Hamilton, Nyesha Best lead EW girls

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on January 22, 2016 1:48 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- When pressed for a gameplan strategy Thursday evening, Charles B. Aycock girls' varsity coach Roy Harrell kept it simple.

"Score more than they do," he offered.

Eastern Wayne, however, had no intention of letting that happen.

Led from the outset by Naheria Hamilton and Nyesha Best, the visiting Warriors opened quickly, survived frustration and posted their second Eastern Conference 3A/4A victory, 56-45, in three days.

Best opened scoring with a three from the right wing, and following a brief ceremony by the Aycock staff in recognition of senior guard Taylor Daniel's 1,000th career point, resumed work.

She made another three in transition, then converted two running floaters in the lane. By period's end, the notion was clear, if not formulaic -- run, run, run.

And then keep running.

"That was the plan," said Warriors' head coach Philemon Gray, "she (Best) knows how to play smart and work the floor."

Best finished with a team-high 17 points.

Aycock, however, would not relent.

Despite the early deficit, the Golden Falcons remained patient offensively and moved fluidly in the half court. Daniels, who played through significant early foul trouble, consistently attacked the paint -- and Hamilton -- for a game-high 18 points.

The Golden Falcons (7-10, 1-5 EC) effectively double-teamed Hamilton in the second stanza and trimmed the Warriors' lead to 39-35 after three quarters.

But then, as she often does, Hamilton imposed her will.

The senior center iced the contest in the lane, securing rebound upon rebound in game's final five minutes. The Coastal Carolina signee finished the night with 16 points, 14 rebounds and 7 blocked shots.

The Warriors, winners of two in a row, host South Central next Monday. Aycock travels to Southern Wayne next Wednesday.