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Fleming Island hoops’ girls wins Knights’ district rematch

By Randy Lefko
Posted 1/17/18

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High must have seen the start of the Middleburg High girls basketball team that bolted to a 28-5 first quarter lead against Oakleaf High last week as the Golden Eagles …

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Fleming Island hoops’ girls wins Knights’ district rematch


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND - Fleming Island High must have seen the start of the Middleburg High girls basketball team that bolted to a 28-5 first quarter lead against Oakleaf High last week as the Golden Eagles copied the strategy with an 18-7 opening salvo en route to a 65-44 district 4-8A win Friday night at Fleming Island High School.

The win gives the Golden Eagle girls sole possession of the top spot in district 4-8A with their 17-3, 6-1 record with Oakleaf just off the pace at 14-4, 4-2. Oakleaf and Bartram Trail both are at 4-2 for district games with Creekside and Buchholz both winless in district contests. Oakleaf’s two district losses have been to Fleming Island.

As the season nears the finish of regular season play, Fleming Island has one district game remaining on January 16 at Creekside (6-13, 0-4). Oakleaf has a Wed., Jan. 17 game with Bartram Trail (10-7, 4-2) and a January 27 game with Buchholz (6-9, 0-5) to finish district play.

Against Oakleaf, Fleming Island opened with a flurry of steals and buckets led by Hope Rozier and Moriah Martin who combined for a 7-2 lead after just two minutes with Martin floating in a three-pointer on her first shot. Martin would finish with 15 points on the night; her season best, with teammate Aubrey Burke also finishing with 15 points. Fleming Island finished with 16 steals and 15 assists on the night.

In the second period, Fleming Island slowed their pace a bit as Oakleaf responded with Mar’ria Davis and Andrea Diaz-Merced generating a five point opening with Diaz-Merced nailing a three-pointer to pull the Lady Knights to 19-12 with 6:02 to the half.

Fleming Island coach Joey Williams took a time out to rally his troops and his “chat” seemed effective as the Golden Eagles clamped down on Oakleaf’s 12 points while pushing the score to 30-12 in a flash.

A blocked shot from Burke on Oakleaf center Dajah Oden revved the Fleming Island attack as guard Tia Robinson bounced downcourt for a free layup on the play. From there, Rozier and Martin again hit the points button before Oakleaf finally got back on the scoreboard with free throws from Sabria Littles.

The half ended at 37-15.

Oakleaf again got off the floor and put a comeback of sorts together with a quick three buckets from Oden and Littles, plus another three-pointer from Diaz-Merced as Fleming Island seemed to need another jolt of “chat” from Williams after the 18-11 run by the Knights.

After a crowd-pleasing banked three pointer from Diaz-Merced and the score creeping closer to 41-27, Robinson took the reigns passes to Molly Ragle and Martin pushing the Golden Eagles to 47-33 on the scoreboard just as the third quarter ended.

In the final stanza, Oakleaf went to the three point stripe with Littles and guard Chancelor Lee trying to gobble up some points quickly, but Fleming Island took advantage of the misses to grab rebounds and layups to the 60-41 final score.