Rockets overcome slow start to down Rebels

McCrae’s 19 points lead Rockingham

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

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ROCKINGHAM — Ralayah McCrae was limited to five points in the first half of Rockingham’s home game Monday against Rohanen.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
The Rockingham defense held Rohanen scoreless in the third quarter.

She made up for it in the second half.

McCrae scored 12 of her 14 second-half points in the third quarter to lead the Rockets to a 40-15 win over the Rebels in girls middle school basketball action. Rockingham improves to 2-0 while Rohanen drops to 0-2.

Coach Teresa Mason said her team seemed a bit surprised at the intensity with which the Rebels came to play. Led by Tatiana Little, the girls in blue and yellow showed early that a Rockingham victory anything but a sure thing.

Rockingham led by only five after the first quarter and by 11 at halftime. But a lightning-quick start to the second half, including a third period in which the Rockets outscored Rohanen 15-0, put things to rest.

Taliah Wall and Emily Parsons added six points apiece in the win, while Hannah Bennett and Jessi Matheson each scored four points. Allexis Swiney chipped in with three points.

Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
On the few occasions the Rebels got around a Rocket defender, as Donna McDonald (8) does here against Hailey Miller, the Rohanen offense was off just enough.

Tatiana Little led the Rebels with 13 points. Dannon Shepard added two points in the loss.

Nick Beggs contributed to this story.