Midway through the first quarter Friday night, the top-ranked defending state champion North Augusta girls found themselves in an odd situation – they were tied.

It didn’t stay that way for long. North Augusta went on an 11-1 run after that 4-all tie to take a 10-point lead after the first quarter, and then outscored Midland Valley 23-4 in the second to take a commanding 38-9 lead – a 34-5 run in a little over 11 minutes of game time.

Just another night for the Lady Jackets.

North Augusta’s defense overwhelmed Midland Valley early and turned it into a rout. The Lady Jackets won 72-45 in a game made much closer in the fourth quarter.

Mya Burns scored 26 points to lead North Augusta (16-1, 3-0 Region 4-AAAA). Tyliah Burns scored 19, Aaliyah Bell had 12 and Amari Young added 10.

Shania Evans played one of the better games any individual player has against North Augusta in at least the last two seasons, scoring 20 points despite constant pressure. Jordan Morgan made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to end up with 14 points.

Midland Valley (9-5, 2-1), an experienced, talented group, hung tight with North Augusta for the first 4 minutes and change, leading to that 4-4 score. It went sharply downhill from there for the home crowd at Jean Johnson Gymnasium.

The Lady Jackets’ relentless pressure led to plenty of fast-break opportunities, which in turn created chances at the free throw line – help that the Lady Mustangs couldn’t afford to give.

North Augusta, which has won its three region games by an average of 38 points per night, hits the road Tuesday to face an Aiken team still searching for its first league win. Midland Valley visits South Aiken, which dropped to 1-2 in region play Friday with a close loss at Airport.
North Augusta 15 23 20 14 — 72

Midland Valley 5 4 12 24 — 45

North Augusta (16-1, 3-0 Region 4-AAAA): Mya Burns 10 3-5 26, Tyliah Burns 8 2-3 19, Aaliyah Bell 2 7-8 12, Amari Young 4 2-7 10, Kiana Lee 1 1-2 3, J’Mani Ingram 1 0-0 2. Totals 26 15-25 72.

3-pointers: M. Burns (3), T. Burns, Bell.

Midland Valley (9-5, 2-1 Region 4-AAAA): Shania Evans 9 2-4 20, Jordan Morgan 5 1-2 14, Faith Flowers 2 0-0 4, Leah Padgett 1 1-2 3, Briana Edmond 1 0-0 2, Phi Phi Truesdale 0 2-2 2. Totals 18 6-10 45.

3-pointers: Morgan (3)