RAVENSWOOD - St. Marys senior Audra Clark hasn't thought about graduating in late May. But, you can bet every girls basketball coach in the Little Kanawha Conference is going to be in attendance to make sure the six-footer collects her diploma.
The Blue Devils' standout continued to make a strong bid to becoming the LKC's Player of the Year when she exploded for 32 points in St. Marys' 73-55 win at Ravenswood on Friday night.
"I really haven't given it (graduating) much thought," said Clark, who already has committed to continue her basketball playing days at Rio Grande University next season. "Right now, all of our focus is on getting back to states and winning."
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Photo by Jim Butta
St. Marys head coach Howard Meeks discusses strategy with his Blue Devils during a timeout in Friday night’s 73-55 win over host Ravenswood.
That hasn't been much of a problem for the Howard Meeks' coached team through its first seven games as the Pleasants Countians take off the next couple of weeks with a 7-0 mark (5-0 in the LKC North) before returning to the hardwood at Doddridge County on Jan. 4.
"We are more than a one-girl team," continued the senior. "We have a lot of girls on this team that understand their roles and that is making it easier for all of us to just go out and play our games."
That game Friday night was to get the ball into the hands of Clark and junior Kendra Walker. The duo combined to take 15 shots in the opening 16 minutes of action and connected on all but two as the visitors took a 39-26 lead into the intermission.
Walker, who hauled down a game-high 16 rebounds, finished with 20 points, while Dani Moore chipped in with nine points, 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Ravenswood, now 4-2 overall and 1-2 in the LKC North, was paced by senior Hannah Murray's 17 points while sophomore Hailey Miller chipped in with 14. The Red Devils return to action at the Rod Hudson Tournament in Ripley on Dec. 27-28.
The first eight minutes of action witnessed both teams taking a lead. However, a Clark layin off of a Mikaela Britton feed pushed the visitors into the lead for good, 13-10, with 3:20 left to play in the first quarter. Ravenswood kept the game close on a deuce by Miller and a triple by Kayla Scritchfield, but still found itself trailing by five, 20-15, heading into the second quarter.
A quarter dominated by the Blue Devils' twin towers as both accounted for six points apiece as St. Marys outscored its hosts by eight, 19-11, to take a 39-26 lead to the lockerrooms.
The Red Devils were able to slice that margin to 11, 50-39, after the third quarter thanks to a 9-of-10 showing at the charity stripe. But, that would be as close as the hosts would get as St. Marys went on a 15-8 run to open the final frame and never led by less than 14 the rest of the game.
