Rivalry night lacks drama as Terrell girls, Deerfield-Windsor boys cruise

ALBANY — Rivalry nights are supposed to come with a little edge — tight possessions, anxious coaches, and a crowd waiting for something to tilt.

Tuesday night’s game at Deerfield-Windsor had the crowd. It just never quite got the tension.

Instead, Terrell Academy’s girls and Deerfield-Windsor’s boys took turns turning the doubleheader into something far more comfortable than dramatic, with the Lady Eagles pulling away for a 53-36 win in the opener before the Knights rolled to a 67-26 victory in the nightcap.

The girls’ game hinted at a battle early.

Terrell Academy held only a 12-8 lead after one quarter, and Deerfield-Windsor was still within reach when the second period began. That’s when the Lady Eagles started finding their rhythm. Sally Masters attacked the lane for eight points in the quarter, Hadley Webb knocked down a pair of shots from the perimeter, and suddenly the floor began to tilt in Terrell’s favor.

Pembrooke Daniel tried to keep the Lady Knights connected, scoring six points in the quarter, but each push was met with a steadier one from the Eagles. By halftime, Terrell had built control of the game — and unlike a rivalry that swings back and forth, this one never really did.

Masters finished with 19 points to lead Terrell Academy, Webb added 16, and Natalie Oliver and Lily Addison chipped in eight apiece. Daniel led Deerfield-Windsor with 18 points, while Laiyah Williams added nine.

If the opener slowly drifted away, the boys game never even teased suspense.

Deerfield-Windsor came out running, and Terrell Academy spent most of the first quarter chasing. David Hutchins scored twice in transition to open the nightcap, Brady Harris followed with a jumper, and Jack Moore buried a three to make it 9-0 — a quick burst that forced Terrell coach Todd Davis into an early timeout.

The timeout didn’t slow the momentum.

Hutchins beat the Eagles down the floor two more times, pushing the lead to 13-0 and prompting another stoppage. Even as Knights coach Randy Foster began to rotate players, the tone stayed the same. Drew Harris drilled a three, Holden Whatley finally put Terrell on the board, and then freshman Jor’dyn Halsley closed the quarter with a deep three at the buzzer to send Deerfield-Windsor into the break up 21-2.

By then, the game had already taken on the feel of a long night.

The Knights kept stretching the lead in the second quarter, and when Lane Sceals knocked down a three to make it 30-6, Foster again turned to his bench. Deerfield-Windsor carried a 39-10 lead into halftime, pushed it to 52-12 after three quarters, and spent the fourth quarter freely substituting.

Tillman Faust hit two three-pointers late and finished with 10 points for Terrell Academy, but the outcome had long since been settled.

Ten different Knights found the scoring column. Hutchins led the way with 15 points, while Brady Harris and Halsley added 12 apiece.

Deerfield-Windsor improved to 10-2, while Terrell Academy fell to 3-12.

The Knights will host Valwood in a region game Friday before welcoming John Milledge for a non-region matchup Saturday. Terrell Academy is scheduled to play Saturday afternoon at Sherwood Christian.

On a night built for rivalry drama, the script never really changed. One team eased away. The other sprinted out of sight.