Photo by Trudi Belcher/FHW

Wardlaw's Briggs Belcher drives against an Aiken Prep defender.

JOHNSTON - Maybe it was the concession stand bubble gum.

Or was it that morning's cereal. Or the hot dogs at lunch.

Everyone wanted to know what Wardlaw senior Briggs Belcher had been eating.

After scorching the nets (mostly on perimeter shots at the basket) on Tuesday for a career-high 23 points, Belcher just had to keep answering - "Frosted flakes" or "hot dogs."

Whatever it was, school stat-man Gerald Doolittle told her to keep eating it.

That the game itself actually played out as a laugher - with the Lady Patriots putting an 85-4 scalding onto the Lady Knights of Aiken Prep - was of little consequence.

What mattered was that each Wardlaw reserve player logged valuable minutes that will have to pay off later in the season. Belcher, of course, led the way, but other contributors included Peyton Baynham and Kara Beck with 12 points each and Kenzie Parrish with 13 points.

Also scoring were Katelyn Rearden with 7 points, Anna Yarborough with 8 points and Gina Easler with 6 points. Melissa Pacifico had 4 points.

The Lady Patriots moved to 2-0 with the victory.

Meanwhile, the varsity Patriots were given a slightly more presentable challenge in a 66-30 win.

Although never seriously challenged by the overmatched Knights, and to their credit, the visitors never backed down or quit trying to win - as evidenced by Carlton NorwoodÕs game-high 18 points.

As in the girls' game, the boys' contest did allow numerous players into action off the bench.

Starting standouts Travis Gagnon (13), Kevin Ginn (10) and Stephen Balentine (9) all did their parts, but others such as Coty Courtney (12) and Harrison Courtney (8) upped their games as well.

The Patriots remained unbeaten and moved to 2-0 with the win.