Lightning strikes gold in Hilton Head hoops tourney

The Palmetto Lightning girls 12-under basketball team captured the championship in the Hilton Head Takeover AAU tournament on April 9-10.

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The Palmetto Lightning captured a second straight AAU tournament title, topping the field in a tournament at Hilton Head. Team members, front row from left, are Summer Vick, Malia Rivers, Deja Patterson, Amirah Steward and Zaria Woods. Team members, second row from left, are assistant coach Jonathan Scott, Alexis Williams, Hayden Thorne, Elizabeth Scott, Keyotta Garris and head coach Derek Vick.

The Lightning captured the crown with a 42-39 win over the SC 76ers in Hilton Head on April 10.

Elizabeth Scott led a balanced Lightning attack with 11 points. Summer Vick and Malia Rivers each tallied 10 points. Alexis Williams finished with seven.

Deja Patterson and Hayden Thorne each hit two points in the three-point win.

In the semifinals, the Lightning rolled to a 49-9 win over the Real Champions.

Malia Rivers paced the winners with 12 and Elizabeth Scott scored seven. Alexis Williams and Hayden Thorne hit six points apiece.

Keyotta Garris and Deja Patterson each tallied five points. Amirah Steward finished with four points. Summer Vick and Zaria Wood added two points each.

The Lightning went 3-0 in pool play, opening with a 50-28 victory over the Coastal Elite.

Malia Rivers paced the Lightning with 18 points and Alexis Williams netted 12. Amirah Steward hit seven.

Deja Patterson tallied four. Keyotta Garris scored three. Hayden Thorne and Zaria Woods netted two points each. Summer Vick and Elizabeth Scott had one point apiece.

The Lightning posted their second pool play win, taking a 55-10 victory over the Real Champions.

Summer Vick paced the winners with 12 and Elizabeth Scott scored 10 points. Amirah Steward hit nine and Hayden Thorne scored eight.

Malia Rivers finished with six and Alexis Williams chipped in five. Deja Patterson tallied three points and Zaria Woods scored two points.

The Lightning capped pool play with a 46-27 win over the SC 76ers.

Malia Rivers led the winners with 13 and Elizabeth Scott hit 10.

Amirah Steward scored nine and Alexis Williams netted six. Summer Vick netted five and Zaria Woods chipped in two points. Keyotta Garris had one point.

Earlier this spring, the Palmetto Lightning earned a bid to the AAU National Tournament in Clarksville, Tenn., winning the Super Regional basketball tournament in Greenville on March 25-27.

 The Lightning took the tournament championship with a 57-16 win over the Carolina Cougars.