Prep basketball -- WCDS splits with Trinity

Published in Sports on December 14, 2004 1:56 PM

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Before the start Tuesday's games with Trinity Christian of Fayetteville, Wayne Country Day boys coach Randy Tilley was asked about the upcoming games.

"We're in for a struggle," he said. "They're tall, strong, and well-coached."

Tilley wasn't kidding.

Coach Toni Ingram's Chager girls dropped a heartbreaker, 34-33.

In his head boys coach role, Tilley's quintet returned the favor, sending their guests home to Fayetteville, smarting from a 61-60 loss.

In the boys' game, fans had to be wondering whether they were watching a basketball game, or a track meet. Both teams hit the court running. The pace never slowed until the final whistle.

Neither team could maintain a lead for long. Capitalizing on their speed, Tilley readjusted his offensive scheme from perimeter shooting to driving down the lane.

Spenser Briggs, who didn't can his only three until 3:52 of the third quarter easily made the transition. Teamed with Adam Wright and Jeff Franklin, the trio shouldered the majority of the Chargers' offensive load.

Briggs, who led both teams in scoring on the night with 27 points, tied the game at 47-47 to kickoff an exciting final quarter. Wayne Country Day's 60-57 lead evaporated at the one minute mark when Maurice Marley hit a three-pointer.

Then, Trinity repeated a mistake they had been making all night -- fouling Briggs. The senior guard, who was a near perfect 12 of 14 from the charity stripe, was held with 37 seconds left and made one of two. That proved to be the game winner.

The Chargers head into Friday night's game with Rosewood with an 8-1 record. Trinity fell to 3-3.

"I thought this game would come down to the wire," said Trinity coach Heath Vandevender. "Spenser Briggs is a terrific player. He made the shots he had to at the end. We'll look forward to playing them again in Fayetteville."

Tilley was equally complementary of his opponent.

"We knew Trinity's reputation. They lived up to every label that has been put on them," he said. "This was a team win for us. Jeff Franklin stepped up with seven points in the fourth quarter. Oscar Ball and Kevin Logan controlled the ball well.

"We committed only two turnovers down the stretch. Briggs and Adam Wright, besides delivering our scoring punch, played great defense."

The girls game was a mirror image of the boys. One team would spurt, and the other team would come firing back offensively.

Foul shots also played a crucial role in this game. While holding their guests to only four attempts for the entire game, the Lady Chargers could only connect on seven-of-15.

Wayne Country Day's conditioning and determination offset Trinity's height and strength and got Trinity's post players into early foul trouble.

Trinity appeared to be in control, holding leads of 24-19 late in the third quarter and 32-26 early in the fourth.

The Chargers kept chipping away at the deficit. Baskets by Tiara Broadie and Christin Grubb, along with four free throws by Broadie, put the Chargers back in the lead, 33-32, with 1:43 left to play.

After Phylisha Chester stole the ball and took it in for the go ahead score, Wayne Country Day had two chances left to regain the lead, but couldn't convert. The game's final shot from Virginia Best, rolled off the rim.

"We made a great comback," said coach Toni Ingram, "But we came up one point short. If we had made some more foul shots, we would have been O.K."

The Charger girls fell to 5-4. Trinity is 3-3.

Girls game

Trinity Christian 6 8 14 6 -- 34

Wayne Country Day 6 10 7 10 -- 33

TRINITY CHRISTIAN (3-3)

Phylisha Chester 7 0 0-0 14; Nikesha Gaddy 6 0 0-0 12; Drena Washington 2 0 0-0 4; Amber Long 1 0 0-0 2; Tonette Thomas 0 0 2-2 2; Adna Livingston 0 0 0-2 0. TOTALS -- 16 0 2-4 34.

WAYNE COUNTRY DAY (5-4)

Laura Ziemer 6 0 2-5 14; Tiara Broadie 4 0 5-9 13; Mimi Bridgers 1 0 0-0 2; Elle Dubberly 1 0 0-0 2; Christin Grubb 1 0 0-1 2. TOTALS -- 13 0 7-15 33.

Three-point shots -- none. Total fouls -- Trinity 18, Wayne 8; Turnovers -- Trinity 32, Wayne 31. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Boys game

Trinity Christian 17 12 17 14 -- 60

Wayne Country Day 14 16 15 16 -- 61

TRINITY CHRISTIAN (3-3)

Kashawn McLaughlin 9 0 1-4 19; Maurice Marley 6 1 3-5 18; Travell Smilley 5 0 4-6 14; Travis Cooper 2 0 1-2 5; Ben Handy 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 24 1 9-17 60.

WAYNE COUNTRY DAY (8-1)

Spenser Briggs 6 1 12-14 27; Adam Wright 5 2 1-1 17; Jeff Franklin 2 1 2-2 9; Oscar Ball 1 0 2-3 4; Kevin Logan 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 16 4 17-20 61.

Three-point baskets -- Trinity 1 (Marley), Wayne 4 (Wright 2, Briggs, Franklin). Total fouls -- Trinity 18, Wayne 13. Turnovers -- Trinity 15, Wayne 21. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.