Middleton, Fla. — There was a point during Wednesday's contest between The Villages High School girls basketball team and visiting Bradford that
Zion McRae knew she had to take over.
And the Buffalo are sure glad she did.
McRae tallied a game-high 29 points — 17 coming in the third quarter — to lead VHS past Bradford (Starke) in a 58-39 home victory in Middleton.
After being held to just four points in the first quarter, the junior point guard scored nine in the second before dominating the third, ultimately helping push VHS over .500 on the season at 4-3 overall.
"I was just pushing through the fight and not giving up," McRae said after the win. "We've usually given up in the second half (when) playing a physical team, but it was just having a different mindset and coming out and playing strong."
The Villages led 18-12 after one period of play, an opening quarter that was robbed of its rhythm by 13 fouls whistled between the two teams.
VHS led by as much as nine in the second quarter, before an 8-0 run by the Tornadoes (3-2 overall) pulled the visitors back within a point at 23-22. The Buffalo responded with a 7-0 run of their own to end the half, however, taking a 30-22 lead into the break.
That's when McRae put on a show, opening the third quarter with a deep 3-pointer that stood as a sign of things to come. She went on to hit five shots from the floor — dizzying three different Bradford defenders attempting to guard her — while also knocking down a pair of free throws in the period.
"I believe in letting her call some things," VHS head coach
Marquez Porter said of McRae. "I was getting her ball screens, but she told me, 'No, get her out of the way,' so I was a smart coach and listened to my player. I was smart — I gave her the ball and made everyone else get out of the way."
McRae's third-quarter effort was more than enough for VHS to cruise to victory, as the Buffalo closed out the win by allowing just four points in the final period of play.
Evah Watterson added 10 points for VHS, while
Eva Mann and
Makayla Crews each had seven.
The Buffalo will return to action at 7:30 p.m. Friday night when they host Vanguard (Ocala) at VHS.
Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment at cody.hills@tvcs.org or by calling (352) 259-6890.
