Southern Wayne wins home opener

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 28, 2006 1:47 PM

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DUDLEY -- Kendrick Thompson led five players in double figures with 17 points in Southern Wayne's 77-70, non-conference victory over Triton on Monday evening.

Paris Armwood's two free throws and Thompson's running layup with less than 10 seconds remaining preserved the Saints' home-opening win. Southern Wayne improved to 2-0 overall and continues play at home today against Wilmington New Hanover.

Despite committing 35 turnovers, Triton's girls found an offensive spark midway through the final quarter. The Hawks closed out the non-conference affair with a 20-3 run and remained unbeaten in two outings with a 58-35 decision over the Saints.

In the boys' game, six different Saints scratched in the scoring column and spearheaded a 21-11 advantage after one period. Southern Wayne connected on 10 field goals, including eight within 10 feet of the basket.

"We came out on fire and played defense, boxing out like we were supposed to do," said first-year Saints coach Russell Royal. "I think, for a second, they took it for granted. We cleared the bench and a few people who hadn't played, who I was giving a chance to play, didn't prove themselves.

"We let them slip back."

The Saints owned an 18-point lead midway through the second quarter when Royal began substituting players. Triton pulled within single digits on two possessions, but Southern Wayne managed to hold a 10-point advantage -- 38-28 -- at intermission.

Triton's James Harvey and Demetrius Chance, who poured in a game-high 23 points, tallied back-to-back baskets to start the third quarter. The Hawks trailed 38-32 and Royal burned the first of three second-half timeouts.

"A lot of that was just laying back (on defense)," said Royal. "We went back to our starters and two were in foul trouble, so we had to sit them. When they came back (in the game), they weren't ready to go.

"We got silly fouls by trying to block shots instead of taking charges."

Southern Wayne regained a double-digit lead -- 59-48 -- once the third quarter ended. However, the Saints couldn't keep the momentum and watched the Hawks pull with 59-53 on Reid Johnson's old-fashioned three-point play early in the third quarter.

Harvey's basket closed the gap to 59-55.

Antonio Howard, one of five Saints to register double figures, and Kendrick Thompson (17 points) answered with back-to-back buckets. Triton climbed within 72-69 and 73-70 before Armwood drained two free throws and Thompson converted a turnover into a layup in the final seconds.

Royal lamented his team's inability to keep focused and develop a killer instinct once it gained the 18-point advantage in the opening half.

"We've got to have that killer mentality that we get ahead of somebody, we've got to take them out and finish the game," said Royal.

In the girls' game, Southern Wayne pulled within 38-32 on Zakiya Jones' three-pointer midway through the final period. But the Saints hit just one field goal in the last four minutes and suffered their first defeat in two outings.

Southern Wayne shot 19 percent (13 of 69) from the floor and committed 22 turnovers. First-year coach Chuck Crumpler didn't cringe at the turnovers because of the man-to-man defense he prefers to utilize.

"I'm willing to handle turnovers, as long as we get the advantage," said Crumpler. "We didn't get the advantage tonight. We weren't getting back up court. In our last game, we initiated the tempo, but I thought tonight Triton did a good job initiating the tempo."

The teams combined for 33 turnovers in the opening half and 57 for the game.

Lynneshia Leonard paced the Saints with 10 points. Jones and Ebony Darden each chipped in six, while Shakoria Clark provided five.

Senior Adrianna Wilson poured in a game-high 17 points for Triton.

Boys game

Triton 11 17 20 22 -- 70

So. Wayne 21 17 21 18 -- 77

TRITON (1-1)

Demetrius Chance 7 2 3-4 23, Reid Johnson 6 0 1-1 13, Demetrius McKay 3 0 5-7 11, James Harvey 6 0 1-4 13, Andrew Smith 2 0 0-0 4, Josh McNeill 2 0 0-0 4, Will Anderson 1 0 0-1 2. TOTALS -- 27 2 10-17 70.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (2-0)

Jabari Dos Santos 0 0 0-0 0, Paris Armwood 4 0 2-2 10, Anthony Vick 0 0 0-0 0, A.J. Lee 0 0 0-0 0, Salonte Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Jon Hart 7 0 1-2 15, Antonio Howard 3 0 4-7 10, Allen Bennett 0 0 0-2 0, Adam Harrell 3 1 2-5 11, Kendrick Thompson 7 0 3-3 17, Orlando Davis 3 1 0-0 9, Josh Darden 2 0 0-1 4, Kelvin Flow 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 29 2 13-24 77.

Girls game

Triton 11 16 10 21 -- 58

So. Wayne 6 12 10 7 -- 35

TRITON (2-0)

LaTonya Leggett 4 0 0-1 8, Jalesty Washington 2 0 3-6 7, Amanda Miller 1 1 0-1 5, Hannah Ennis 0 0 0-0 0, Keosha Cameron 0 0 0-2 0, Jordan Coats 0 1 0-0 3, Monique Smith 7 0 1-2 15, Jasmine Hicks 1 0 1-4 3, Adrianna Wilson 7 0 3-3 17. TOTALS -- 22 2 8-19 58.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (1-1)

Shakoria Clark 2 0 1-2 5, Zakiya Jones 0 2 0-0 6, Ebony Darden 3 0 0-0 6, Brianna Lofton 0 0 1-3 1, Cassandra Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Brooke Dove 0 0 0-0 0, Carlotta Hagans 0 0 0-0 0, Lynneshia Leonard 3 0 4-10 10, Kayla Powell 1 0 0-0 2, Clarice Sherard 0 0 0-0 0, Alyssa Bradshaw 0 1 0-0 3, Jameka Allen 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 10 3 6-15 35.