Pain and loss.

Those 2 4-letter words have served as motivation the past 2 seasons for the Swansea girls’ basketball team. The pain from a 2-round home loss in 2017 inspired a run to the Class 3A Lower State finals which also ended in defeat.

On Thursday, the 2nd-ranked Lady Tigers faced the Ridgeland-Hardeeville team that ended their title dreams in 2018. This time, it was in the second round at home.

Backed by the fans and withstanding a 4th quarter comeback by the short-handed Lady Jaguars, Swansea came away with the 40-30 victory.

Lauryn Robinson scored 15 points, including 5 in the 4th quarter, to lead the Lady Tigers (23-2). Fresh off receiving a 3rd consecutive S.C. Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A Player of the Year award, Clemson University signee Danae McNeal finished with 14 points, 7 blocks and 7 steals.

“A lot, actually,” said McNeal, when asked about how much she was motivated by last year’s 46-41 loss to the Lady Jaguars. “We wanted to go out there and execute plays and work hard to get the W.”

“After last year, I knew we needed a chip on our shoulder and I feel like that’s what we came out (to do) tonight,” Robinson said. “Even though we didn’t execute as much plays as we wanted to, I feel like our heart finally pulled us through.”

The game started with Ridgeland-Hardeeville losing a key player early. All-State forward and Region 8-3A Player of the Year Marlaysia Westbrook fell down while defending a pass in the Lady Tigers’ paint. She was writhing and yelling in pain on the floor for several minutes favoring her left leg before team personnel carried her off the floor.

Westbrook was then transported to a local hospital by her parents. Head coach Frederick Toomer said afterwards she was being treated for an apparent ankly injury.

With Ridgeland-Hardeeville missing its leading scorer and one of its top rebounders, Swansea used a 15-0 run in the second quarter to take an 18-point lead and go into the lockerroom up 23-8.

The Lady Jaguars slowly crawled back into contention in the second half. They outscored Swansea 8-5 in the third quarter and used a 10-1 run capped by consecutive 3-pointers by Kendalyesha Washington and Shanteria Brown to get within 29-26 with 4:51 left.

Brown led the Lady Jaguars (8-11) with 11 points.

Robinson responded with a 3-point play and putback in succession to push Swansea’s lead up to 34-26. The Lady Tigers would push their lead back to double figures as McNeal’s steal and layup with 90 seconds left gave them a 40-28 advantage.

“To lose your top scorer, it was an uphill battle,” Toomer said. “With your top scorer gone and you’re still fighting and fighting, but we fought back. But we didn’t have enough of that scoring power that we were missing with her being out to get over the hump.”

Swansea heads on the road for a 3rd round “1 vs. 2” matchup with top-ranked Bishop England. The Lady Bishops defeated Marion 60-46 to improve to 25-1 on the season. The winner advances to the Lower State finals at 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at the Florence Civic Center.

FRIDAY'S PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

(GIRLS)

Barnwell at Gray Collegiate 6:30 p.m.

A.C. Flora at Airport 7 p.m. 

Wando at Lexington 7 p.m. 

Dutch Fork at Goose Creek 7 p.m.