Rosewood girls reach Carolina 1-A tournament finals

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 17, 2006 2:27 PM

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MOUNT OLIVE -- Rosewood High waited nearly seven decades to seize the program's second regular-season championship in women's basketball history.

The Eagles might not have to wait that long to claim their third tournament title, however. For the first time since 1983, they'll play for the Class 1-A Carolina Conference championship after a convincing 53-33 victory over county rival Spring Creek on Thursday evening at Mount Olive College.

Rosewood faces second-seeded North Johnston, which survived bitter archrival Princeton 45-42, in today's title clash at 6 p.m. at Kornegay Arena. The Panthers (15-5) are making their third consecutive trip to the tournament final.

Unlike their contest two weeks ago, the Eagles (19-3) didn't need one half to get warmed up for the Gators. They took control in the first eight minutes.

Four different players tallied at least one basket in the opening quarter as Rosewood grabbed a commanding 20-4 lead. Courtney Hill, Kasie Braswell and Kasey Grey combined for five assists during that stretch.

Spring Creek didn't help its cause, committing 12 turnovers and converting just two of six field goal attempts.

"I don't ever want to see it again," said second-year Gators coach Mandy Ramfjord of the first-quarter disaster. "I didn't tape it and I'm glad I didn't tape it. None of my girls were effective the first half.

"They hit everything they threw up and we weren't attacking (the basket) like we should have attacked it. For some reason, we were very timid that first half."

Rosewood assistant coach Jennifer Cochran said a key to the Eagles' success was their efficiency in their press-breaker offense. They got several good, open looks at the basket in transition during the first quarter which allowed them to grab an early lead.

"We played really well in the first half, I thought," said Cochran. "I was real proud of our defense, keeping our hands up and not fouling a lot. Coach (Jerry) Narron said if we stayed out of foul trouble, we should be fine."

The Eagles also kept 6-foot-2 sophomore Brittanni Billups off the boards in the opening half. Billups collected just four points, but finished with a game-high 19.

Spring Creek fell behind by as many as 25 points, but rallied to within 43-31 early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles, now 11-0 against Carolina Conference opposition this season, scored nine consecutive points to stop any further comeback attempts.

Stephanie Rhodes emerged Rosewood's top scorer with 15 points, while Clare Narron provided 12. Seven players dished out at least one assist for the Eagles.

"It's OK to lose to a good team like Rosewood," said Ramfjord, who is 1-2 all-time in Carolina Conference tournament games. "They should go far in the playoffs and we wish them luck."

Down 24-20, North Johnston responded with a 17-1 run and had Princeton reeling. But the Bulldogs, behind the play of C.C. Sanders and Stephanie Daughtry, pulled within 39-38 with three-plus minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Panthers moved back in front 41-38, but committed what could have been a costly foul on the other end. Tiesha Williams got loose in transition and Cynthia Peedin got fouled as she converted a layup. Peedin missed the free throw.

Princeton, the No. 4 seed, had three chances to take a lead in the final two minutes. Brandy Holland, Taylor Allen and Stephanie Norris each hit key shots down the stretch to prevent the Bulldogs from reaching the tournament final.

Sanders led all scorers with 17 points.

Shanice Williams paced North Johnston with 15, while Allen chipped in 11.

2006 Class 1-A

Carolina Conference

Basketball Tournament

(at Kornegay Arena, MOC)

Girls semifinal No. 1

Princeton 10 8 6 18 -- 42

North Johnston 9 9 14 13 -- 45

PRINCETON (14-10)

Stephanie Daughtry 5 0 2-4 12, Brittany Davis 0 0 1-2 1, Brittany Rose 2 0 0-0 4, C.C. Sanders 3 0 11-13 17, Tiesha Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Sarah Gibbs 1 0 0-0 2, Cynthia Peedin 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 14 0 14-19 42.

NORTH JOHNSTON (15-5)

Ellen Wheeler 1 1 0-0 5, Caroline Hines 3 0 1-4 7, Stephanie Norris 0 1 0-1 3, Brandy Holland 2 0 0-4 4, Shanice Williams 6 0 3-4 15, Stefanie Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Taylor Allen 4 0 3-4 11, Haley Newsome 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 16 2 7-17 45.

3-point goals -- N. Johnston 2 (Wheeler, Norris). Turnovers -- Princeton 37, N. Johnston 31. Total fouls -- Princeton 21, N. Johnston 21. Fouled out -- Rose, C. Peedin, Jones. Technical fouls -- none.

Girls semifinal No. 2

Spring Creek 4 6 8 15 -- 33

Rosewood 20 10 8 15 -- 53

SPRING CREEK (6-19)

Sarah Parks 0 0 1-2 1, Barbara C. Witherington 2 0 0-0 4, Anna Potter 1 0 0-0 2, Tomeka Pride 1 0-0 2, Shae'e Ford 0 0 1-2 1, Brittanni Billups 7 0 5-6 19, Shaquita Brooks 0 0 0-0 0, Tasha Whitfield 2 0 0-0 4, Maura Phipps 0 0 0-0 0, Margo Sauter 0 0 0-0 0, Janet Potter 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 13 0 7-10 33.

ROSEWOOD (19-3)

Courtney Hill 1 0 3-7 5, Shanita Monroe 2 0 3-4 7, Stephanie Rhodes 5 0 5-6 15, Jennifer Hall 0 0 0-0 0, Clare Narron 6 0 0-2 12, Mary Jo Moore 1 0 1-2 3, Haile Meadows 0 0 0-0 0, Kasie Braswell 4 0 0-0 8, Kasey Grey 1 0 1-2 3. TOTALS -- 20 0 13-23 53.

3-point goals -- none. Turnovers -- S. Creek 42, Rosewood 22. Total fouls -- S. Creek 20, Rosewood 16. Fouled out -- Pride. Technical fouls -- Hill, Pride.