Timmonsville takes 2nd girls title

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Timmonsville has won its second-ever Class A girls state championship with a convincing 50-37 victory over Abbeville on Saturday at the Colonial Life Arena.

Sophomore guard Sade’ Eli scored 20 points to go along with 14 rebounds. Junior Arnesha Brown added 15 points and eight-grader Justice Gee added 12 points as the Whirlwinds (23-4) won the girls basketball state title for the first time since 2003.

Eli and Gee combined to score 22 points in the first half to give Timmonsville a big first-half lead that never got below 13 points in the second half. Gee scored 8 of her points in the first quarter as the Whirlwinds opened the game on an 8-0 run.

Eli scored 8 points during a 9-0 spurt to open the second quarter as the lead reached double-digits and was 33-17 at the half.

Oliva Owens led Abbeville (15-7) with 11 points, 16 rebounds and eight blocks. Ariel Sanders chipped in 10 points.