Gwinnett Daily Post

Wesleyan's Brittany Stevens (5) is fouled by Darlington's Allie Hurley (24) on the way to the basket Saturday.

NORCROSS -- The student section, probably trying to justify a reason for staying around until the end, kept yelling for a 3-pointer.

After all, whether or not the Wesleyan girls would reach 100 points had been the only suspense from the first few minutes of the game.

As the last seconds ticked off, freshman Taylor Blackmon finally heeded the fans and took a shot from behind the 3-point arc.

It missed.

That was about the only thing that didn't go the No. 1-ranked Wolves' way Saturday as they opened defense of their state championship with a 97-31 first-round rout of visiting Darlington.

"They have to be the best team in Class A," Darlington coach Josh Hembree said. "I can't see anyone staying with them."

The Tigers certainly couldn't. Not with an already young roster reduced to eight freshmen with Region 6-A co-player of the year Lindsay Evans sidelined by a stress fracture.

Forcing 13 turnovers in the first four minutes, Region 7-A champion Wesleyan (24-4) led 24-0 before No. 4 seed Darlington (14-15) got off its first shot. Coach Jan Azar's team led 40-5 after the first quarter and 61-9 at halftime.

"I can't say it's been a delight to come down here and get waxed two years in a row," Hembree said. "But this gives us a chance to see just how good a team can be.

"I have so much respect for Wesleyan and Coach Azar. They not only have a lot of talent, but they play hard and do everything right. It's a class program."

Wesleyan, which won Class AA in 2008 before dropping back down to Class A, is going for its seventh state title in nine years. So far, no Class A team has come close to the Wolves.

Wesleyan defeated Paideia 63-32 to win the Region 7-A title and no team has come within 30 points in seven games since a 51-49 overtime loss to defending Class AA champion Buford.

Azar used her deep roster liberally against Darlington and 13 players scored. Wake Forest signee Erin Hall led the way, scoring 12 of her 19 first-half points in the opening quarter. She finished with 21 points.

Logan Morris, who is headed to Wofford, had 13 points for the Wolves, while Grace Leah Baugh scored 11 and Kennington Groff added 10. Aysia McKenzie had six assists.

Wesleyan made 37 steals, most of them in the first half. Jordan Frazier led the Wolves with seven steals, and Hall and Baughn each had six.

Terar Stewart had 14 points and six rebounds for Darlington, which trailed 87-20 going into the final quarter.

Allie Hurley didn't score, but had all five of the Tigers' assists.

"Wesleyan put on a clinic against us," Hembree said. "When you are down to eight freshmen and you're playing a team like that, there is nothing you can do."