WCDS teams fall to Greenfield

Published in Sports on February 4, 2004 2:08 PM

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If, if, if.

That's what everyone at Wayne Country Day School must be feeling or saying after dropping both boys and girls basketball games to visiting Greenfield School on Tuesday night.

The Knights held on to beat the Chargers for the second time this season in a 44-41 boys win, while the Greenfield girls dropped the Lady Chargers 48-34.

The boys match saw a big foul call go against the Chargers in the closing minutes. Wayne Country Day was without injured guard Oscar Ball for the game.

The first quarter belonged to Wayne Country Day, as Kris Exum hit a three-pointer from deep in the left corner at the buzzer for a 16-12 lead. The Charger offense went cold in the second and third quarters -- they were outscored 28-13, out-rebounded 22-9, and made numerous turnovers.

Down 11 going into the final quarter, Exum and Spenser Briggs rekindled Wayne's offense. They both hit for two baskets each. with Briggs adding a three.The Greenfield offense stalled, not scoring a basket the entire period.

But Briggs was called for charging at 3:05 that negated a potential three-point play. Kevin Logan scored, but was called for traveling. Briggs canned a three with nine seconds left, making it 42-39. Greenfield's Tyler Jones made two free throws, putting the game out of reach, 44-39, with eight seconds left.

Greenfield coach Rob Salter was clearly unhappy with his team's efforts.

"Although we haven't played due to the weather, there's just no excuse for how we played tonight," he said.

"Give Greenfield credit," said Wayne's Steve Weir, "but we made some awfully silly mistakes. We missed Ball, but we're not got to take any chances with him."

Weir was pleased with the efforts of Briggs.

"He's one of the best players, not just in our conference, but in the state," Weir said. "Although he's only a junior, colleges need to get on him because he's a player."

He was not pleased, however, with the officiating. "There were some very questionable calls that always seemed to go the other way," he said. With three games left, Weir is hjoping to win out to get a favorable seeding in the conference tournament.

Coach Kate Wright's girls had a tough time getting started. Although Greenfield only suited up seven players, they came out pressing and trapping, causing numerous turnovers.

Sophomores Paisley Suggs and Anna Wooten took full advantage of the miscues and the rebounding superiority of center Mandy Moore to give their team a commanding 29-11 lead at the half.

Wright's offensive scheme was to feed her low post players. Unfortunately, Christin Grubb and Laura Ziemer could not convert. Carolyn Ziemer scored her team's first basket at 4:06 of the first quarter.

Louise Northington played an exceptional final quarter. Only an eighth grader, she hit four baskets and three free throws to finish the night as her team's high scorer with 11 points.

"She's going to be a great player for us," said Wright. "You can just see her confidence build."

TheChargers travel to Rocky Mount Academy Friday night.

Boys

Greenfield School 12 19 9 4 -- 44

WCDS 16 6 7 12 -- 41

GREENFIELD SCHOOL (16-4, 3-1)

Austin Bass 3 2 2-4 14, Ian Blozek-Guinane 4 0 0-1 8, Errol Frails 1 0 4-4 6, Tyler Jones 2 0 2-2 6, Chris Tripp 3 0 0-0 6, Will Faber 1 0 2-2 4. TOTALS -- 14 2 10-13 44.

WAYNE COUNTRY DAY (10-6, 2-3)

Spenser Briggs 9 1 0-1 21, Kris Exum 2 1 1-3 8, Jeff Franklin 2 0 0-0 4, Kevin Logan 1 0 1-2 3, Alex Promios 0 1 0-0 3, Shivar Person 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 15 3 2-6 41.

Three-point baskets -- Greenfield 2 (Bass), Wayne 3 (Promios, Exum, Briggs). Total fouls -- Greenfield 11, Wayne 14. Turnovers -- Greenfield 18, Wayne 19. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Girls

Greenfield School 14 15 11 8 -- 48

WDCS 6 5 8 15 -- 34

GREENFIELD SCHOOL (10-7, 3-1)

Anna Wooten 3 3 1-4 16; Paisley Suggs 6 0 3-6 15; Mandy Moore 5 0 1-4 11; Daidrea Harris 2 0 0-1 4; Brittany Spencer 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 17 3 5-15 48.

WAYNE COUNTRY DAY (4-13, 0-5)

Louise Northington 4 0 3-4 11; Hannah Grantham 1 1 2-4 7; Christin Grubb 3 0 0-2 6; Carolyn Ziemer 2 0 0-3 4; Laura Ziemer 2 0 0-2 4; Elle Dubberly 1 0 0-0 2; Heather Daughtery 0 0 0-1 0. TOTALS -- 13 1 5-16 34.

Three-point baskets -- Greenfield 3 (Wooten), Wayne 1 (Grantham). Total fouls -- Greenfield 14, Wayne 12. Turnovers -- Greenfield 21, Wayne 33. Fouled out -- Greenfield Wooten, Wayne none. Technical fouls -- none.