ever mounting a comeback.

Jasmine Harrison carried the Lady Diamond Hornets with 18 points, while the remaining scorers had single digit totals.

Daniel struck quickly and often to begin the first quarter, scoring 12 points in less than three minutes and causing Lower Richland to take a timeout with 5:01 left in the first quarter to try to bounce back. After spotting Daniel a 15–0 lead, a pair of free throws from Justice Nathan put Lower Richland in the scoring column. The Diamond Hornets scored seven of the final 11 points in the quarter to cut the deficit to ten at 19–9 at the end of the quarter.

Lower Richland’s Beatrice Williams battles for a loose ball against Daniel. Early in the second quarter, it looked as if Lower Richland may be able to mount a comeback and overcome the slow start. Buckets from Quanisha Price and Harrison cut the Daniel lead to 20–12, but a three–pointer from Katie Schmidt and a bucket from Sheree Smith pushed the lead back to double digits at 25–12. Daniel maintained that 13 point lead at 30–17 going into halftime.

The Lady Lions didn’t waste too much time in the third quarter to put the game away. A 9–2 run extended the lead to 39–19. Quanisha Price was able to stop the Daniel run with a bucket. The Lady Diamond Hornets cut the deficit to 43–26 following a bucket from Nathan. However, Daniel responded with four straight free throws from Smith and pushed the lead to 47–26 at the end of the third quarter.

Lower Richland kept fighting in the fourth quarter despite the deficit. Buckets from Price and Beatrice Williams to open up the quarter made the score 47–31.

Daniel again pushed the lead past 20 with a bucket from Layne Droddy and a free throw from Anna Qualkinbush to make the score 54–33. Lower Richland refused to give up. A bucket from Harrison brought the deficit back below 20 points and a free throw from Ashley Edmond helped keep the deficit under 20 points. Allison Doddy’s basket pushed the lead up to 58–39. However, Lower Richland outscored Daniel 7–1 to finish out the quarter, but Daniel came away with the 59–46 victory and advanced to state title game.