JEFFERSON LIFTS ATLANTIC COAST OVER STANTON

FABRIZIO GOWDY | Jan. 5, 2021 | SPORTS

Stanton College Preparatory School’s girls varsity basketball team fell back to .500 Tuesday with a 50-41 home lost to the Atlantic Coast High School Stingrays, who benefited from a strong fourth quarter from senior guard Shurrel Jefferson.

The Blue Devils held an Atlantic Coast offense that came in averaging 44.6 points per game to just four first quarter points. Offensively, Stanton was effectively able to drive inside and score points in the paint. Junior Gabriella Lonsdale and sophomore Charlie Euvoniuk each contributed a three, and the Blue Devils emerged with a seven-point lead at the end of the sluggish and low-scoring first quarter.

Freshman Gabrielle Fajardo, who led the Blue Devils with eight first half points, recorded a three-pointer and knocked down three free throws after being fouled from beyond the arc. Her performance helped the Blue Devils build a 12-point lead early in the second, but the double-digit lead did not last. Two separate Stingray runs of six and seven unanswered points cut the Stanton lead to three at the half.

The third quarter was initially very even, but Atlantic Coast eventually gained the upper hand. A fast break layup by Atlantic Coast junior Aaleiyah Bonner with 3:19 left in the third gave the Stingrays their first lead since they lead 2-1 in the first quarter. Bonner's basket came in the middle of a 10-2 run that would put Atlantic Coast up four going into the fourth quarter.

The hard-fought final eight minutes were a defensive battle. A short jumper by Stanton junior Kalani Thorne tied the game at 39 with 3:10 to play. However, Atlantic Coast's Shurrel Jefferson, who entered Tuesday’s game averaging 13.4 points per game and ended with 21, stepped up and scored 11 points in the game's final three minutes. Her six late free throws iced the game and gave the Stingrays the win as the Blue Devils struggled from beyond the arc late.

The Stingrays get to 5-5, and now look to get over .500 for the first time this season when they play at home against Andrew Jackson High School on Wednesday. The 6-6 Blue Devils will play at Fletcher High School Jan. 9 in a rare Saturday game. In their first matchup, on Nov. 23, the Fletcher Senators defeated the Blue Devils by 13.