GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Eastern Guilford ousts Eastern Wayne

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on February 22, 2017 9:57 AM

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There seemed to be an imaginary rope between Eastern Guilford and Eastern Wayne on Tuesday night, because both teams were fully engaged in a tug-of-war battle.

Both teams yanked as hard as they could, and each took turns carrying the momentum. However, at a certain point, Eastern Guilford just tightened its grip and heaved the imaginary rope to its side.

The Wildcats -- using a key 6-0 run to begin the fourth quarter  -- created well-need breathing room, and eventually handed the Warriors a 51-42 opening-round loss in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A girls' basketball state playoffs.

EW finished the season 17-9.

"They just came out and started leaking out, and we weren't able to get down court and stop the ball," said Warriors' head coach Michael Gurganus, regarding the second half. "And when they leaked out, we didn't get back on defense quickly enough...They did their part. They took off, and we just didn't catch it in time."

The matchup was a game of runs from the beginning.

Eastern Guilford opened the game on an 11-4 run, but EW countered with a 15-8 spurt of its own. The exchange of blows left the Wildcats and Warriors tied at 19-all by halftime.

Similar momentum swings occurred in the third quarter. Eastern Guilford began the second half on a 13-1 run, and held a 33-20 lead with three and half minutes left in the period.

But in a flash, the Warriors responded with a 12-0 run thanks to a free throw, a lay up by Treycie Ford and three combined 3-pointers by Taniyah Oates and Nyesha Best.

The Wildcats, of course, countered with a run to begin the fourth quarter. Eastern Guilford pushed its lead back to 41-32, and the deficit never dipped below four points after that point.

"We kept attacking, but on that run, our shots weren't falling," Gurganus said. "And (Guilford) made adjustments and started throwing over the press. And once they started throwing over the press, they were able to stop our run and they went on their run."

Spearheading Eastern Guilford's final run was Jazmin Harris, who scored 10 points in the final period and finished with 22 points. No other Wildcat scored more than nine.

Nyesha Best paced EW with 14, while Myesha Best and Ford added 10 points apiece.

The Warriors are losing just two seniors -- Ford and Dejah Thompson. Gurganus is hoping the returning cast will learn from the loss and use it as motivation for next season.

"It was a good season," Gurganus said. "It obviously didn't end the way we wanted it to. And we got a ways to go. We have to work hard this offseason and this summer. And I hope they're prepared for next year."