By MIKE DAVIS
for the Daily Telegraph
RICHLANDS, Va. — The Richlands Lady Blues played host to the G-Girls Friday night in their first meeting of the two without Southwest District implications.
Richlands used big runs to open the game on their way to their first win of the season, 61-28.
“We were a little more in sync than we were last week in our first game,” Richlands head coach Dennis Palmer said. “Tonight we were more in synch, we passed the ball well and we shot the ball well.”
Richlands (1-1) controlled the tempo of the game early with Brittany Allen, Jordyn Cole and Cassidy Richardson scoring a combined 10 points to boost the Lady Blues into a 10-0 lead.
Brittany is the type of player that if the offense breaks down, she’ll create her own shot,” Palmer said. “Jordyn also stepped up for us Rachel Alley rebounded well and Cassidy runs the offense and did a good job for us.”
Tori Repass broke the Graham (1-1) drought three minutes into the game when she drained a three followed by a free throw by Karly Morgan.
The effort cut the Richalnds lead to six, however, the Lady Blues began to fire on all cylinders to build on their lead before the G-Girls shook off the deficit and began to climb. Graham finished the scoring in the first with a pair of treys by Liz Workman to pull within seven with the score, 19-11.
Then, the G-Girls went cold in the second and Richlands answered with a 14-point assault compared to Graham who managed a free throw to fall behind, 33-12 at the half-time break.
“We’ve worked really hard in conditioning in the off season and we changed our defense up a little tonight,” Palmer said. “We pushed the ball well and controlled the tempo unlike last week when we played to them (Grundy).”
With a 21-point lead going into the third quarter, the Lady Blues kept Graham at bay and paced the third and fourth quarters with 14 points in each period to take the win.
“I just question their effort and determination,” Graham head coach Tracy Raban said. “It the same story as last year when we came down here — not taking anything away from Richlands, they have a great ball club. I just think our effort, dedication and desire wasn’t there.”
“But, we have a great team, we’re excited about the season, but, we’re looking for leadership to step up and as coaches we have to find that.”
Allen owned the high score for the game with 26 points for Richlands followed by Jordyn Cole (11) and Makenley Davis with 10. Allen was 5-of-7 from the free throw line with three perimeter shots to her credit with Davis sinking two from downtown.
Repass led Graham with six points followed by Workman with five.
Richlands has Haysi Tuesday night and Grundy on the road on Thursday before seeing their first SWD action on Dec. 20 at Carroll County. Graham will host Giles on Monday and will travel to Tazewell on Thursday.

At Richlands Middle School
Graham...........................................11 1 8 8 — 28
Richlands.......................................19 14 14 14 — 61