Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. Cherie Spencer scored a game-high 22 points to lead Northshore (Louisiana) to a 55-39 win over Chapmanville Monday afternoon in the third-place game of the 34th annual Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic at Warner Christian Academy.
Spencer was one of three Lady Panthers in double figures as Kiley Lizana scored 14 and Kasey Smith had 11 in the win.
The Lady Tigers (5-4) finished fourth with a 1-2 record, suffering back-to-back losses to Archer (Georgia) and Northshore.
Chapmanville opened the four-day, eight-team tournament with a win over Delsea Regional (New Jersey) before falling behind by 17 points in the first half against eventual champion Archer in the semifinals.
Brooke Christian and Daizi Farley led Chapmanville with 14 points each in the loss to Northshore.
Christian scored 40 points in three games and was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.
The Lady Tigers fell behind by eight points after one quarter. Despite outscoring Northshore in the second quarter, Chapmanville could never overcome the first quarter deficit and was outscored 30-20 in the second half.
Archer defeated Stone Memorial (Tennessee), who won the tournament in 2017, 55-39, in Monday's championship game and became the fifth school from Georgia to win the Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic.
Chapmanville coach Kristina Gore said following the loss that she wasn't pleased with her team's performance against Northshore, who improved to 15-4 with Monday's win over the Lady Tigers.
"Today was not great. Really poor effort," Gore said. "(I) was really pleased with the first two day and Brooke got all tournament."
With the Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic in the rearview, the Lady Tigers return to West Virginia where they hope the competition they faced in Florida will prepare them for a tough three week stretch where they are almost certain to face six ranked teams, including the top three schools in the West Virginia Associated Press Class AAA preseason poll.
The grueling stretch starts January 11 at Class AAA co-No. 3 Greenbrier East, a team that defeated Chapmanville, 56-42, in the Bob Runyan Memorial on December 14.
Next up is a road game at Class AAA No. 2 and reigning champion Nitro on January 14. From there it's a trip to Wood County to face Class AAAA No. 7 Parkersburg South on January 17 and Class AA No. 3 Williamstown on January 18. The Yellowjackets finished runner-up in Class AA last season losing to Wyoming East in the championship.
Finally, after nine games and 37 days away from Danny Godby Gymnasium, the Lady Tigers return home for a two-game homestand starting January 21 against Class AAA preseason No. 1 Wayne, who was a Class AAA semifinalist last season losing to Nitro.
Chapmanville closes the six-game stretch against county rival Logan, who will almost certainly be ranked in the top 10 of the Class AA when the initial rankings are released January 7.
Logan defeated Chapmanville, 47-33, in the King Coal Classic at Willie Akers Arena December 21. The Lady Wildcats and Lady Tigers meet January 25 in the rematch at Chapmanville.
34th Annual Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic (Warner Christian Academy-South Daytona Beach, FL)
Northshore (Louisiana) 55, Chapmanville 39
Northshore (Louisiana) Panthers (15-4)
Lambert 2 0-0 4, Lizana 5 1-2 14, Smith 4 1-1 11, Barbarin 2 0-0 4, Spencer 10 0-0 22.
Totals: 23 2-3 55.
Chapmanville Lady Tigers (5-4)
Fleming 2 0-0 4, Farley 4 3-4 14, Kirk 1 0-0 2, Brown 2 0-0 5, Christian 6 1-2 14.
Totals: 15 4-6 39.
Northshore 22 3 22 8 -55
Chapmanville 14 5 13 7- 39
3-point field goals_Northshore 7 (Lizana 3, Smith 2, Spencer 2), Chapmanville 5 (Farley 3, Brown, Christian).