Latta’s Lady Vikings fell by one point as the Mullins Auctioneers rallied for a 63-62 win on Tuesday, December 17, in girls varsity basketball action.
Latta jumped out to a 21-8 start, but Mullins came alive in the second quarter to outscore the Vikings 22-15 to trail 36-30 at the half. Mullins kept up the pressure in the third, outscoring Latta 17-13 to cut the Viking lead to 49-47. The Lady Auctioneers finally closed the gap in the fourth quarter, outpacing Latta 16-13 to take a narrow victory.
Mullins was led by Jaleah Lesane with a game-high 27 points and Brittani McDonald added 20 points in the win. Lesane also made 13 rebounds. Brianna Brantley and Cassie Phillips each added five, Zaakirah Williams scored four, and Gloria Swinton added one basket for the Auctioneers.
Takeria Legette led Latta with a team-high 20 points. Jessica Evans scored 12, Maya Wright added 11, and Mallory Townsend earned 10 in the effort, with Brittany Burgess adding six and Margaret Desser scoring two.
The Lady Vikings slipped to 4-1 overall this season while Mullins improved to 5-3.
Latta was ranked fifth in the state in Class A girls basketball in the most recent South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association poll. Hemingway took the top spot, followed by Timmonsville, Baptist Hill, and Carvers Bay. Whale Branch, McCormick, Denmark-Olar, Calhoun Falls, and Cross rounded out the top 10.
Latta was scheduled to host Marion on Thursday, December 19, before going on winter break. The Lady Vikings will return to action on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, when they will host Dillon at 6:00 p.m.
