Gators claim Carolina 1-A twinbill

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 29, 2006 2:19 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Second-half play began in the Class 1-A Carolina Conference on Friday evening, and each Spring Creek varsity basketball team made a simple statement -- don't count us out yet.

Sophomore forward Brittanni Billups posted a double-double -- 23 points, 16 rebounds -- as the Gator girls turned back Princeton 51-45. The come-from-behind victory forced a tie with the Bulldogs for third place at 3-3 in the six-team league.

Senior guard Cliff Wilson collected a game-high 21 points and junior point guard Josh Wright dished out seven assists in the Gators' 67-55 conquest of the Bulldogs. Spring Creek (8-12) prevailed for the fourth time in its last six outings, while Princeton (7-13) exited 1-5 against Carolina opposition.

Disastrous opening-quarter starts have haunted the Gator girls throughout the season. It seemed the pattern would continue against the Bulldogs, who picked up eight steals on defense and forced 15 first-quarter turnovers.

But Princeton (11-7) couldn't convert in transition.

Spring Creek hung around and trimmed an eight-point deficit to 23-21 late in the second quarter. The Gators had a chance to tie the game, but committed two turnovers which the Bulldogs turned into five points -- including a 3-pointer from Stephanie Daughtry.

"We didn't start off very good, but the second quarter we picked it (intensity) up a little bit," said second-year Gators coach Mandy Ramjford. "We were only down four at halftime and that was great. We played awesome defense in the second half and took care of the ball."

The Gators committed five third-quarter turnovers, but the Bulldogs failed to capitalize on the mistakes. Vanity Brooks drained a 10-footer to tie the game at 30-30. Billups' steal and layup gave Spring Creek its first lead, 32-30, since the early stages of the first quarter.

Keisha Williams and C.C. Sanders hit baskets to keep Princeton within two points on numerous occasions. Tomeka Pride's layup in transition off Anna Potter's assist gave Spring Creek a 38-34 advantage after three quarters.

Ramfjord encouraged her team to "finish the game" before the final period started.

"Sometimes when we get ahead, we act like it's over," said Ramjford, whose team improved to 4-15 overall. "I tried to instill in them you have to play four quarters. The first two quarters, we did not play that good.

"The third and fourth quarters helped us take care of the ball game."

Billups tallied 10 of her game-high 23 points in the final period. She converted two traditional three-point plays within a two-minute span to help the Gators cruise ahead 47-38.

Princeton rallied late behind Sanders, who scored 19 points, but couldn't overcome the deficit. Daughtry complemented Sanders with 13 points, five rebounds, four assists and seven steals.

Pride and Brooks each scored nine points.

Patience factored into the varsity boys' game. Each team moved the ball methodically around the perimeter and took the open shot when available. The consistent offense led to an entertaining first quarter which ended 20-15 in favor of Spring Creek.

Wright handed out four assists, including three on 3-pointers, to Wilson as the Gators grabbed a 20-15 lead.

"The difference in our team right now is my point guard has figured out what I want," said Spring Creek coach Sonny Kilpatrick. "Josh is a lot sharper and is making some good passes. He has found his role and is doing a much better job.

"I thought the boys played with more poise than the last time we played them. Our shots were falling a little better tonight than they were last week."

Princeton tallied the first basket of the second half to pull within 35-32. Spring Creek answered with a 10-0 run that included a Wilson 3-pointer off Wright's assist and David Harris' layup.

Dalreese Bell drained a 3-pointer off Wilson's assist to make it 50-37 late in the third quarter. The Gators built as much as a 14-point lead in the final period en route to taking sole possession of third place in the league.

"I'm excited," said Kilpatrick. "I think down this last stretch (of conference games) we're going to surprise some people."

Girls game

Princeton 18 10 6 11 -- 45

Spring Creek 13 11 14 13 -- 51

PRINCETON (11-7, 3-3)

Stephanie Daughtry 5 1 0-0 13, Kaitlyn Haddock 0 0 0-2 0, Brittany Davis 3 0 0-1 6, Amber Wood 0 0 0-0 0, Brittany Baker 0 0 1-3 1, Brittany Rose 1 0 0-0 2, C.C. Sanders 7 0 5-9 19, Cynthia Peedin 1 0 0-0 2, Kiesha Williams 0 0 2-2 2. TOTALS -- 17 1 8-17 45.

SPRING CREEK (4-15, 3-3)

Sarah Parks 0 0 1-2 1, Anna Potter 0 0 0-0 0, Tomeka Pride 4 0 1-2 9, Vanity Brooks 3 0 3-4 9, Brittanni Billups 8 0 7-8 23, Shaquita Brooks 1 0 1-2 3, Tasha Whitfield 1 0 1-4 3, Maura Phipps 1 0 1-2 3. TOTALS -- 18 0 15-24 51.

3-point goals -- Princeton 1 (Daughtry). Turnovers -- Princeton 32, S. Creek 39. Total fouls -- Princeton 21, S. Creek 15. Fouled out -- Williams, V. Brooks, Billups. Technical fouls -- none.

Boys game

Princeton 15 15 10 15 -- 55

Spring Creek 20 15 15 17 -- 67

PRINCETON (7-3, 1-5)

Andrew Cobb 0 0 0-0 0, Michael Radford 1 0 0-0 2, Patrick Bunch 4 1 0-0 11, Ryan Daughtry 3 2 3-3 15, Adam Nethercutt 3 2 3-5 15, Will Gainey 2 0 0-0 4, Taylor lane 2 0 4-6 8, Josh Barefoot 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 15 5 10-14 55.

SPRING CREEK (8-12, 4-2)

Cliff Wilson 3 5 0-0 21, Daniel Chewning 2 0 0-0 4, Maurice Langston 0 0 0-2, Dalreese Bell 2 1 3-4 10, Josh Wright 3 2 4-5 16, David Harris 1 0 1-2 3, Cody Rose 0 1 0-0 3, Daniel Correll 0 0 0-0 0, Carsheme Ruffin 0 0 0-0 0, Desmund Raeford 3 0 4-6 10. TOTALS -- 14 9 12-19 67.

3-point goals -- Princeton 5 (Nethercutt 2, Daughtry 2, Bunch), S. Creek 9 (Wilson 5, Wright 2, Bell, Rose). Turnovers -- Princeton 12, S. Creek 12. Total fouls -- Princeton 15, S. Creek 15. Fouled out -- Gainey.