Amanda Bishop
NCR Editor & Publisher
The Hilliard Middle School varsity girls basketball team never gave up Thursday night, finally edging out Fernandina Beach Middle School to be named the county champion for the fourth season in a row.
Coached by Marci Ruis and Clay Vanzant, the team includes Keilonni Taylor, Eriyanah Powell, Charlie Johnson, Kyleigh Land, Abigail Howell, Katherine Dillard, Harlan Bradley, Harmony Johnson, Amelia Ballance, and Kinley Bradley.
The game went back and forth, tied at several points throughout the four quarters, with the widest point stretch coming at just five points in the fourth quarter. By the final minute, though, the young Lady Flashes pulled the lead to seven points, reclaiming the county trophy for another year with the end score of 30-23. The game was played at Callahan Middle School.
Prior to the varsity game, the middle school junior varsity teams of Yulee Middle School and Fernandina Beach faced off on the court. Yulee took a decisive 35-18 victory for that county championship.
The middle school season has come to an end while the high school season will continue after the Christmas break. Several local high school teams are competing in travel tournaments over the holidays, then will return to their home basketball courts after school resumes Jan. 6.