Albany Westover ends Monroe’s 12-game winning streak, Monroe girls hold off rally to win

ALBANY — Westover’s sophomore-laden team used a tenacious defense and some hot shooting to build a big third-quarter lead Tuesday night and defeat crosstown rival Monroe 57-48 at the “Boston Garden” at Westover High School. Monroe took the girls game 61-48.

The Patriots led 7-2 early in the first quarter before the Tornadoes came to within two points at 9-7. A three-pointer from the corner by Gregory Williams and a three-point play from Mykell Hines pushed Westover’s lead to 15-8 at the end of the first. Westover led 39-31 at the half, but the lead had been larger before the Tornadoes scored the final six points of the second quarter.

Westover pushed the lead to 16 points in the third quarter behind hot shooting and forcing Mornoe miscues. A three-point play from Anthony Milton and a long three-pointer from Bryson Carter helped the Patriots stretch their lead in the third quarter.

Monroe simply was not as sharp as they were Monday night in the win over Calhoun County. Shots that usually fall for Monroe did not on Tuesday. The Tornadoes missed 14 free throws of 32 attempted. Add to that Westover’s defense and the battle under the board led by 6’8” senior Traevion Wheeler and the Patriots got numerous opportunities for points underneath.

Westover’s win is the sixth in a row for the Patriots and improves the season record to 9-7. Monroe’s loss ends the No. 4-ranked Tornadoes’ 12-game winning streak, which began when Monroe beat Westover 58-38 in December.

Bryson Carter, a sophomore, finished with 16 points to lead Westover, while both Anthony Milton and Gregory Williams, another sophomore, scored 10 each.

Justin Burns led the Tornadoes with 15 points and Lorenzo Still put in 13.

The No. 7-ranked Lady Tornadoes jumped out to a big lead early Tuesday night and then survived a second-half comeback attempt by Westover’s Lady Patriots.

Monroe (12-6) started hot with two threes from Taylor McKinzy and two baskets from Ciarra Lunsford in the first quarter before Kie’Aundria Acree swished a half-court three at the buzzer to give Monroe a 27-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Monroe stretched that lead to 44-19 at the half but Westover wouldn’t quit.

Drives by Jada Landers and Sydney Donaldson, plus three third-quarter threes from Wykeria Holmes helped the Lady Patriots outscore Monroe 22-10 in the third quarter. Westover continued to narrow the gap in the fourth quarter but Monroe’s huge early lead was just too much to overcome.

Senior Ciarra Lunsford led Monroe with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Monroe Head Coach Jennifer Acree called time out to stop the game with six minutes left in the second quarter after Lunsford’s basket pushed her over the 1,000 career point mark. Acree scored 17 points with nine rebounds and seven assists and Jocelynn Thomas added 11 points.

Landers led Wetover with 21 points, Holmes scored 12 and Donaldson finished with 10.

Both Westover and Monroe will play in Columbus Friday night. Westover will play at Shaw High School while Monroe will be across town at Carver High School.

Joe WhitfieldJoe Whitfield