Warriors take pair from Southern Wayne

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 8, 2004 2:01 AM

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Eastern Wayne's senior basketball players made their last regular season game in New Hope home one to remember.

The Warriors won both games against Eastern Carolina 3-A Confer-ence foe Southern Wayne Friday night.

The girls' 55-37 win and the boys' come-from-behind 44-41 victory solidified both teams' positions in the ECC playoff picture. Eastern Wayne's boys locked up second place in the conference with the victory, while the girls are solidly in fourth place.

"We're still holding the number two seed for the tournament. I feel real good about that," said Warrior boys coach Marvin Bowman.

"The win should assure us at least a fourth seed in the tournament," said Lady Warrior coach Brent Holland.

Southern Wayne simply did not match up well with the Lady Warriors. Southern Wayne was throttled by a continuous full-court press that spawned numerous turnovers. Three key Southern Wayne players were in foul trouble by the end of the first half.

"We simply had no answer for their inside game, both offensively and defensively," said Southern Wayne coach Richard Proctor.

Jessy Perkins controlled the boards with eight points and set up Nicole Greene and Sierra King for breakaway baskets. Greene went out in style on senior night with 18 points. King added 16.

"Probably the best all-around game we've played tonight," said Holland.

Four Warrior seniors made the difference in the boys' game.

Southern Wayne got off to a 13-7 lead in the first quarter, thanks to the aggressive play of center Artimus Quick and a buzzer-beating three pointer by Derek Garris. Quick had eight points in the period and helped his club control the boards 9-3.

The final three periods were all about Eastern Wayne defense.

The turnaround play for the Warriors may have been when guard Nate Walker stuffing Quick going in for a lay-up with 28 seconds left in the half. Walker, besides being the game's high scorer with 13, was also one of his team's defensive stalwarts. His hustle forced Southern Wayne into 24 turnovers, as compared to 12 for the Warriors.

Southern Wayne also lost the services of Akeem Royal and Ted Benton to early foul trouble. Derrick Joyner and Chris Campbell shut down Quick, who did not score another basket.

Eastern Wayne kept chipping away at the Southern Wayne lead. Walker cut the lead to one with a three-pointer at the close of the third quarter. Another three by Jamel Virgil gave the Warriors a commanding lead at 31-26 with 6:18 left. Jacobe Graham finally ended the 8-0 run for Eastern Wayne at 4:06, making it 33-28.

Quick got his only points of the second half, two free throws, making it 33-30. Although three-pointers by Royal and Austin Hood kept the Saints close, Eastern Wayne came through in the clutch from the foul line, going 10-17 down the stretch.

"We just made too many mental mistakes," said Southern Wayne coach Michael Oliver. "Quick could not hold his position. Our leading scorer (Royal) was in foul trouble and never really found his rhythm."

Eastern Wayne coach Marvin Bowman credited his seniors with the win.

"Walker is a good player who gets better and better," he said. "He drove the lane and made some clutch free throws. Joyner played like a senior, and he was a real leader on the court. Virgil made the key three at the end of the game, as did Trey Nelson from the free throw line."

Fans, players, and officials suffered through hot and humid conditions inside the gym. Players slipped on the wet floor as the humidity took its toll on the playing surface.

Both teams will collide with inter-county rivals Tuesday. Southern Wayne will entertain Goldsboro, while Eastern Wayne will travel to Pikeville to face C.B. Aycock.

Girls game

Southern Wayne 8 8 7 14 -- 37

Eastern Wayne 17 10 13 15 -- 55

SOUTHERN WAYNE (4-11, 14-10)

Jessica Teachey 2 1 3-7 10, Tiffany Swinson 2 0 4-4 8, Lacree Lewis 0 2 0-1 6, Shelanda Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Dionne Dotson 1 0 1-4 3, Danielle Wilkins 0 0 2-4 2, Aldonna Jones 1 0 0-2 2, Lacarro Mathis 0 0 1-2 1, Dimiri Blount 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 8 3 12-26 37.

EASTERN WAYNE (8-6, 9-10)

Nicole Greene 7 0 4-9 18, Sierra King 4 1 5-11 16, Jessy Perkins 5 0 3-3 13, Yazmine Washington 2 0 0-0 4, Natasha Wiley 1 0 0-0 2, Jazzmine Lee 0 0 2-2 2. TOTALS -- 19 1 14-25 55.

Three-point baskets -- Southern Wayne 3 (Lewis 2, Teachey), Eastern Wayne 1 (King). Total fouls -- Southern Wayne 21, Eastern Wayne 20. Turnovers -- Southern Wayne 20, Eastern Wayne 16. Fouled out -- Dotson. Technical fouls -- none.

Boys game

Southern Wayne 13 4 9 10 -- 41

Eastern Wayne 7 7 11 19 -- 44

SOUTHERN WAYNE (9-6, 6-8)

Derek Garris 3 1 1-2 10, Artimus Quick 4 0 2-2 10, Akeem Royal 2 2 0-0 10, Marcus Oates 0 0 4-4 4, Austin Hood 0 1 0-0 3, Jacobe Graham 1 0 0-0 2, Danny Langston 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 11 4 7-8 41.

EASTERN WAYNE (13-5, 11-3)

Nate Walker 2 1 6-10 13, Derrick Joyner 4 0 3-8 11, Jamel Virgil 1 1 1-2 6, Trey Nelson 1 0 4-6 6, Chris Campbell 1 0 2-2 4, Adrian Kendrick 1 0 2-2 4, Justin Richardson 0 0 0-1 0. TOTALS -- 10 2 18-30 44.

Three-point baskets -- Southern Wayne 4 (Royal 2, Garris, Hood), Eastern Wayne 2 (Walker, Virgil). Total fouls -- Southern Wayne 23, Eastern Wayne 14. Turnovers -- Southern Wayne 24, Eastern Wayne 12. Fouled out -- Oates, Campbell. Technical fouls -- none.