Gambill, Alleghany down Galax

 SPARTA, N.C. –– Kennedy Gambill nearly outscored Galax by herself, pouring in 39 points to lead Alleghany past the Maroon Tide 67-40 in the Alleghany Showcase tournament Wednesday.

Craig Worrell

Galax’s Hailey Cassell (left) and Alleghany’s Megan Lyons battle for position early in Alleghany’s 67-40 win over the Maroon Tide.

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Gambill, a junior guard, knocked down six 3-pointers and was 15-of-19 from the foul line as the Trojans improved to 6-3 on the year. Galax saw its record even at 4-4.

Gambill had 25 points by halftime, hitting five treys and dumping in 17 points in the second quarter alone. Galax trailed just 10-8 entering the second when Gambill caught fire, hitting from downtown on consecutive possessions as the Trojans opened the second on a 10-2 run. She would connect twice more from behind the arc and Megan Lyons scored from the lane as Alleghany doubled up the Tide 28-14.

Taylor Bryant’s 3-pointer with 28 seconds left in the first half had Galax within a workable 13 points, 30-17, but Gambill had one last bomb to launch before halftime, starting a 14-2 run that would extend into the third quarter.

After hitting just two of its first 15 shots from the floor, Alleghany was 8-for-19 in the second period while Galax struggled through a 6-for-28 slump in the first two quarters.

Molly Grubb swished a 3-pointer as Alleghany took a 27-point lead, its largest of the night, 49-22 with 3:20 left in the third.

Galax used a massive night on the boards by Allison White to begin whittling away. White had 15 of her 20 rebounds in the second half, and her free throw, coming after a Cassell 3-pointer, pulled Galax to within 20 points, 50-30, just before the end of the third period.

The Tide pulled to as close as 14 points, 54-37, on White’s basket from the paint and Cassell hit her fourth 3-pointer of the night soon after, but Alleghany closed the game on a 12-0 run to pull away.

Cassell led Galax with 12 points.

Galax................................. 8      9     13    10––40

Alleghany, NC................. 10    23    19    15––67

Galax (4-4)

Shumate 3 1-2 7, White 3 3-7 9, Bryant 2 0-0 5, Reynolds 2 0-0 4, Cassell 4 0-0 12, Bobbitt 0 1-2 1, Vaughan 1 0-0 2. Totals 15 5-13 40.

Alleghany, NC (5-3)

Sprinkle 1 0-0 2, Lyons 4 1-3 9, Blevins 2 0-2 4, Murray 2 2-2 7, Ke.Gambill 9 15-19 39, Ka.Gambill 1 0-0 2, Grubb 1 1-2 4. Totals 20 19-28 67.

Three-point field goals – Galax 5-22 (Cassell 4, Bryant), Alleghany 10-36 (Ke.Gambill 6, Murray, Grubb). Rebounds – Galax 44 (White 20), Alleghany 45 (Grubb 11). Turnovers – Galax 22, Alleghany 12. Team fouls – Galax 16, Alleghany 12. Fouled out – none. Technical fouls – none.