KERNERSVILLE
Bishop McGuinness made short work of South Stokes last night in a 78-38 rout to win the Class 1-A West Sectional 1 and advance to next week's NCHSAA Western Regional in Greensboro for the fourth straight season.
McGuinness, the three-time defending 1-A state champion, pushed the pedal down from the outset and didn't let up.
Brittany Cox scored 14 points, Erinn Thompson added 12, and Gina Simmons finished with 11 for the Villains, who had every player on their roster score.
Coach Brian Robinson of McGuinness said that his message to his team was clear before the game: "Let's start strong."
After a rugged win over Thomasville on Thursday night in the second round, Robinson said he also was a little concerned about a possible letdown for a couple of reasons.
"South Stokes has been playing well of late, and playing back-to-back games like this, you never really know what to expect," Robinson said. "But we've got a veteran group that's been here before, and I think that showed tonight."
McGuinness was off and running early in the first quarter, going on a 23-0 run that gave them a comfortable 27-3 lead. They followed that up by scoring the last seven points of the first quarter to lead 36-5, and things never got any better for South Stokes.
"That first quarter was pretty much the difference in the game," Robinson added. "We wanted to play hard and focused early, and now we are glad to be moving on."
This was the third meeting of the season for McGuinness and South Stokes, both representing the Northwest 1-A conference in the sectional final. The Villains took each of the first two games of the season as well, and Coach Doug Chilton of the Sauras said that it's still tough to figure out a way to stop them.
"It's pretty much impossible to get ready for all the things that they (McGuinness) can do," Chilton said. "They are big and tall. They have so much speed and quickness. They have excellent ball handlers and excellent shooters. And they just keep coming at you. If you play a zone, they shoot you to death. If you play man, they go right around you and score. They are just very efficient in everything they do."
Keyonna Joyner scored 10 points to lead South Stokes, which finished its season 13-15.
Anna DeFrancesco, one of the senior captains for McGuinness, said after last night's win that this season has been especially special for her. DeFrancesco, who played on each of the Villains' first two state championship teams, missed last season after tearing her ACL
"It was really hard sitting and watching what happened last year," DeFrancesco said. "But it also made me that much more determined to get back. And it definitely gives me a lot more appreciation for what we've been able to accomplish. Now we've got a chance to win four straight state championships, and I don't think we even know how special that is."
South Stokes 5 10 12 10 -- 38
Bishop McGuinness 36 13 15 14 -- 78
South Stokes: Joyner 10, Berry 5, Lemons 9, Mitchell 4, McGee 3, Jones 1, Vernon 3, Shelton 3
Bishop McGuinness: Thompson 12, Cox 14, Simmons 11, Gaudio 1, Petrangeli 5, Blaney 2, Goldsmith 2, Knight 6, Coon 6, Buckland 6, Sickelbaugh 4, DeFrancesco 5, Fitzgerald 4
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