WISE, Va. – The Honaker Tigers are playing with a purpose and Alayna McNulty has been a premier part of the poised postseason push.
The 5-foot-11 junior went for 17 points, three rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal on Thursday as Honaker rolled to a 56-32 win over the Rye Cove Eagles in the semifinals of the VHSL Region 1D girls basketball tournament at the David J. Prior Convocation Center on the campus of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.
The Tigers (23-3) clinched a VHSL Class 1 state tourney berth and face the Eastside Spartans (18-7) on Saturday at 2 p.m. in the regional championship game at the Prior Center.
Rye Cove (17-8) hung tough for a half, but Honaker proved to be too much with McNulty playing a major role as usual.
“She can play both inside and out. McNulty can shoot the 3, but she doesn’t even attempt a ton,” said Rye Cove coach Kelly Franklin Hood. “You see her in warm-ups and know she would shoot a high percentage out there, but she likes to get in and battle with her size. We were undersized and tried to rotate on help defense, but she’s super-efficient on offense.”
RYE COVE (32) – Lamb 6-11 0-0 12, Goins 0-3 0-0 0, Harless 0-4 0-0 0, Holland 3-6 2-2 9, Turner 2-2 1-6 5, Rogers 1-1 0-0 3, Hood 1-2 0-0 3, Berry 0-1 0-0 0, Cress 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 13-30 3-8 32.
HONAKER (56) – Jessee 6-7 2-4 14, McNulty 7-12 2-7 17, Nolley 4-14 2-2 13, Miller 3-4 0-0 6, Keene 2-5 0-0 6, Ray 0-0 0-0 0, Farmer 0-0 0-0 0, Musick 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-42 6-13 56.
Rye Cove 11 10 8 3—32
Honaker 18 12 12 14—56
3-point goals – RC 3-12 (Rogers 1-1, Hood 1-2, Holland 1-3, Lamb 0-2, Harless 0-4), Honaker 6-14 (Nolley 3-9, Keene 2-4, McNulty 1-1). Rebounds – RC 22 (Turner 6), Honaker 22 (Nolley 8). Assists – RC 6 (Harless, Holland 2), Honaker 15 (Nolley 6). Total fouls – RC 8, Honaker 8. Fouled out – none. Technicals – none.