Kendrick rallies EW boys

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on February 19, 2004 1:56 PM

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A point guard with the ability to score has to know when to call his own number.

Eastern Wayne's Adrian Kendrick knew it was one of those moments midway through the fourth period in his team's Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference tournament first-round battle with Winterville South Central.

After a dominant Warriors' defensive performance through three periods, the Falcons soared back to tie the game at 38-38 before Kendrick posted 11 fourth period points in a 62-46 Eastern Wayne win.

In true point guard fashion, Kendrick gave credit to his teammates.

"Derrick (Joyner) set screens for me and I just penetrated and was able to finish layups," Kendrick said. "We know how to play together, and we all know our roles on the court."

The victory propels the Warriors (15-7) into the semifinals as they take on West Carteret at home tonight at 7 p.m.

Eastern Wayne swept the regular season series with the Patriots (13-8).

South Central, a first-year varsity program, concluded the season at 7-16 overall.

Despite a solid 12-4 record in conference play in the regular season, Eastern Wayne coach Marvin Bowman knows there are no off nights, especially in the postseason.

"We play West Carteret tomorrow and that's going to be a tough ball game for us," he said. "Especially after Goldsboro beat Kinston. It's wide open right now."

The Warrior defense on Wednesday was especially stellar in the first half as the visiting Falcons managed just three field goals, all three-pointers, and 14 points before intermission. Eastern Wayne used a match-up zone look to pester the Falcon ball-handlers, resulting in 10 first-half turnovers.

The Warriors needed a solid defensive showing as their own offense managed just 20 points in the first half, including seven in the second period. When it struggled, it was a matter of losing patience in their half-court sets.

Still, South Central didn't get its first field goal of the second period until the four minute mark as Eastern Wayne maintained the lead.

Center Chris Campbell, who finished with 13 points, paced the Warriors after the half, scoring six of the team's 16 in the third period as their patience and the lead increased. The Warriors led by as much as 32-19 during the third.

"We've got to be a more patient, especially against a team you have played two or three times," Bowman said. "That's what we are going to have to do the rest of the way in this tournament."

Campbell along with Trey Nelson, who finished with 11 points, provided solid efforts on both the offensive and defensive glass as well.

The Falcons looked like a completely different team in the fourth. Jamale Burrus and Montel Smith both drilled three's to cap a 10-2 South Central run that tied the game at 38-38 in a matter of two minutes.

Kendrick then posted six-straight points in less than a minute to fend off the run and put the Warriors up 46-43. Campbell added a tough put-back at the four minute mark and followed it with a block at the defensive end as the Warriors stepped up the defense again to close out the win.

"We weren't picking up our man fast enough, and they made a couple of three's," Bowman said. "Once they did, we were successful. We got a few turnovers and made a few steals."

The Falcons managed just three points in the final 4:30.

2004 Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference Tournament

Boys first round

(at EWHS)

South Central 5 9 14 18 -- 46

Eastern Wayne 13 7 16 26 -- 62

No. 7 SOUTH CENTRAL (7-16)

Montel Smith 2 2 5-9 15, Jon Williams 3 0 5-8 11, Jamale Burrus 0 2 2-2 8, Montario Haddock 3 0 0-0 6, Chris Camy 0 1 0-0 3, Jason Ruben 0 1 0-2 3. TOTALS -- 8 6 12-21 46.

No. 2 EASTERN WAYNE (15-7)

Adrian Kendrick 6 0 5-6 17, Chris Campbell 5 0 3-4 13, Trey Nelson 4 0 3-5 11, Derrick Joyner 2 0 4-4 8, Nate Walker 2 0 3-3 7, Justin Richardson 1 0 2-3 4. TOTALS -- 20 0 20-25 62.

Three-point baskets -- South Central 6 (Smith 2, Burrus 2, Camy, Ruben). Turnovers - South Central 20, Eastern Wayne 15. Total fouls -- South Central 18, Eastern Wayne 14. Fouled out -- Haddock. Technicals -- Ruben.