Saints girls can't hang on with Lady Eagles

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 13, 2004 2:00 PM

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VANCEBORO -- Southern Wayne's girls fell in their final regular-season game Thursday night as West Craven dropped the Lady Saints 60-56.

The loss puts Southern Wayne in the play-in game of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament. The Lady Saints will host Washington tonight at 6 p.m. at the Southern Wayne gym, with the winner facing top-seeded Goldsboro on Monday at the Cougar Den.

Southern Wayne held a 26-18 lead at halftime, but were blown back as West Craven put 26 points on the board in the third period to take a 44-39 lead after three periods.

Southern Wayne was hampered by a big foul differential -- West Craven took 43 free throw attempts in the game to Southern Wayne's 22. The Lady Eagles' Jessica Barnes took 23 shot attempts from the line.

The Lady Saints fought back to lead by two with a minute to play, but West Craven got a key steal and the Lady Saints could not convert at the free-throw line, going 9-for-22 from the strip for the game.

"We could not protect the basketball or make a free throw, and that allowed them to win the game," said Southern Wayne coach Richard Proctor.

Jessica Teachey had 20 points and Tiffany Swinson had 10 to pace Southern Wayne. Barnes and Joyce Freeman had 19 points each to lead the Lady Eagles.

Southern Wayne 14 12 13 17 -- 56

West Craven 12 6 26 15 -- 60

SOUTHERN WAYNE

Jessica Teachey 20, Tiffany Swinson 10, Christina Lopez 9, Danielle Wilkins 8, Ebony Darden 6, Akesha Jordan 3.

WEST CRAVEN

Jessica Barnes 19, Joyce Freeman 19, Jackie Jones 7, Kesha Hardy 6, Lee Jones 5, Ivory Bryan 2, Kanesha Raynor 1.

Three-point baskets - Southern Wayne 6 (Teachey 3, Swinson, Lopez, Jordan). Turnovers -- Southern Wayne 18, Total fouls -- Southern Wayne 26, West Craven 21. Fouled out -- Hardy. Technicals -- none.

Play-in games begin Friday

Goldsboro wil take on Charles B. Aycock tonight in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference Tournament play-in game at Goldsboro High School. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the game are $5 and no GHSBooster Club passes can be accepted.