North Lenoir picks up basketball sweep of Greene Central

By David Rouse
Published in Sports on January 18, 2004 11:13 PM

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LAGRANGE -- North Lenoir won both ends of their basketball games with Greene Central Friday night.

But while Lady Hawks coach Wayne Floyd had few worries in his club's 74-20 rout of the Lady Rams, boys coach Charlie Stevens was had several anxious moments after his club almost squandered a 20-plus point lead before winning 74-66.

Thanks to a pesky North Lenoir defense, the Lady Rams scored only six points in three periods. Lonnie Jones and Tammy Moye controlled the boards and the Lady Hawk press created 34 turnovers.

Jones, Shannon Plymouth, and Katy Maloney shouldered the offense in the first period. They gave way to Lemonica Rasberry, who put on a three-point clinic in the second period, hitting three. She and Jones were the high scorers for their team with 13 and 15, respectively.

"That's about as good as we could play in the first half," said Floyd, whose team remained in first place in the Eastern Plains Conference at 2-0 and 14-1 overall. "Even our reserves played well."

The Lady Hawks will travel to North Pitt Tuesday night.

The boys 74-66 win was deceptive. The outcome could have been both closer or greater. North Lenoir evened their record at 1-1 in conference play and 8-3 overall.

The boys matchup was a very physical game. The officials called the contest very closely. Greene Central was called for three player control fouls in the first 10 minutes of the game.

After a tight start, turning the ball over the first three times they had the ball, the game appeared to be headed as an instant replay of the first. A three-point basket by E.J. Brown tied the game at 10-10 at 2:45.

John Cobb put North Lenoir in the lead 13-10 with a three, followed by the first of several alley-oop plays by Kevin Lee. Lee, who had 17 points, started the second period with a dunk, and followed up with a 3-pointer. Justin Dunn, leading scorer on the night with 19, added two more dunks.

"We have some very athletic kids," said Stevens. "We try to work that in to what we're doing. Those plays are game breakers."

Two threes by Leon Best and another by Brown highlighted a 27-9 run in the second period. Another blowout appeared in the making as the Hawks took a 44-21 lead to the locker room.

First year Greene Central coach Kevin Hart had other plans, however, for his hosts.

"The biggest difference was the officiating," said Hart, who was hit for a technical in the first half. "I don't think we got a fair shake in the first half on the calls. In the second half, we got a fair shake that let us play our physical game."

Greene Central outscored North Lenoir 45-30 in the second half, but it wasn't enough. Two three-pointers by Gerry Kesselbach, dunks by Charles Gamble, and hustle in the paint by Teddie Waters reduced the 20-point plus lead to five at 69-64 with just over a minute left, but that was as close as they could get.

The Hawks could have put the game away at the foul line, but didn't. After an outstanding 11-for -14 effort in the first half, the Hawks went just 12-for-25 from the line in the second half.

Greene Central will entertain Soutwest Edgecombe Tuesday night, while the Hawks will travel to North Pitt Tuesday night.

Girls

Greene Central 2 3 1 14 -- 20

North Lenoir 29 19 16 10 -- 74

GREENE CENTRAL (6-10, 1-1)

Briana Stantor 2 0 4-7 8; Diandra Tyson 1 0 2-2 4; Oriel Rodgers 2 0 0-0 4 Cassandra Suggs 1 0 0-0 2; Shatillia Joyner 0 0 2-4 2. TOTALS -- 6 0 8-13 20.

NORTH LENOIR (14-1, 2-0)

Lonnie Jones 5 0 5-5 15; Lemonica Rasberry 2 3 0-4 13; Shannon Plymouth 4 0 4-4 12; Tiera Broadie 1 3 0-2 11; Chanee Lynch 2 0 3-4 7; Tammy Moye 2 0 1-2 5; Katy Maloney 2 0 1-2 5; Shalona Newkirk 2 0 0-0 4; Jessica Dunn 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 21 6 14-23 74.

Three-point baskets -- Greene Central none, North Lenoir 6 (Rasberry, Broadie (3). Turnovers -- Green Central 34, North Lenoir 17. Total fouls -- Green Central 21, North Lenoir 18. Fouled out -- Greene Central Jones, Brown, North Lenoir none. Technical fouls -- none.

Boys

Greene Central 12 9 23 22 -- 66

North Lenoir 17 27 17 13 -- 74

GREENE CENTRAL (7-9, 1-1)

Teddie Waters 8 0 1-5 17; Croules Gamble 6 0 4-4 16; Cliffton Chapman 5 0 2-2 12; Gerry Kesselbach 0 2 0-0 6; Jordy Davis 3 0 0-1 6; Drayon Willis 2 0 0-0 4; Kenny Smith 0 1 0-0 3; Jonathon Gage 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 25 3 7-12 66.

NORTH LENOIR (8-3, 1-1)

Justin Dunn 4 1 8-13 19; Kevin Lee 7 0 3-6 17; Leon Best 1 3 6-10 17; John Cobb 0 2 1-4 7; Jamie Mason 0 1 3-4 6; E.J. Brown 0 2 0-0 6; Omar Jones 0 0 2-2 2. TOTALS -- 12 9 23-39 74.

Three-point baskets -- Greene Central 3 (Kesserbach 2, Smith), North Lenoir 9 (Best 3, Cobb 2, Dunn). Turnovers -- Greene Central 17, North Lenoir 26. Total fouls -- Greene Central 26, North Lenoir 13. Fouled out -- Greene Central Willis, North Lenoir none. Technical fouls -- Greene Central Coach Hart.