N. Johnston sweeps Rosewood

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 6, 2005 2:00 AM

• Print
• Email

KENLY - After sweeping Rosewood on Friday night, both North Johnston basketball teams will be attempting to tie down first-place honors in regular-season Class 1-A Carolina Conference play. Two games remain to be played next week, both on the road.

Coach David Bagwell's girls travel to Ayden-Grifton Tuesday tied with Farmville Central at 9-1 in the conference. Bagwell's club outscored the Lady Eagles 18-12 in the second half en route to a come-from-behind 45-31 win. Rosewood's record fell to 6-4.

Rosewood was forced to make do without the Hill family.

Co-coach June was inducted into her high school athletic hall of fame. Daughter and center Jessica attended the festivities. Under the tutelage of Jerry Narron, the Lady Eagles had an excellent first half.

Stephanie Rhodes, filling in for Hill, teamed up with Latitia Wade to shoulder the bulk of the offensive and defensive chores.

Rhodes had two baskets to go along with Wade's seven points. Rosewood went on an 11-5 run and took a 19-18 lead to the locker room at the half. They also outrebounded their hosts 15-9.

After Lakisha McFadden tied the game at 23 with a 3-point basket at 2:02 of the third quarter, North Johnston turned up the heat. Offensively, they went on a 15-2 run.

With five minutes left in the game, the Lady Panthers had a commanding 35-23 lead.

Rosewood went six minutes without scoring. The Lady Panthers' pressing defense created 38 turnovers.

"Any time you run into a club like North Johnston that plays outstanding defense, you aren't going to get many good shots," said Narron.

Hustle could not keep up with muscle in the boys game also won by North Johnston, 58-33.

Baskets by Kyle Grey and Danny Langston, along with a free throw by Antel Richards, had the Eagles down by only two, 7-5, late in the first quarter. Led by guard Jake Lomonaca, the Panthers went on a an 8-0 run. By the five-minute mark of the second period, Rosewood found itself staring at a double-digit deficit.

While Rosewood had trouble containing Lomonaco, the high scorer on the night with 23 points.