Lady Raiders fall to Glenwood in hard-fought contest
Published 2:33 pm Monday, January 15, 2024
- Southland Academy guard Adler Rae Owens scored 11 points in the Lady Raiders’ loss to Glenwood. Photo by Ken Gustafson
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AMERICUS – The Southland Academy Lady Raiders (SAR) came into their game against Glenwood (GS) hoping to extend their winning streak to four games. However, they struggled to score against the Lady Gators, who had a height advantage on the inside. As a result, the Lady Raiders fell to GS 60-52 at the Melvin Kinslow Gymnasium on Saturday.
In spite of the loss, SAR Head Coach Chip Champion was extremely pleased with how his team played.
“We were sort of measuring ourselves a little bit because we played them back during Christmas and they beat us by 25 or something like that,” SAR Head Coach Chip Champion said. “To put up the fight that we did today shows me how much progress we’re making.” Champion was referring to the Lady Raiders’ 62-40 loss to GS back on December 27.
Mary Beth Easterlin led the Lady Raiders in scoring with 21 points and Landry Hart scored 12. Adler Rae Owens was also in double figures, as she scored 11 points.
The Lady Gators jumped out to a 9-4 lead to start the game, but Mary Beth Easterlin drilled a three-pointer to put the Lady Raiders within two points.

Southland Academy’s Mary Beth Easterlin led the Lady Raiders in scoring with 21 points in the loss to Glenwood.
Photo by Ken Gustafson
Over the next few minutes, both teams traded baskets, but by the end of first quarter, the Lady Raiders trailed GS 14-12.
Over the first four minutes of the second quarter, the Lady Raiders went on a 10-4 run to take a 24-16 lead. During this period of the game, SAR was struggling from the field. With 2:50 to go before halftime, Mary Beth Easterlin was able to make two free throws, but the Lady Gators were able to force some turnovers and they limited SAR’s chances to score. As a result, the Lady Raiders found themselves trailing 30-20 at halftime.
Over the first two minutes of the third quarter, both teams traded baskets, but the Lady Raiders were not able to cut into their deficit until Easterlin scored to get SAR to within six at 38-32. However, just as it looked like SAR was going to make a comeback, GS responded with baskets of their own and were able to maintain a 44-37 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Over the first two minutes of the final quarter, both teams continued to trade baskets before Champion called a timeout with 5:29 to go and SAR trailing 51-39.
Out of the timeout, the Lady Raiders went on a 13-8 run and got to within six at 58-52 when Easterlin scored with 20 seconds left, but it would not be enough, as GS would go on to win by the score of 60-52.
T.K. Davis led the Lady Gators in scoring with 22 points, Anna Grace Griggss scored 11 and Halle Palmore chipped in 10 in the winning cause.
The Lady Raiders (5-6) will try to get back into the win column when they host Terrell Academy on Tuesday, January 16, at 6:30 p.m.