Gators chomp past Eagles in "The Swamp"

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on February 6, 2016 11:38 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek freshman Landon Smothers scored nine points during senior night against Rosewood on Friday.

Doesn't sound like much, does it?

But Smothers, a freshman, launched the ball over half court to avoid the Eagles' full-court pressure. He caught the ball from a teammate in transition to score and jumped back on defense to help Spring Creek derail Rosewood, 62-55, in Carolina 1-A Conference play Friday evening.

"He (Smothers) was poised the whole night," SC head coach Taylor Jones said. "He kept the ball in the middle of the floor, used his body to protect and shield the ball and didn't worry about ...didn't go away from contact. He used his body really well tonight."

Tied at 8-all after one quarter, the Gators sneaked past the Eagles for a 30-24 lead at halftime.

Rosewood answered in the third quarter with a 3-pointer from senior Marquail Al-montaser. Junior Noah Grantham assisted senior Zack Barnes with a 3.

Smothers ruined Rosewood's chances to get closer when he buried a 3-point dagger at the end of the third quarter.

"We haven't started the third quarter really well," Jones said. "Then you got to use all your momentum for the last part of the third quarter to really try to get fired back up and start the fourth quarter that way. Sometimes you kind of wear yourself out because you go through these highs and lows."

In their previous meeting, the Gators gave up a third-quarter lead and lost to Rosewood. But SC held on this time.

The Gators gave up the lead in the third quarter against Rosewood on Jan. 6 to lose to the Eagles, 52-44.

Freshman Dominique Morse ended the game with 17 points. Junior Najee Young added 15 points.

Rosewood senior Ethan Chapin led all scorers with 23 points. Barnes ended the game with 10 points, and Al-montaser added eight points.

"We got out-played tonight. That's the bottom line," Rosewood head coach Daniel Mitchell said. "We got out-hustled, we got out-played on the offensive end and defensive end. They (Gators) dictated the game, and we switched defenses frequently, and we didn't make smart decisions with the ball."

Spring Creek (5-16 overall, 4-8 CC) travels to James Kenan next Tuesday. Rosewood (9-11, 8-4) plays host to Neuse Charter the same day.