Motivation powers Manchester win

The Manchester girls’ basketball team suffered a 63-51 loss at the hands of James River more than a month and a half ago. But when the teams met for the second time last Friday, the Lady Lancers felt the sting as if it were a fresh wound, which gave Manchester the fight they needed in a 49-40 win in front of their home crowd.

“We were motivated,” Manchester guard Brianna Wallace said. “I wasn’t able to play against them [last time], so I was motivated to play them because we lost. It was just motivation.”

Manchester played a stiff defense and forced 20 turnovers in the game and hammered the Rapids in the post. The Lady Lancers allowed just five points in the first quarter.

The Lancers backed up their defense with a strong offensive effort. Jessica Clanton hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter to help Manchester out to a 13-5 lead.

Brianna Wallace took control in the second half, hitting 14 of her 15 points including a pair of 3-pointers early on. She finished a steal and fast break from Clanton with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter to put the Lancers in the driver’s seat, 34-19.

James River found their offensive spark late with their distance shooters.

Guard Abby Stenger hit a three from the top of the key with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter to draw the Lady Rapids within 10.

Stenger stole a pass on the perimeter midway through the fourth to put James River on a fast break. Forward Katie Palombo grabbed an offensive board on the other end and got the put back to cut the Manchester lead to 12.

Stenger and Christina Cromwell hit three consecutive 3-pointers to pull within eight, but with only two minutes remaining in the game, were forced to foul.

Already over the limit on fouls, the Lady Rapids sent Manchester shooters to the line three times. Clanton and Wallace combined for four points from the charity stripe in the final minutes and helped give the Lancers the win.

Clanton and Wallace battled each other for top scoring rights for the team. Clanton ended with 22 points and Wallace added 15.

Palombo led James River with 12 points, followed by Stenger with 10.