Area players on display in game

AIKEN --- Four former Augusta high school basketball standouts took the floor Thursday when Lander met Armstrong Atlantic State in the Peach Belt Conference women's tournament quarterfinals.

Lander's roster included Glenn Hills product Ciara Lyons, former Hephzibah star Jasmine Judge and Richmond Academy graduate Kaylyn Small. The Lady Pirates' starting lineup included former Westside standout Dartayvia Thomas.

Lyons, last year's Augusta Chronicle girls basketball player of the year, scored the first two points of the game on a steal and a layup, and Lander led from start to finish in an 83-63 win.

Named conference freshman of the year Tuesday, Lyons finished with 13 points and four rebounds, with her brothers watching from the stands.

"They try to come to most of the home games and when it's close like this," said Lyons, a guard. "I like it."

Lander coach Kevin Pederson said his assistant coach, Russ Gregg, has scouted the Augusta area the past few years and deserves much of the credit for bringing the three local players to the Greenwood, S.C., campus.

"He's worked that area extremely hard," Pederson said.

Judge, also a starter for Lan-der, scored nine points on three 3-pointers, while Small added eight points off the bench.

Thomas scored seven points for Armstrong Atlantic State.

FRANCIS MARION 80, NORTH GEORGIA 61

Francis Marion senior Creshenda Singletary surpassed the 1,000-point mark with a team-high 16 as the top-seeded Lady Patriots advanced to the semifinals with a win over No. 9 North Georgia.

Robin Colbert added 10 points and six rebounds for Francis Marion, while North Georgia's Syretha Marble hit 12 of 16 free- throw attempts and finished with a game-high 20 points.

The Lady Saints lost to Fran-cis Marion for the third time.

CLAYTON STATE 55, COLUMBUS STATE 52

Lesheria Stevens hit a pair of free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining to give Clayton State a three-point lead, then stole the ball at the buzzer.

Seventh-seeded Columbus State appeared poised to post an upset over the No. 2 seed when the Lady Cougars led by as many as 12 points in the first half. But they surrendered a 30-29 halftime lead on the first bucket of the second half, and Clayton State led the rest of the way.

Columbus State's Phebe Smith scored 27 points and added 14 rebounds, but the rest of the team hit only eight of 25 shots from the field.

Lisa Jackson led Clayton State with 14 points.

Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.