Southside’s girls season ends in Chatham County
Posted at 15:36, Thursday, March 2, 2023
- From left to right: Lily McLean, Tamiya Smith, Riley Gombirg, Zania Hawkins, Ka’Naya O’Neal, Skye Wilkins, Kylia Moore, Dana Ransom, De’Naja Warren, I’Kyria Minor, Reece Cutler, Emily Mondragon and Karolina Hrumstki. Seated: Head coach Milton Ruffin (left) and assistant Gary Burgess. (Sent)
Southside High School record-setter Ka’Naiah O’Neill’s career came to an end Tuesday night in Siler City as the Seahawks lost 70-53 to Chatham Charter in the fourth round of the state basketball tournament 1A.
The seventh-seeded Seahawks tied the game several times in the first half, but never took the lead.
“They were faster and ran the floor better than us and that was the difference in the game,” coach Milton Ruffin said. “We spent a lot of energy trying to equalize, then we couldn’t stop them. I still think we had a great season. The girls never gave up and gave a great effort not only in the last game but all season.”
The seventh-seeded Seahawks finished the season 25-7, while the third-seeded Knights (25-5) advanced to the East Tournament regional final against top-seeded and undefeated Falls Lake- Academy Saturday afternoon at South Johnston High School.
O’Neill finished her Southside career with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Her 939 points this season are the seventh-most points in a single season in girls state history, while her 2,426 points rank her 18ththousand among the state’s all-time leading scorers. Her scoring total this year is tied for sixth in state history with 28thousand among all-time pick-ups since 1,079.
She is 13thousand girls player to score over 2,000 points and grab over 1,000 rebounds in a career.
“Her career will certainly be remembered in a book,” Ruffin said. “She’s been box-and-one, double-teamed or some other kind of defense almost her entire career and just put the team on her shoulders. She has proven to be one of the best players in the East this year and hopefully some big schools will take notice of what she has done.
I would also like to thank our Athletic Director Andre Quinerly and Principal Justin Holt for their support this season. My assistant coaches Lee, Burgess and Whitehurst have been a great help as have our team parents. Our fans were great too. We’ve had a great atmosphere at home games this year and that really meant a lot to our team.”
