Saints past test

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 10, 2006 2:22 PM

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DUDLEY -- Final semester exams might be two days away, but Southern Wayne's varsity boys passed an important Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference test Monday evening against Wilson Beddingfield.

With no practice and coming off a rout of archrival Eastern Wayne, the Saints appeared sluggish early against the upset-minded Bruins. Beddingfield drained its first four shots from the floor and built an 11-3 advantage just three minutes into the opening quarter.

Southern Wayne (12-1, 2-0 ECC) settled down and answered the challenge -- much to second-year coach Mike Connelley's delight. Delawn Armwood and Akeem Royal combined for 27 second-half points in an 83-78 victory which kept the Saints unbeaten at home in seven outings.

"I feel better about this win than I do about Friday's win," said Connelley. "We gutted this one out. Beddingfield was jacked up for this one."

Despite facing nearly every obstacle imaginable in the girls' contest, Southern Wayne (4-6, 1-1) refused to let intimidation factor into the outcome. The Bruins, eastern regional semifinalists last season, converted numerous turnovers into points in the first period and eventually claimed an 86-55 win. Beddingfield exited 14-0, including a 2-0 ECC worksheet.

Six-foot senior guard October Harris delivered a career-high 43 points as the Bruins snapped the Saints' modest two-game win streak.

Relaxing in his office, Connelley brushed back his hair and took a deep breath.

"This was the first time we started a game this year where we were not really going," said Connelley. "Last year, we would have lost this game by 10 (points). This time we didn't. We gutted it out and I enjoyed watching us play this game."

Down 35-34 late in the second period, Southern Wayne scored eight of the final 10 points to lead 42-37 at halftime. The Saints seized their biggest advantage -- 49-39 -- on Armwood's traditional three-point play just two minutes into the third quarter.

The Bruins converted their next four possessions and quickly tied the game two minutes later. Dustin Murray and Brian Richardson each buried a 3-pointer, and Richardson capped the surge with two free throws.

"They were making great plays," Connelley said.

Southern Wayne led 58-56 after three quarters, but fell behind when the Bruins' Mike Anderson dropped a 3-pointer from the baseline. The Saints responded with an 8-2 run which included a technical foul against the Bruins' Anderson.

Beddingfield stayed within striking distance until Armwood and Royal heated up from the outside. The duo knocked down four consecutive 3-pointers for a 78-70 lead with 2:47 remaining in regulation.

The Bruins pulled within 78-74, but could get no closer.

"We played a great fourth quarter," said Connelley. "We played as hard as we could play."

Royal paced four Saints in double figures with 21 points. Armwood finished with 19. Antonio Davis and Derrick Garris provided 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Undaunted by the Bruins' speed, the Saints trailed by just eight points midway through the first period. Once Beddingfield turned up the defensive pressure, Harris received numerous passes in the open court and converted layups. An all-Big 8 North performer last season, Harris collected 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the floor.

"We're quick," said veteran Bruins coach Debra Pegram. "October ... wow. She's as quick as any guard you want to see. Jacquia (Winstead) did a great job of finding people in transition and Jacobia (Lewis) did the same."

Winstead and Lucas combined to dish out 11 assists. Overall, the Bruins recorded 30 assists on 38 field goals. None of the baskets were 3-pointers.

Southern Wayne's backcourt of Shakoria Clark and Ebony Darden harrassed Beddingfield's defense all evening. The duo constantly slashed their way to the basket and Pegram lamented on her team's inability to deny dribble penetration, and draw the charge.

Clark tallied 19 points, while Darden pumped in 18.

"I am so proud of Ebony," said second-year Saints coach Sally Combs. "I asked her to step it up and go to the next level, and that's exactly what she did. "I have a couple of players that if they keep improving, we're going to be all right.

"I am extremely proud that we didn't play scared and we got better tonight. That was our goal."

Boys game

Beddingfield 18 19 19 22 -- 78

Southern Wayne 18 24 16 25 -- 83

BEDDINGFIELD (6-8, 1-1)

Dustin Murray 3 3 1-2 16, Dhanique Eddie 0 0 0-0 0, Brian Richardson 4 1 2-4 13, Chris Davis 0 0 0-0 0, Alfred Artis 4 0 2-5 10, Mike Anderson 2 2 4-4 14, Danta Finch 0 0 0-0 0, Sabbion Lucas 3 0 2-2 8, Brian McNair 5 1 2-2 15, Travis Peaden 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 22 7 13-19 78.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (12-1, 2-0)

Derek Garris 2 2 5-6 15, Antonio Davis 6 0 5-9 17, Akeem Royal 3 5 0-2 21, Delawn Armwood 3 3 4-7 19, Ashton Langston 0 0 1-2 1, Justin Bellamy 0 2 2-2 8, Austin Hood 0 0 1-3 1, Jaffari Ward 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 14 12 19-33 83.

3-point goals -- Beddingfield 7 (Murray 3, Anderson 2, Richardson, McNair), So. Wayne 12 (Royal 5, Armwood 3, Garris 2, Bellamy 2). Turnovers -- Beddingfield 11, So. Wayne 13. Total fouls -- Beddingfield 25, So. Wayne 17. Fouled out -- McNair. Technical fouls -- Anderson.

Girls game

Beddingfield 25 17 23 21 -- 86

Southern Wayne 10 10 20 15 -- 55

BEDDINGFIELD (14-0, 2-0)

Shaniqua Clay 0 0 0-0 0, Jacobia Lucas 2 0 2-4 6, Kiara Simms 4 0 0-1 8, Monique Spry 3 0 0-0 6, October Harris 19 0 5-8 43, Jessica Johnson 0 0 0-0 0, Jacquia Winstead 3 0 1-2 7, Jean Best 7 0 2-6 16. TOTALS -- 38 0 10-21 86.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (4-6, 1-1)

Keirra Ingram 0 0 1-2 1, Shakoria Clark 3 2 7-8 19, Ebony Darden 5 0 8-13 18, Christy Dixon 0 1 0-1 3, Cassandra Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Lynn Grantham 1 0 0-0 2, Lynnesha Leonard 3 1 3-4 12, Clarice Sherard 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 12 4 19-28 55.

3-point goals -- So. Wayne 4 (Clark 2, Dixon, Leonard). Turnovers -- Beddingfield 32, So. Wayne 38. Total fouls -- Beddingfield 20, So. Wayne 20. Fouled out -- Johnson, Clark. Technical fouls -- none.