RHS girls clinch share of Carolina title

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 5, 2006 2:20 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- Much of Rosewood's senior class comprises the women's volleyball team, so it was no surprise the basketball team set winning the Class 1-A Carolina Conference regular-season title as goal No. 1.

Now they are 2-for-2.

Clare Narron tallied 17 points and helped the Eagles clinch a share of the league crown -- the program's first since 1940 and second overall in six-plus decades -- in Friday evening's 61-43 victory at Spring Creek. Rosewood (16-3) remained perfect in eight Carolina outings and can seize the championship outright next Tuesday at home against North Duplin.

Spring Creek, which is battling for one of the league's three automatic postseason bids, dipped to 4-4 in the conference.

Playoff implications proved crucial in a well-played men's contest. Cliff Wilson and Josh Wright collected 15 points apiece as Spring Creek (9-13) secured an automatic bid with a 68-55 decision over the Eagles. The Gators (5-3 Carolina) can still tie for second and entertain North Johnston next Tuesday.

"My girls, yesterday in practice, said 'coach, we're going to come in and get them,'" said Spring Creek women's coach Mandy Ramfjord. "I think we even surprised Rosewood."

Gator sophomore Brittanni Billups just missed posting a double-double by intermission, scoring eight points and grabbing nine rebounds. Billups hit two key baskets in transition to give Spring Creek it's biggest lead at 18-13.

Tomeka Pride's offensive putback gave the Gators their last lead at 20-18. Courtney Hill's backdoor cut off Halie Meadows' assist forced a 20-20 deadlock at halftime.

Rosewood coach Jerry Narron admitted his team might have been feeling the effects of three games in a four-day period. The Eagles claimed an emotional win Tuesday against perennial Carolina power North Johnston, and destroyed Union on Wednesday.

"Three games ... a little difficult this time of year when they're that close together," said Narron. "We basically went over our defensive alignments (at halftime). The first half we had some shots that just didn't fall for us and I reminding them to keep shooting the ball."

The Eagles opened the third quarter with a 9-0 run. Clare Narron and Courtney Hill, who was held to one field goal in the opening half, combined for 11 of Rosewood's 22 third-quarter points. Hill finished the contest with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Meanwhile, Spring Creek managed just two field goal attempts and committed six turnovers during the momentum-changing run.

"I try to instill in them to take care of the ball," said Ramfjord. "That's really what turned the game around, and then we tried to play catch up. (But) my girls gave me three quarters out of the four.

"My girls showed up tonight and played as hard as they could."

Billups' traditional three-point play stopped the run and pulled the Gators within 29-23. Rosewood stayed steady on offense, spread the floor a little and got loose for several uncontested baskets in the paint.

Kasie Braswell hit two key field goals in the final minute to boost the Eagles' advantage to 42-29 after three quarters. Braswell provided 16 points and dished out seven assists.

"We just tried to play smart," said coach Narron. "Courtney is an outstanding offensive player. She makes a lot happen. Kasey has done a great job for us and gets the ball up the floor real well."

Billups ended up with a double-double -- 24 points, 18 rebounds -- for the Gators.

A year ago, Spring Creek's men lost their intensity in midseason and couldn't recover.

Not this time. Winners in five of their last eight outings, the Gators seized a home playoff game for the conference tournament.

"This puts us in the big dance," grinned Spring Creek coach Sonny Kilpatrick, whose team was 4-10 heading into conference play. "I thought the guys came out and played hard. I think we're beginning to peak a little bit at the right time and I'm excited.

"I think the guys are doing really good."

Spring Creek led 28-21 at halftime, but watched Rosewood pull within one point on two occasions in the third quarter. Guard Danny Langston slashed through the lane twice for uncontested layups and collected nine of the Eagles' 13 points during that stretch.

But Rosewood couldn't prevent Gator guard Josh Bishop from duplicating Langston's actions on the other end. Bishop tallied two layups and drained a 3-pointer to keep the Eagles from threatening again.

"They got a little dribble penetration and got a couple of easy looks (at the basket)," said Rosewood coach Daniel Mitchell. "We didn't trade baskets with them on our end, and they were able to stretch the lead back out.

"It's almost like a replay of the many games we've had this season. We fall behind early, fight to stay in it and hang around. But we can't seem to find a way to get over the top."

The Gators ended the third quarter with a 13-4 run and maintained a double-digit advantage in the final period. Maurice Langston joined Wilson and Wright in double figures with 10 points. Big men Daniel Chewning and Desmund Raeford combined for 15 points and 14 rebounds, which drew praise from Kilpatrick.

Ellis emerged the Eagles' top scorer with 13 points.

Girls game

Rosewood 9 11 22 19 -- 61

Spring Creek 9 11 9 14 -- 43

ROSEWOOD (16-3, 8-0)

Courtney Hill 3 1 3-9 13, Shanita Monroe 1 0 1-4 3, Stephanie Rhodes 2 0 0-2 4, Clare Narron 6 0 5-6 17, Mary Jo Moore 1 0 0-0 2, Halie Meadows 0 0 0-2 0, Kasie Braswell 7 0 2-5 16, Kasey Grey 2 0 1-2 5. TOTALS -- 22 1 12-30 61.

SPRING CREEK (5-16, 4-4)

Errice Ewing 0 0 1-2 1, Sarah Parks 0 0 0-0 0, Anna Potter 0 1 0-0 3, Janet Potter 0 0 0-0 0, Tomeka Pride 3 0 0-0 6, Vanity Brooks 1 0 0-0 2, Brittanni Billups 9 0 6-7 24, Shaquita Brooks 0 0 0-0 0, Tasha Whitfield 1 0 1-4 3, Maura Phipps 2 0 0-1 4, Margo Sauter 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 16 1 8-14.

3-point goals -- Rosewood 1 (Hill), S. Creek 1 (A. Potter). Turnovers -- Rosewood 12, Spring Creek 43. Total fouls -- Rosewood 13, S. Creek 20. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Boys game

Rosewood 6 15 13 21 -- 55

Spring Creek 13 15 16 24 -- 68

ROSEWOOD (4-18, 2-6)

Stephan McIntyre 2 0 2-4 6, Goss Kendall 0 0 0-0 0, Brantley Ellis 6 0 1-1 13, Trey Kriger 0 0 0-0 0, Kyle Bunn 3 1 0-1 9, Clarence Toran 2 1 2-4 9, Zach Hardison 1 0 0-0 2, Matt Spriggs 0 0 0-0 0, Dennis Jones 3 0 3-3 9, Holt Rains 3 0 1-2 7. TOTALS -- 20 2 9-15 55.

SPRING CREEK (9-13, 5-3)

Cliff Wilson 0 4 3-4 15, Daniel Chewning 2 0 2-5 6, Maurice Langston 4 0 2-3 10, Dalreese Bell 2 0 3-4 7, Josh Wright 4 1 4-6 15, Phillip Williams 1 0 3-5 5, Cody Rose 0 0 1-4 1, Daniel Correll 0 0 0-0 0, Desmund Raeford 4 0 1-4 9. TOTALS -- 17 5 19-35 69.

3-point goals -- Rosewood 2 (Bunn, Toran), S. Creek 5 (Wilson 4, Wright). Turnovers -- Rosewood 17, S. Creek 10. Total fouls -- Rosewood 23, S. Creek 13. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- Jones.