High school roundup (Sept. 21)
The Sharks had been struggling in big tournaments this season.
They certainly reversed that trend Monday.
The St. James girls golf team rallied from eight strokes back to win the Lady Patriot Invitational at The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation by nine strokes.
After a first-round 320, the Sharks finished with a 296 to finish at 616, nine strokes ahead of defending Class AAAA state champion Lexington and 39 shots ahead of third-place Easley, last year’s AAAA runner-up.
“It was really good since we’ve been struggling in tournaments,” St. James coach Denise Noll said. “It was good to come out and shoot low.”
Led by three players – Smith Knaffle, Jordan White and Kelli Smith –shooting 73s, the Sharks surged past the competition on Day 2.
“The first day our ball-striking was pretty decent overall, but we struggled with the greens. They were firm and fast,” Noll said. “They adjusted on the second day. I think that made the big difference in the scores.”
She credited her team for taking bumps and bruises in early tournaments en route to getting this victory.
“Even if we don’t win, like in the past couple tournaments where we struggled, that ultimately led us to this,” Noll said.
The Sharks are coming off a runner-up finish in the Class AAA state tournament a year ago, but Noll wasn’t ready to get ahead of herself following Monday’s big win.
“We’re just taking it one match at a time right now,” she said. “We don’t want to think that far in advance.”
▪ Team scores: Ashley Ridge 699, Bishop England 688, Bluffton 671, Carolina Forest 703, James Island Charter 780, Hilton Head 703, Fort Dorchester 662, Easley 655, Lexington 625, River Bluff 745, Socastee 836, Summerville 910, White Knoll 661, St. James 616.
▪ ST. JAMES: Smith Knaffle 74-73–147, Jordan White 81-73–154, Kelli Smith 76-73–149, Steely Hays 94-77–171, Katie Smith 89-82–171.
▪ CAROLINA FOREST: Jamie Karl 83-90–173, Sydney Abruzzino 83-87–170, Jackie Brown 87-92–179, Sami Spencer 97-91–188, Sara Padula 90-102–192.
▪ SOCASTEE: Lawson Devers 99-86–185, Joey Kirkman 106-98–204, Maddy Perritt 111-105–216, Molly Teal 117-114–231, Alicia Baldwin 122-115–237.
Girls golf
▪ The same day it won an out-of-area tournament, the St. James girls golf team won a three-team meet at Blackmoor Golf Club.
▪ Team scores: St. James 188, Georgetown 219, Waccamaw 241.
▪ ST. JAMES: Brooke Reagan 44, Amanda Meno 45, Alanna Hoeveler 47, Kelli Jones 52.
▪ GEORGETOWN: Hanna Avant 51, Karli Thompkins 55, Taylor Strickland 55, Caroline Smith 58.
▪ WACCAMAW: Brianna Hammond 57, Lauren Maser 60, Marlee Lord 61, Caroline Lankford 63.
▪ Jaiden Vaugh shot a season-low 9-over 45 to lead Myrtle Beach to a win over Conway at Grande Dunes.
▪ Team scores: Myrtle Beach 186, Conway 216.
▪ MYRTLE BEACH: Jaiden Vaugh 45, Miranda Russell 46, Riley Hinde 47, Bini Brooks 48.
Girls tennis
▪ Socastee 7, North Myrtle Beach 0 | The Braves cruised to a victory over the Chiefs.
▪ Singles: Anna Brice Cox (S) def. Makala Gore 6-1, 6-1; Joy Renfro (S) def. Tessa Thomas 6-4, 6-1; Christian Case (S) def. Taylor Gore 6-3, 6-4; Nicole Mortel (S) def. Marena Willford 6-4, 6-1; Charlie Gaspers (S) def. Lorena Beltran 8-0.
▪ Doubles: Brice Cox/Renfro (S) def. M. Gore/Thomas 8-3; Maria Benedetti/Hannah Bean (S) def. Kimarria Vereen/Nikki Vereen 8-4.
▪ (At) Myrtle Beach 6, Conway | The Seahawks improved to 8-1.
▪ Singles: Elizabeth Truluck (MB) def. Victoria Smith 6-0, 6-0; Emma Springs (MB) def. Hailey Cassidy 6-0, 6-0; Bailey Deskins (MB) def. Jessie Miles 6-0, 6-0; Paxton Gentry (MB) def. Tori Worley 6-0, 6-0; Sarah Woodard (MB) def. Maggie Gore 6-1, 6-1.
▪ Doubles: Catherine Truluck/Cayce Roberts (MB) def. Ali Thompson/Julia Hogend 6-0, 6-0.
Volleyball
(At) Myrtle Beach 3, Conway 0: Maggie Slabinski and Gracie Davis had nine kills each as the Seahawks won 25-21, 25-10, 25-11 to improve to 9-1.
(At) North Myrtle Beach 3, Carolina Forest 2: Ellissa Small had 23 kills and Kenzlie Andresen added 13 kills and six blocks, but it wasn’t enough as the Panthers fell 25-18, 23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 13-15.
(At) Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach 3, Conway Christian 0: The Saints cruised to a 25-7, 25-16, 25-9 victory.
This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 11:20 PM with the headline "High school roundup (Sept. 21)."