Parrott beats buzzer to nip Wayne Christian

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on November 22, 2005 2:00 PM

• Print
• Email

Arendell Parrott Academy junior Nathan Perry knocked down a running jump shot from the free throw line at the buzzer to push the Patriots past Wayne Christian 38-37 in non-conference action at the Eagles' gymnasium on Monday night.

Perry finished with a team-best 13 points as Parrott improved to 2-1 on the season. Wayne Christian was led by T.A. Brannan's 16 points, including 12 in the first half, as the Eagles fell to 4-2.

The Eagles looked poised for their fourth win in a row when Nick Woods stepped up to the free throw line and drained two-of-two to give his team a 37-36 edge with 4.1 seconds left in a game that was close throughout.

With no timeouts left, Perry picked up a loose ball near midcourt on the ensuing possession, took several dribbles, then let the game-winning shot fly as the horn sounded. The shot went through as the referees signaled the basket was good.

"We were right where we wanted to be," Wayne Christian coach Tim Brannan said. "I felt like if we played a good zone defense with one on the ball, we would put enough pressure on them where they would miss that shot.

"Our guys have nothing to hang their heads about."

With pressure defense and balanced scoring, Wayne Christian surged out to a quick, 11-2 lead early in the first quarter, only to see Parrott answer behind the jump-shooting of Graham Williams. Williams scored eight points in the first quarter to help his team take a 12-11 edge heading into the second quarter.

Brannan had five in the first quarter, before getting loose down low for three more buckets to post 12 of his team's 20 points in the first half. The Patriots held a slim 21-20 lead at the break.

Parrott, of the Eastern Plains Independent 2-A Conference, increased its defensive intensity on the perimeter, denying the entry pass to Brannan, but leaving Wayne Christian open from the outside. The Eagles failed to capitalize on several open looks and both teams struggled with inopportune turnovers through the game.

"We had a hard time getting him (T.A. Brannan) one-on-one like we did in the first half," Tim Brannan said. "They went to the 1-3-1 zone, and what was open was the shot on the wings. We didn't nail that shot, or get the ball there as much as we would have liked to."

Wayne Christian finished with 17 turnovers to Parrott's 13 miscues.

A 3-pointer by Parrott's Tate Mooring gave his team a 31-25 late in the third, but again, Wayne Christian stepped up their own defensive pressure and answered with a 6-0 run in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 33-33 with four minutes left.

The Patriots led 36-35 and appeared to be content with running most of the clock out with under one minute remaining, but missed an open jumper with 35 seconds left to leave the door open for the Eagles.

Woods was fouled on a follow shot on Wayne Christian's next possession, then banged home two from the stripe after Mooring called a 30-second time out.

It appeared as if Wayne Christian would escape as two Parrott players collided on the in bounds pass, but Perry quickly recovered the loose ball, dribbled through the defense and found enough daylight to drill the game-winner.

"We wanted to get to the elbow, but our two guys ran together and we were lucky to get the ball and make a miracle shot," Mooring said. "It was a tough game for either team to lose."

In the girls game, Wayne Christian managed just five field goals -- all in the first half -- as the Patriots improved to 2-1 with a 35-18 win over the Eagles.

Brooke Norris scored six points for Wayne Christian (1-5), while teammate Michelle Krug posted five points.

Parrott led 11-5 after the first period, and methodically extended that lead through the game as its pressure defense and deeper bench seemed to wear down the Eagles.

Wayne Christian finished with 22 turnovers overall.

"We didn't run our offense and that killed us. Then, when we did run it, the open looks wouldn't fall," first-year Wayne Christian coach Lee Price said. "We're real limited on the bench with who we can bring in with any experience."

Parrott's Jaclyn Ervin proved to be the only scorer in double figures with 10 points.

The Eagles return to non-conference action today at Terra Ceia in Tarboro.

Girls game

Parrott Academy 11 6 4 14 -- 35

Wayne Christian 5 5 0 8 -- 18

PARROTT ACADEMY (2-1)

Jaclyn Ervin 5 0 0-0 10, Rebecca Hill 0 1 2-2 5, Charlotte Goins 3 0 2-2 8, Julia Rawl 3 0 0-0 6, Carmen Bright 2 0 2-2 6, Allie Rawl 0 0 0-4 0. TOTALS -- 13 1 6-6 35.

WAYNE CHRISTIAN (1-5)

Michelle Krug 1 1 0-0 5, Brittany Sullivan 1 0 0-2 2, Brooke Norris 0 0 6-9 6, Stacie McCary 0 0 2-2 2, Katie Daniels 1 0 0-2 2, Danielle Pender 0 0 1-2 1, Hope Wright 0 0 0-1 0. TOTALS -- 4 1 9-18 18.

Three-point baskets -- Parrott 1 (Hill); Wayne Christian 1 (Krug). Turnovers -- Parrott 13, Wayne Christian 22. Total fouls -- Parrott 18, Wayne Christian 12. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Boys game

Parrott Academy 12 9 10 7 - 38

Wayne Christian 11 9 7 10 - 37

PARROTT ACADEMY (2-1)

Stuart Brooks 2 1 0-0 7, Graham Williams 1 2 0-0 8, Nathan Perry 5 0 3-4 13, Andy Patterson 1 0 0-0 2, Tillman Snead 0 0 2-2 2, Tate Mooring 0 1 2-2 5, Steven Hill 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 10 4 7-8 38.

WAYNE CHRISTIAN (4-2)

T.A. Brannan 7 0 2-6 16, Shea Gleasman 1 0 0-0 2, Matt Davis 3 0 0-0 6, Billy Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Nick Woods 1 0 4-4 6, Adam Brannan 2 0 0-0 4, Robert Anderson 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 15 0 7-12 37.

Three-point baskets -- Parrott 4 (Williams 2, Brooks, Mooring). Turnovers -- Parrott 13, Wayne Christian 17. Total fouls -- Parrott 12, Wayne Christian 7. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.