Lady Patriots eliminated by West Ashley

The score after the first quarter of the West Ashley-Fort Dorchester girls’ game was Dekeiya Cohen 18, Fort Dorchester 7.
It was one of those games Wednesday night as West Ashley, a No. 1 seed in the girls Class AAAA state playoffs, scored often and settled the issue early in a 70-31 homecourt victory over Fort Dorchester.
The Wildcats jumped to a 32-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back as they extended their winning streak to 10 games.
The Wildcats, who improved to 21-1, host North Augusta in the second round on Friday. North Augusta advanced with a 63-48 victory over Carolina Forest. Fort Dorchester finished with a 4-18 record.
Cohen finished with 35 points, 18 rebounds, six blocks, and six steals for the Wildcats, who won the Region 7-AAAA title. Jhanice Stokes added 16 and Jue McLemore 11.
“No worries, but I was a little concerned before the game,” West Ashley coach Maria Williams said. “We came out a little flat the last couple game and had to play catch-up. I wasn’t impressed with our defense tonight. We didn’t go after it. We looked unorganized on offense and defense.”
The Wildcats will face North Augusta, a team that likes to run.
“They have two quick guards,” Williams said. “We have to slow them down.”
 
Fort Dorchester (31): Melvin 6, Sprueill 2, Evans 3, Cobb 6, Chisholm 6, Martin 1, Taylor 1, Compton 2, Evans 4.
West Ashley (70): Cohen 35, Wesolik 3, Stokes 16, Hardaway 4, Jue McLemore 11, Mack 1.