C.B. Aycock loses lead and game

By Rob Craig
Published in Sports on February 13, 2007 2:32 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- The Charles B. Aycock Golden Falcons already knew they would be playing shorthanded after losing starting center Lauren Pratt to an ankle injury in practice Friday afternoon. What coach Carrie Reynell and the rest of the Golden Falcons didn't know was their roster would be further depleted by foul trouble throughout the night against the Kinston Vikings.

The Golden Falcons were forced to go deep on their bench after starters Jazzmine Lee and Bridgette Briggs got in early foul trouble and the end result cost Aycock a 13-point second half lead and the game, as it fell 57-49 Monday night in the first round of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference Tournament.

"I think that did hurt us -- not having the experience out there," said Reynell. "Briana (Reid), Maegan (Yelverton) and those guys did a good job while they were in, but they're role players and unfortunately, we need players who are going to be in there for a longer duration."

The foul trouble hit Aycock hard early on as the officials tagged starting guard Jazzmine Lee for three fouls in the first 5:09 of the first quarter.

Even with Lee on the bench, Aycock went right at the teeth of the Kinston defense as they scored nine straight points to go up 18-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Jasmine Dobbin helped carry the scoring load in the second quarter as she scored six straight points to help the Golden Falcons to a 28-17 lead. Dobbin finished game a team-high 19 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

"At the beginning of the season, (Jasmine) told me she second guesses herself out here -- she's a little tentative and she doesn't feel like she's all that great," said Reynell. "I told her I think that's kind of ironic because you're probably one of the best players in the league and one of the strongest guards in the area. When she plays and doesn't think so much, when she played unconsciously, she's very effective."

Aycock had its chances for an even bigger halftime advantage, but sloppy ball handling led to 10 turnovers in the quarter, leaving the door open for the Vikings.

Kinston was able to cut the Aycock lead to 33-29 following a traditonal 3-point play from Troysheika Shaw that closed a 12-3 run.

The Golden Falcons answered with an 8-4 spurt when Chantel Gaines blew past the Viking defense for two of her 11 points, giving Aycock a 41-33 lead going into the fourth quarter.

The aggressiveness that helped Aycock build its lead was tempered in the final quarter as Dobbin, Lee and Briggs all played with four fouls.

"When you're playing with three or four fouls that's always in your mind, 'I can't do something stupid' and I'm sure that played a part," said Reynell. "We weren't as aggressive. I'm sure it was in the back of their minds."

With Aycock playing on their heels, the Vikings continued to attack and draw fouls. With the help of six free throws, the Vikings went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 43-43 with 4:18 to play.

Kinston then gained their first lead at 49-47 when Sherita Gooding hit a jumper with 1:47 to play.

Aycock missed a shot to tie the game when Dobbin misfired on a jumper and then fouled out with 59 seconds to play.

Shaquala Rhodes and Courtney Smith combined to go 8 for 8 from the foul line the rest of the way to complete the come from behind win. Rhodes finished with a game-high 23 points for Kinston (7-14).

Aycock (10-15) will next sit at home and wait to see who they will play in the first round the state 3-A playoffs next week.

Kinston 7 10 16 24 -- 57

C.B. Aycock 18 10 13 8 -- 49

KINSTON (7-14)

Shaquala Rhodes 4 0 15-16 23, Kendra Bell 4 3-6 11, Courtney Smith 0 2 3-4 9, Troysheika Shaw 2 1 1-1 8, Sherita Gooding 1 0 1-2 3, Ebony Cherry 1 0 1-2 1. TOTALS -- 12 3 23-29 57.

C.B. AYCOCK (10-15)

Jasmine Dobbin 6 0 7-9 19, Chantel Gaines 5 0 1-1 11, Jazzmine Lee 3 0 0-0 6, Bridgette Briggs 2 0 1-4 5, Erin Medford 1 0 2-2 4, Yolanda Pitt 2 0 0-1 4, Amanda Schlaeppi 0 0 0-0 0, Artice Felder 0 0 0-0 0, Maegan Yelverton 0 0 0-0 0, Briana Reid 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 19 0 7-10 49.