HS Girls Basketball: Greenbrier East runs over Beckley

Lady Spartan senior all-stater Kennedy Stewart scores 28 points to lead the charge

Greenbrier East girls basketball senior Kennedy Stewart has been a nemesis over her career against rival Beckley.

Friday in her swan song against the Lady Flying Eagles, Stewart once again had Beckley head coach Brian Nabors shaking his head.

Pouring in 28 points, the all-state sharpshooter led the AAA No. 1 ranked Lady Spartans to a convincing 86-58 win over AAAA No. 5 Beckley.

Stewart talked about her final games against the Lady Flying Eagles.

The opening quarter was tight, but when Kala Waller drilled a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer, Greenbrier East led 23-18 and never trailed the rest of the game.

After hitting two long balls in the first quarter, Stewart knocked in three home run balls in the second to spark a 22-point quarter and a 45-34 lead at the break.

The Lady Spartans separated the game for good with a blistering third period.

Stewart had two more 3-pointers and eight points in the quarter, while Ava Workman added five of her 19 points on the night.

Throwing salt in the wound for Beckley was Sandy Banton who scored all eight of her points in the contest, including two triples.

When the horn sounded to end the quarter, Greenbrier East had outscored the Lady Eagles, 24-6 for a commanding 69-40 lead.

Hannah Fuller added 11 points and had six rebounds, but a big part of the story for East in the paint was the high energy play of senior volleyball standout Reagan Rink.

Filling in for Fuller who was fighting foul trouble, Rink scored six points, grabbed four rebounds and had three assists

Workman also had seven assists and three steals on the night, while Banton had four rebounds and four steals.

Karsyn Gunter paced Beckley with 19 points and Donya Burton scored 18.

The Lady Spartans are back in action against another ranked opponent when they matchup with AA No. 8 Philip Barbour tonight at Spartan Gym.

The road gets no easier for Beckley who will battle AA No. 5 Wyoming East Wednesday at the New River CTC Invitational.

Greenbrier East head coach and current U.S. Senator from Wests Virginia, Jim Justice discussed the win.