Hart leads three Saints in double figures

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 20, 2007 1:48 PM

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DUDLEY -- Bragging rights, for now, belong to the Saints.

Jonathan Hart led three Southern Wayne in double figures with 19 points in a 75-59, non-conference victory over Spring Creek's varsity boys basketball team Wednesday evening. It was the first-ever meeting between the schools separated by less than 15 miles on the winding back roads of Wayne County.

After an 0-5 start, the Saints improved to 2-7 with first-year head coach Russell Stephens. The Gators, directed by first-year coach Johnny Galarza, exited 2-5. Stephens and Galarza both played at Mount Olive College.

Held scoreless in the opening period, Clarice Sherard collected a game-high 12 points in Southern Wayne's 48-35 conquest of Spring Creek's girls. Tasha Whitfield emerged the Gators' high scorer with 11 points, including a 5 of 10 effort at the free throw line.

"I thought we came out and played aggressively, particularly on defense," said Stephens. "Offensively, we were a little rough."

Indeed.

The Saints couldn't find the mark from the perimeter and had trouble adjusting to the Gators' spacing on offense. Lucas Potter and Maurice Langston converted baskets off back-door type plays in the early stages as Spring Creek bolted to a 19-10 lead.

"They came out ready to play," said Stephens. "I told my guys this is one game Spring Creek has circled on its calendar, and they want to show people in Wayne County they can play."

But the Gators couldn't match the Saints' physical play.

Southern Wayne controlled the boards and slowly worked its way back into the game. Brandon Anderson's putback gave the Saints their first lead, 25-24, with three minutes left before halftime.

After ties at 26-26 and 28-28, the Saints created a little breathing room. Kendrick Thompson's offensive putback and Hart's 3-pointer in transition off Dwight Smith's assist put Stephens' club ahead 33-28 at halftime.

"Everything that went up, they got the rebound ... killed us on the boards," said Galarza. "That was it and they hustled harder than we did. But my big men played soft (inside) and I can't accept that.

"They pushed us a little bit here and there, and my big men must have got intimidated."

Spring Creek stayed within two possessions early in the third quarter. Missed shots and turnovers took its toll as the Saints leisurely built their lead. Hart's one-handed, crowd-awakening dunk gave his team its first double-digit advantage, 49-37, late in the third period.

The Gators never recovered.

"The second half has usually been our half in every game we've played (this season)," said Galarza. "Today was not the case. We played the first couple of minutes and that was it. They took it away from us."

Thompson and Anderson supplied 15 and 12 points, respectively, for the Saints. Anthony Green registered nine points for the Gators, while teammates Potter and Terence Johnson tallied eight points apiece.

Brittany Brewington's 3-pointer, her lone basket of the evening, provided the Saints with their biggest margin, 25-14, late in the opening half. Melanique Deveaux converted an open-court layup to pull the Gators within 25-16 at the break.

Southern Wayne (6-3) kept its nine-point advantage throughout the third quarter, but Spring Creek charged back. Deveaux and Maura Phipps constantly found open spots in the Saints' 2-3 zone and dumped off the ball to Whitfield.

Whitfield banked in two shots and converted two free throws as the Gators climbed within 31-29 with 7:19 to go. But Spring Creek abandoned its offensive scheme and opted to take shots from the perimeter.

"We went to shooting the 3 instead of getting it inside where it had worked all night for us," said Gators coach Mandy Ramfjord. "The long rebound (off the misses) allowed them to get fast-break layups."

The Saints, within a three-minute stretch, seized a double-digit lead. Shakoria Clark's 3-pointer fueled a game-clinching 13-4 run. Brianna Lofton, Sherard and Lynnesha Leonard also tallied baskets during that stretch.

"We got tired at the end and got sloppy on defense," said Ramfjord.

Leonard finished with nine points, while Lofton contributed eight. Phipps complemented Whitfield with a nine-point outing, while track standout Richelle Butler chipped in eight.

Boys

Spring Creek 19 9 12 19 -- 59

Southern Wayne 14 19 22 20 -- 75

SPRING CREEK (2-5)

Melvin Deveaux 1 0 3-6 5, Trey Thornton 0 0 0-0 0, Maurice Langston 7 0 2-4 16, Terence Johnson 3 0 2-2 8, Courtland Jones 1 1 0-0 5, Eugene Robinson 0 1 2-2 5, Anthony Green 2 1 2-4 9, Lucas Potter 4 0 0-0 8, Brian Kornegay 0 0 3-6 3. TOTALS -- 18 3 14-24 59.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (2-7)

Justin Artis 0 0 0-0 0, James Jones 2 0 1-2 5, Montree Oates 0 0 2-2 2, Javaris McMillan 2 0 0-0 4, Rashadd Hill 1 0 0-0 2, Monterio Brewington 0 0 2-2 2, Dallas Sutton 1 0 0-0 2, Dwight Smith 3 0 2-2 8, Kendrick Thompson 7 0 1-4 15, Brandon Anderson 6 0 0-3 12, John Hart 4 2 5-7 19. TOTALS -- 27 2 15-24 75.

Girls

Spring Creek 4 12 11 8 -- 35

Southern Wayne 10 15 6 17 -- 48

SPRING CREEK (1-6)

Errica Evans 0 0 0-0 0, Lindsay Parks 0 0 0-0 0, Melanique Deveaux 3 0 0-0 6, Maura Phipps 3 0 3-4 9, Tasha Whitfield 3 0 5-10 11, Shalia Pounds 0 0 1-2 1, Norma Valentin 0 0 0-2 0, Shaquita Brooks 0 0 0-0 0, Richelle Butler 3 0 2-4 8. TOTALS -- 12 0 11-22 35.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (6-3)

Shakoria Clark 1 1 0-0 5, Christina Glaspie 1 0 0-0 2, Octavia Lee 1 0 1-1 3, Brianna Lofton 2 0 4-4 8, Brooke Dove 1 0 0-0 2, Carlotta Hagans 0 0 0-0 0, Lynnesha Leonard 2 1 2-3 9, Kayla Powell 2 0 0-1 4, Clarice Sherard 6 0 0-2 12, Brittany Brewington 0 1 0-0 3. TOTALS -- 16 3 7-11 48.