Staff Writer
Bluefield Daily Telegraph The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Tue Dec 13, 2011, 04:59 AM EST

BLUEFIELD, Va. — After three quarters Monday night, the Graham G-Girls and the Lady Spartans of Giles were tied 33-33 and it was anybody’s game.

Graham made it theirs in the final period.

Dominating both ends of the floor at Graham Middle School, the G-Girls outscored Giles 15 to 6 in the last eight minutes for a 48-39 non-district win.

“We decided to play a little bit of ball in the fourth quarter,” said Graham head coach Tracy Raban. “We told them [the G-Girls], ‘How we closed it out tonight is how we have to play all year.’

“We had zero turnovers in the fourth quarter,” she continued. “Offensively, we took care of the ball. Defensively, we had the intensity that helped hold them to the six points.”

After one quarter, Graham (2-1) had a slim 8-7 edge and at the half the squads were two points apart with the home team ahead 20-18.

It was a good night for junior Liz Workman, who aided the Graham cause with six steals and 10 points. Senior Leah Gillespie led the home team in scoring with 13 points and added three assists.

Junior Ashley Moretto chipped in 11 points, and classmate Karly Morgan grabbed six rebounds. Senior Tori Repass had two of Graham’s five three-pointers.

Lindsey Jackson topped the Giles scoring chart with 15 points, and Margee Ragsdale added eight.

Graham plays Thursday at Tazewell.

Raban said, “This game was huge to get us onto the winning path.” She noted that the upcoming non-district schedule includes a meeting with defending state champion Radford in the George Wythe Christmas Tournament, and games with Bluefield and Chilhowie.

“Hopefully thse games, with a good challenge, will help get us ready for district play,” Raban said.



At Graham Middle School

GILES

Cook 6, Lindsey Jackson 15, Fisher 5, Ratcliffe 2, Margee Ragsdale 8, Williams 3.

GRAHAM

Morgan 5, Wilson 2, Repass 7, Liz Workman 10, Leah Gillespie 13, Ashley Moretto 11.

Giles...........7 11 15 6 — 39

Graham......8 12 13 15 — 48

Three-point goals Giles 3 (Cook 2, Jackson 1); Graham 5 (Repass 2, Workman 1, Gillespie 1).