Dillard girls race past Ely in fourth quarter

POMPANO BEACH Dillard’s Raven White scored a game-high 26 points, grabbed 20 rebounds and the Panthers used a 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to defeat Blanche Ely 65-52, handing the Tigers only their second loss of the season.

The Panthers dominated the inside game as all of White’s 26 points came from inside the paint or at the foul line.

“That’s the dynamics of our team, we don’t know who it’s going to go to on any one night,” said Dillard coach Marcia Pinder. “Our guards didn’t have to shoot that much because the inside was working for us.”

Leading 50-47 early in the fourth quarter, Dillard (14-2) held Blanche Ely scoreless for nearly four minutes while scoring 13 consecutive points, including seven from senior Ayana Emmanuel, to decide the game. Emmanuel scored 20 points, including four 3-pointers, for the Panthers.

The game was tied at 15 after the first quarter, despite Dillard missing its first seven shots from the field, as neither team could take a lead of more than two points in the opening quarter.

Dillard started the second-quarter by scoring the first eight points, however, Blanche Ely (18-2) closed the first half on a 13-1 run to take the 30-28 halftime lead. Freshman guard Ja’Leah Williams scored the final five points of the half for the Tigers.

The Panthers opened the second half with a 13-4 run to lead by seven points before the Tigers clawed to within two at 44-42 as Blue scored eight of her 11 points during the run. Blue and Williams led Blanche Ely with 11 points each, while Jaylen Ponder added 10.

White scored the final four points of the third quarter including a buzzerbeater off an inbounds pass.