Juniors lead Lady Panthers’ squad to victory over Middlesex

Charles City's Sha'Ryan Paige (24) powers through contact for a score against Middlesex's Jasmine Jarose.Robb Johnson photo
Charles City’s Lady Panthers run to the postseason continues to be shaping up favorably. And so do their win column.
Charles City easily toppled Middlesex 58-31, moving closer to garnering a postseason berth for their second consecutive year since reestablishing their varsity squad last year after the Jan. 30 victory.
The Lady Panthers started off the contest, taking advantage of Lady Charger miscues and scoring on transition baskets. In the beginning of the second, a steal and score by junior Teonna Bey pushed the hosts lead to double figures (16-5) for the first time in the game.
Middlesex cut the lead back down to single digits with a small scoring spurt, but a three-pointer by Bey bumped it back up to double digits. By the time halftime intermission hit, Charles City held a dozen-point (26-14) advantage.
In the third quarter, it would be Bey’s classmates Madison Bradby and Jaela Smith who helped lead a massive run. Smith’s ability to weave to the basket along with Bradby’s rebounding ability launched the hosts into a 10-2 run. A buzzer-beating floater by Bradby increased Charles City’s lead to 18 (45-27). From there, it would only be more scoring from Smith to help the Lady Panthers reach their final margin of the game.
After the contest, Charles City Lady Panthers Head Coach Casey Crawley commented about the growth of his team.
“We’ve been getting great leadership from Jaela (Smith) and it’s been a great transition watching her transition from playing off the ball into a point guard.
“You can see it’s rubbing off on her teammates and when she draws that attention, she is trusting them and making assists,” Crawley added. “The way she leads the charge on the defensive end is huge.”
Smith’s 24 points led Charles City (9-7) in the victory. Bey also finished in double figures with 12 points, Sha’Ryan Paige tossed in eight, the duo of Bradby and Kaylee Stewart each added six, and the duo of McKinzey Meredith and Aalaya King each contributed four.