Lady Cougars win WCDS tournament

Published in Sports on December 31, 2004 1:57 PM

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A good New Year's resolution for opposing coaches of the Goldsboro girls basketball team -- When head coach Gladys McClary talks, listen up.

Before the start of yesterday afternoon's championship game with Jacksonville, at the Wayne Country Day Holiday Tournament, McClary confidently indicated, "we'll be ready" for the taller and more physical Lady Cardinals.

They were.

As predicted by McClary, youth and strength were no match for experience and speed. as Goldsboro won easily 47-33, taking home the first place trophy. They'll take an 11-2 record into their game with Kinston Tuesday night.

Jacksonville falls back under .500 to 5-6.

Goldsboro's Ashelyn James and Chevoya Jackson took over, and when they didn't score a basket, they were fouled. Coupled with a basket from Mikeda Graham, the trio combined for an 18-2 run by the end of the first quarter.

Jacksonville did not score its first point until the 5:57 mark. It took them two minutes longer until they recorded their first basket. When the Lady Cardinals cut their deficit to single digits, 20-11, early in the second quarter, the same three blitzed them again, moving the margin back to a more comfortable 27-11 margin.

The James-White match up never materialized. After being out muscled under the boards by James in the first quarter, she took an elbow to the jaw and did not return until the final period. James was the game's high scorer with 20 points. White notched only four.

The Lady Cardinals final comeback attempt was derailed by a defensive lapse. They were assessed with a technical foul. Jackson turned it into a four-point play, and Jacksonville never recovered.

"It seemed like we were down 11 points before the game even started," said Jacksonville coach Curt Dowdy. "Losing White and that technical killed us. Once we settled down, we were doing some good things."

"We played 100 percent from the opening tip-off," said McClary.

Goldsboro had only three turnovers and hit a torrid, 11-for-14 from the free-throw line in the first half.

In the Rosewood-Wayne Country Day consolation game, Rosewood took third place with a 60-37 win. On December 17, the Lady Eagles won their match up, 65-29. The two teams will play a third time next Friday.

"Although this was not an ideal situation, playing a team we just beat and will be playing again shortly, I'm just happy to get these games in and our club back out on the court," said Rosewood coach Jerry Narron. "Everyone was able to play and participate," he added.

Latitia Wade led the Lady Eagles with 11 points. She was followed by Shanita Monroe with 10. Tiara Broadie had 13 for the Lady Chargers. Mimi Bridgers chipped in nine.

Rosewood will take a 4-4 record into their Tuesday night game with Spring Creek. Wayne Country Day travels to Waccamaw Academy, sporting a 5-7 slate.

"While a loss is a loss," said Wayne Country Day's coach, Toni Ingram, "We scored better against Rosewood than we did last time out. We also achieved our objective in the tournament, which was to schedule better teams that will get us ready for conference play."

Goldsboro placed Carmille Early and Jackson on the all-tourney team. They were joined by Wayne Country Day's Laura Ziemer, Rosewood's Jessica Hill, and Jacksonville's White. James was tabbed MVP.

Consolation

Rosewood 11 18 20 11 -- 60

WCDS 7 12 8 10 -- 37

ROSEWOOD (4-4)

Latitia Wade 3 1 2-2 11; Shanita Monroe 5 0 0-0 10; Hannah Aycock 3 0 1-2 7; Kasey Grey 2 0 3-4 7; Jessica Hill 3 0 0-1 6; Katy Morris 2 0 2-3 6; Clare Narron 2 0 1-2 5; Kelli Gurley 2 0 0-0 4; Kasie Braswell 1 0 0-0 2; Courtney Hill 1 0 0-2 2. TOTALS -- 24 1 9-16 60.

WAYNE COUNTRY DAY (5-7)

Tiara Broadie 4 0 5-7 13; Mimi Bridgers 4 0 1-4 9; Elle Dubberly 1 1 2-4 7; Christin Grubb 1 0 1-2 3; Erin Taylor 1 0 0-0 2; Virginia Best 1 0 0-0 2; Laura Ziemer 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 12 1 10-19 37.

Three-point baskets -- Rosewood 1 (Wade), Wayne Country Day 1 (Dubberly). Total fouls -- Rosewood 16, Wayne Country Day 14. Turnovers -- Rosewood 19, Wayne Country Day 27. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Championship game

Jacksonville 6 12 6 9 -- 33

Goldsboro 18 9 14 6 -- 47

JACKSONVILLE (5-6)

Paige Ruse 4 0 0-0 8; Brittany Mills 1 1 1-2 6; Carolyn Handy 1 1 0-0 5; Martha White 1 0 2-4 4; Tasie White 0 1 0-0 3; Felicia Brown 1 0 1-2 3; Brooke Mills 1 0 0-0 2; Kayla Pearsall 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 10 3 4-8 33.

GOLDSBORO (11-2)

Ashelyn James 7 0 6-9 20. Chevoya Jackson 5 0 6-8 16; Mikeda Graham 2 0 1-2 5; Jessica Faison 2 0 0-1 4; Nickie Garner 1 0 0-1 2. TOTALS -- 17 0 13-21 47.

Three-point baskets -- Jacksonville 3 (Handy, Tasia White, Brooke Mills), Goldsboro none. Total fouls -- Jacksonville 17, Goldsboro 12. Turnovers -- Jacksonville 23, Goldsboro 12. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- Jacksonville Brown.