Lani Smallwood's near triple-double leads Susan Moore past Sylvania in AHSAA Regional
JACKSONVILLE − Whatever Susan Moore girls basketball wanted on Saturday it got in the AHSAA regional at the Pete Matthews Coliseum.
The Bulldogs took a wire-to-wire victory over Sylvania, 85-38, starting with an 11-2 run and never looking back. By the end of the third quarter, it was nearly a 50-point lead, looking like the Bulldogs would be rewriting the regional record book for largest win margin.
The Bulldogs were led by Lani Smallwood, who had a near triple-double and could've possibly gotten to a quadruple-double watch with 25 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, six steals and two blocks.
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Most of the work was done by the starters, with all five getting in double digits. Mylie Butler and Kirsten Ingram had 13 points, while Mallorie Holland had 12. Cesa Hernandez had 10 points with eight rebounds, five assists and five steals; Butler added six assists.
"I think one other game all five of my starters scored in double digits, and for it to happen in a regional setting ... as a coach that makes me extremely proud. That's what I told them they are capable of doing," Susan Moore coach Natasha Smallwood said.
The Bulldogs shot better than 50% while holding the Rams to 33% shooting. Susan Moore forced 31 turnovers, 19 of those being steals.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports and Jacksonville State athletics for the Gadsden Times. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Susan Moore returns in AHSAA Elite Eight with huge win vs. Sylvania
