Aycock girls stun Warriors

By Rob Craig
Published in Sports on January 24, 2007 2:07 PM

• Print
• Email

Charles B. Aycock is showing the teams in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference that if you don't take the Golden Falcons seriously, you will get beat.

Aycock jumped out to a 30-6 halftime lead and coasted to a 53-34 victory over host Eastern Wayne on Tuesday night.

"We had a terrible practice on Monday and I told them if we don't change, we're going to get run out of the gym at Eastern Wayne," said Aycock coach Carrie Reynell. "The girls were very focused tonight. They did everything that we had worked on."

Eastern Wayne guard Yasmine Washington admitted the Warriors may have been overlooking the Golden Falcons.

"I think it was a lack of focus and not being ready to play," said Washington of her team's poor play during the first half. "I think we underestimated Aycock tonight, being that we were tied for second place (in Eastern Carolina 3-A) and they were towards the bottom."

The lack of focus proved to be detrimental right from the start as Aycock raced out to a 16-1 lead at the end of the first quarter thanks to Erin Medford's buzzer beating 3-pointer.

"I think we were in the right mindset tonight," said Aycock center Bridgette Briggs. "Normally we wait until the second half or fourth quarter to do anything."

Aycock was doing plenty right as its lead ballooned to 22-1 before the Warriors finally made their first field goal, a jumper from center Brittani Billups with 4:09 to play in the second quarter.

Billups struggled all evening against the center combination of Lauren Pratt and Briggs.

"We had to cover her right shoulder so we could make her go right instead of left," said Briggs of the left-handed Billups. "I knew this was an important game and I stepped up."

The strong man-to-man defense by Aycock forced 12 first half turnovers while holding the Warriors to only one field goal.

"The first half (Eastern Wayne) was really cold," said Reynell. "They got some good shots that just wouldn't fall. I knew the second that they'd come out and hit some shots."

Reynell was correct as the Warriors came out scorching hot to start the third quarter.

Eastern Wayne went to a fullcourt press which frustrated the Golden Falcons into 10 third quarter turnovers. On offense the trio of Noelle Kelly, Billups and Washington all contributed baskets during a 16-5 Warrior run to cut the deficit to 35-22.

"We had a little lapse where we were out of control and couldn't handle the pressure," said Reynell.

During halftime, Eastern Wayne coach Brent Holland had implored Washington to step up her game and she responded.

Washington carried Eastern Wayne in the second half, scoring all 15 of her points during that time.

"We went in at halftime and coach said I needed to step up and be a leader," said Washington. "So I guess I just tried to do my best."

In the fourth quarter, Aycock looked inside and went to Briggs who scored six of her 12 points to push the lead back to 15.

"(Bridgette) was a little bit more aggressive this game, especially defensively," said Reynell. "We told her you have to be smart and play solid defense."

The Warriors made one last push as Washington and Billups hit back-to-back jumpers to pull to within 45-34 with 2:50 to play.

Aycock though, would answer with steals by Chantel Gaines and Jasmine Dobbin which led to eight straight points -- six from Dobbin -- to ice the victory. Dobbin and Jazzmine Lee both had five of the Golden Falcon's 20 steals.

"Jasmine's finally excepting her role as a leader," said Reynell. "She's stepping up and leading by example."

The Golden Falcons, who were once 0-7, improved to 8-11 (3-2) and were led by Dobbin who scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds while Gaines added two points, nine rebounds and four steals.

Eastern Wayne, which dropped to 6-9 (3-2), was led by Washington's 15 and Billups who had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.

The Eastern Wayne boys had better luck against C.B. Aycock, using their defense and rebounding to keep the Golden Falcons winless, winning 61-28.

"I give my guys a lot of credit tonight as far as defense," said Eastern Wayne coach Marvin Bowman. "We did turn it up a notch."

The Warriors needed their defense as Aycock controlled the tempo during the first half and trailed by just 11 at halftime, 27-16.

"They did a good job with some of the things that they do to keep the game at a certain tempo," said Bowman.

Aycock continued to play at their pace at the start of the third quarter as Jonathan Williams drilled a jump shot to cut the lead to 27-18.

"We were being aggressive," said Aycock coach David West. "I thought at that particular point we were playing smart basketball. After a while I think we realized we were playing smart and it may have scared us."

Eastern Wayne then turned it on defensively. Bowman switched his team's normal zone defense to a 1-3-1 look that gave the Golden Falcons fits.

The offensive problems for Aycock translated into transition baskets for the Warrirors, getting the game more fast paced for Eastern Wayne.

Following steals by Lamar Davis, Jenieri Cyrus and Orlando Midgette, Eastern Wayne got lay-ups by Darian Zahill, Davis and Darius Wilder to finish off a 12-0 run, giving the Warriors a 39-18 advantage.

"We were able to knock down some shots and get out and get a few breaks in the third quarter to get a good cushion," said Bowman. "Our hands were in the right place to get some deflections. We were able to capitalize off their mistakes."

Despite strong play early, Aycock never recovered and was left searching again for that elusive first win.

"There's more games this season," said West. "We're just going to have to try to do better next game."

Aycock (0-19, 0-5) was led by Jonathan Williams' six points.

Eastern Wayne (4-11, 2-3) got 15 points from Davis, 12 from Wilder and 11 points, six rebounds and four steals from Darren Bennett. Darryl Cowan was held to just two points, but did contribute eight assists.

Both teams will next hit the road on Friday for their next game as the Warriors will travel to Southern Wayne while the Golden Falcons will play at Wilson Beddingfield.

Girls game

C.B. Aycock 16 14 9 14 -- 53

Eastern Wayne 1 5 16 12 -- 34

C.B. AYCOCK (8-11, 3-2)

Jasmine Dobbin 5 1 5-8 18, Bridgette Briggs 6 0 0-0 12, Erin Medford 1 2 0-0 8, Jazzmine Lee 3 0 0-3 6, Lauren Pratt 0 0 5-6 5, Yolanda Pitt 1 0 0-0 2, Chantel Gaines 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 17 3 10-17 53.

EASTERN WAYNE (6-9, 3-2)

Yasmine Washington 3 2 3-4 15, Brittani Billups 4 0 2-4 10, Noelle Kelly 3 0 0-0 6, Lindsey Frederick 0 0 2-2 2, Zhanea Charles 0 0 1-4 1. TOTALS -- 10 2 8-14 34.

Boys game

C.B. Aycock 5 11 5 7 -- 28

Eastern Wayne 9 18 16 18 -- 61

C.B. AYCOCK (0-19, 0-5)

Jonathan Williams 3 0 0-1 6, Nick Weaver 2 0 0-1 4, Kendre Reid 2 0 0-0 4, David Gurganus 0 1 0-0 3, Quantay Poole 1 0 1-2 3, Leonard Compton 0 1 0-0 3, Jordan Yawn 1 0 0-0 2, Michael King 1 0 0-2 2, Jordan Riley 0 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 10 2 2-8 28.

EASTERN WAYNE (4-11, 2-3)

Lamar Davis 6 1 0-0 15, Darius Wilder 6 0 0-0 12, Darren Bennett 4 0 3-4 11, Jenieri Cyrus 3 0 2-2 8, Dariyon Whisenhunt 3 0 0-0 6, William White 2 0 0-0 4, Darian Zahill 1 0 1-2 3, Darryl Cowan 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 26 1 6-10 61.