Red Bank girls’ basketball coach Kelvin Clay and others on the bench for the Lady Lions let out a collective roar when Malika Odum took one of her seven fourth-quarter steals for a fast-break layup, with the junior finishing despite being knocked to the floor by a Tyner defender.
It was just one highlight in a sensational performance by Odum, who notched a double-double with a game-high 27 points and 11 steals, including the one that led to her hard-earned basket that put Red Bank ahead by seven points in the fourth quarter. That play capped a 7-0 run and sent the Lady Lions on their way to a 52-47 win in a consolation bracket matchup Friday, the second day of the Times Free Press Best of Preps tournament at Chattanooga State.
“I came out with great energy, and the team just followed me. We all played hard and as a team,” said Odum, who helped Red Bank bounce back from its 60-50 loss to Baylor the day before.
“Being a leader is important,” Odum added. “My teammates are going to follow my energy, so I have to step up big and keep my attitude positive. This is one of the best games I have ever had. I feel like this win can help us going forward in a big way.”
Red Bank (6-5) was able to overcome both a 16-5 deficit at the end of the first quarter and Lady Lions junior Journey Holloway — a career 1,000-point scorer — having to sit due to early foul trouble.