Rosewood-AG

By David Williams
Published in Sports on February 5, 2004 2:00 PM

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Rosewood's girls basketball team might have missed their floor leader Wednesday night, but still had enough talent on the bench to keep on rolling along in the Carolina 1-A Conference wars.

With Jessica Hill sitting for nearly all the game with a sore ankle, the Lady Eagles got 21 points from Clare Narron and enough defense to easily subdue Ayden-Grifton 45-27 Wednesday night at the Eagles' gym. Rosewood's boys suffered under an early offensive blitz and lost a 65-44 game to Ayden-Grifton, the Carolina 1-A Conference co-leaders.

The Eagle girls (14-2, 7-1) kept alive their hopes of winning the school's first conference title in girls basketball since 1940. Still a game behind front-runner Farmville Central, Rosewood has a very important game Friday against North Johnston before meeting North Duplin, Farmville Central and Princeton next week. Rosewood has to win all four games to lay claim to a share of the crown.

"There's a big difference in us when we don't have Hill," said Rosewood coach Jerry Narron. "But we won by 18 without her, so the girls worked hard and did a good job."

Hill's ankle injury is not considered serious, and Narron said she would be ready for Friday's game.

The injury news was even better for the Lady Eagles, as Shonda White returned to play most of the game without trouble from her knee, which had been hindering the guard since before New Year's. She did not score, but moved and cut well with the ball and on defense.

"It will be nice to show North Johnston a completely healthy team," said Narron.

Rosewood took early control of the game after an even first period. Narron got started early with the offense, dropping 14 points in the first half. Nikki Strawn added seven points as seven Eagles scored in the game.

Jasmine Cox led Ayden-Grifton (1-17, 1-8) with 10 points.

Ayden-Grifton's Jamaal Rouse got started early for the boys, scoring 15 points in the opening period. The Chargers (12-6, 8-1) had a 20-9 opening period, sparked by Rouse's early performance, and led 25-15 at halftime.

Rosewood's front line was successful, led by Kyle Grey's 18 points. The Eagles (4-12, 2-6) struggled to score against the quicker, more aggressive Charger defense.

Rosewood made a 14-1 run to open the fourth period, but only cut the gap to 14 points before Ayden-Grifton came alive again.

"They came out of the gate shooting well, and we came out flat," said Rosewood coach Daniel Mitchell.

Tyshawn Hall had 12 points and Jeremy McGhee had 11 points for the Chargers. Danny Langston added seven points for Rosewood.

The win ties the Chargers with Spring Creek for first place in the league, while Rosewood will have to win all of its final four games to hold on to any hope of making the playoffs.

The Eagles face the Panthers Friday at the Rosewood gym. Ayden-Grifton will meet Spring Creek in Seven Springs Friday.

Boys game

Ayden-Grifton 20 15 17 13 -- 65

Rosewood 9 6 10 19 -- 44

AYDEN-GRIFTON (12-6, 8-1)

Jamaal Rouse 6 4 6-10 30, Tyshawn Hall 5 0 2-5 12, Jeremy McGhee 3 1 2-5 11, Jeral Edwards 1 0 1-2 3, Leon Moye 1 0 1-13, Robby Phillips 1 0 0-1 2, Marquel Baker 0 0 2-2 2, Glen Edwards 0 0 2-2 2. TOTALS -- 17 5 16-28 65.

ROSEWOOD (4-12, 2-6)

Kyle Grey 9 0 0-1 18, Danny Langston 2 0 3-4 7, Taylor Carr 2 0 2-3 6, Javon Williams 1 1 0-0 5, Kyle Bunn 0 1 2-2 5, Matt Hill 1 0 0-0 2, Antell Richards 0 0 1-4 1. TOTALS -- 15 2 8-14 44.

Three point baskets -- Ayden-Grifton 5 (Rouse 4, McGhee), Rosewood Williams, Bunn). Turnovers -- Ayden-Grifton 14, Rosewood 22. Total fouls -- Ayden-Grifton 17, Rosewood 18. Fouled out -- Bunn. Technicals -- Rosewood coach Mitchell, Overman.

Girls game

Ayden-Grifton 9 7 3 8 -- 27

Rosewood 11 18 7 9 -- 45

AYDEN-GRIFTON (1-17, 1-8)

Jasmine Cox 1 2 2-2 10, Deanna Keys 1 1 1-2 6, Melissa Griffin 2 0 1-2 5, Keke Pugh 1 0 1-2 3, Lindsey Unruh 0 0 2-2 2, Shannon Quinerly 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 5 3 8-12 27.

ROSEWOOD (14-2, 7-1)

Clare Narron 5 3 2-2 21, Nikki Strawn 1 1 2-2 7, Stephanie Rhodes 2 0 0-0 4, Latitia Wade 2 0 0-0 4, Jennifer Boren 2 0 0-2 4, Hannah Aycock 2 0 0-0 4, Jessica Hill 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 14 4 5-8 45.

Three-point baskets -- Ayden-Grifton 3 (Cox 2, Keys), Rosewood 4 (Narron 3, Strawn). Turnovers -- Ayden-Grifton 26, Rosewood 20. Total fouls -- Ayden-Grifton 9, Rosewood 11, Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none.