C.B. Aycock boys snap skid

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on December 8, 2005 2:01 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock's Rob Phillips poured in 24 points as the Golden Falcons snapped a five-game losing streak with a 55-54 win at home over Northern Nash in non-conference action.

After two clutch makes at the line by Aycock's Evan Medford near the one-minute mark, Phillips hit one-of-two at the free-throw line with 17 seconds left. On Northern Nash's next possession, Brian Thomas, who finished with 22 points, was awarded three free throws after being fouled on the Fighting Knights' next possession. Thomas made the first, missed the second, then drained the third to pull his team within one with three seconds left.

Aycock (2-5) tossed in the inbounds pass and ran out the final seconds to hold on for the win.

"I thought our kids grew up tonight. We needed to win a game while Lamada (Williams), who is injured, was still on the bench," Aycock boys coach David West said. "We need some confidence for when he gets back, and I think tonight that confidence was earned."

Northern Nash stormed out to leads of 6-0 and 10-1 out of the gate, but Aycock outscored the visitors 14-5 late in the period with improved defense to lead 17-15 after one. Behind Phillips and Santavin Poole, who added 11 points, the Falcons took a 29-20 advantage in the second period, before the Knights cut it to five at halftime.

Aycock was outrebounded 19-8 before intermission, but bounced back with improvement on the boards in the second half, according to West.

West also praised the defensive efforts of Montez Ham, Nick Weaver and Phillips.

The boys contest was certainly a nail-biter, but the girls game was every bit or more as intense as it took four overtimes to decide the outcome -- marking the third straight overtime game for Aycock's girls.

In the final overtime period, Northern Nash (3-2) outscored the Falcons 10-4 and claimed a 61-55 win. The two-hour and thirty-minute, four- overtime battle was the longest basketball game in Aycock school history.

"It was an incredible, well-played game. It was a tough game for either team to lose," said Aycock coach Luke Vail, who's team fell to 3-4. "Our players played hard, and you can't ask anymore than that. They (Northern Nash) just came up with some big points in the last overtime. Emily Stewart fouled out in the last overtime and that hurt us."

The Falcons' Quaneisha Milner led all scorers with a career-best 31 points -- drilling five, 3-pointers. Jasmine Dobbins added eight points, while Erin Medford recorded six points and 10 rebounds. Stewart finished with 11 rebounds to go with six points.

Shay Holloway paced the Knights with 10 points.

Aycock returns to action on Friday against Goldsboro at the Cougar Den in the second and final meeting of the season between the two county foes. The Falcons' girls and Goldsboro's boys took the first meetings in Pikeville.

Girls game

Northern Nash 6 14 16 2 3 7 3 10 -- 61

C.B. Aycock 4 14 15 5 3 7 3 4 -- 55

NORTHERN NASH (3-2)

Shay Holloway 10, Aly Stephenson 9, Shanessa Freeman 8, Nikki Battle 6, Neshonna Hughes 17, Shannatte Evans 6, Shaconya Mercer 5.

C.B. AYCOCK (3-4)

Quaneisha Milner 31, Jasmine Dobbins 8, Erin Medford 7, Emily Stewart 6, Jazzmine Lee 3.

Boys game

Northern Nash 15 13 13 13 -- 54

C.B. Aycock 17 16 10 12 -- 55

NORTHERN NASH

Michael Hilliard 6, John Paul Brown 4, Brian Thomas 22, Terrance Whitaker 4, Thomas Sykes 4, Chad Evans 2, Stephen Baker 4, Desaray Rother 8, Brian Sessoms 2.

C.B. AYCOCK (2-5)

Rob Phillips 24, Montez Ham 2, Evan Medford 2, Brian Brock 1, Brandon Price 8, Tim Alston 5, Santavin Poole 11.