County archrivals split ECC 3-A opener

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on January 13, 2008 3:12 AM

• Print
• Email

DUDLEY -- Sure, their roster still says they have four sophomores and only three seniors on their team, but the Southern Wayne varsity boys' basketball team doesn't seem quite so young any more.

After starting 0-6 and struggling to win tight games at a holiday tournament in Kinston, Southern Wayne began its Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference slate with a 59-56 win over county archrival Eastern Wayne on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, Eastern Wayne's girls had their first conference win of the season sewn up by halftime in a 62-40 rout.

The Saints (5-10 overall, 1-0 ECC) watched an eight-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter of the boys' contest. The Warriors tied the game at 54-54 on Jamere Thomas' layup with just over a minute to play.

Moments later, Kendrick Thompson's dunk off an Eastern Wayne missed shot put Southern Wayne ahead for good at 56-54.

"Kendrick, he's a senior and he can make big plays," Saints head coach Russell Stephens said. "That was probably the turning point for us. It almost seemed like everything in the gym just stopped until he came down."

The game was stopped for a brief delay with less than a minute to play. The Warriors' Will White was carried off on a stretcher hitting his head on the floor while diving for a loose ball.

When play resumed, John Hart's 3-pointer -- his sixth and final long ball of the night -- put the finishing touches on the young club's conference-opening win.

"If you're going to be successful in your conference, you've got to win your conference home games," Stephens said. "With this being a rivalry game that makes it extra special. We wrote on the board tonight, 'this is a new season.'

"We wanted to make sure we came out here tonight and played as hard as we could."

Hart finished with 25 points and was the only Saint to score in double-figures. He hit three of his six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.

The Warriors (4-9, 0-1 ECC) trailed 31-25 after intermission, but were unable to chip away at the lead during the third quarter. Hart had eight points during the third period, while the Warriors' 2-3 zone defense failed to create stops on the defensive end.

Daviyon Whisonant scored a team-high 19 points for Eastern Wayne, Thomas had 12 and Marvin Bowman contributed 10.

Thompson had eight points for the Saints, Dwight Smith scored seven and Justin Artis and Desmond Raiford each had six.

Eastern Wayne's girls only reaffirmed with their performance on Friday the fact that it's going to take a valiant effort to knock them off in conference play.

The Warriors (11-2, 1-0 ECC) held the Saints to just one first-quarter point, and torched Southern Wayne's zone defense with nine 3-pointers -- including six in the first half. Lindsey Frederick drained three 3-pointers during a second quarter in which it seemed at times as if the Warriors simply could not miss.

"Lindsey did a great coming off the bench," Eastern Wayne head coach Brent Holland said. "She's our little 3-point specialist. Our girls are so unselfish, but they know if they're open they'll get the ball."

The Saints (8-6, 0-1 ECC) opened the second half on a 12-1 run that cut a 36-10 halftime deficit down to 37-22.

From there it was all Warriors, as they continued to share the basketball and wear down an overmatched Southern Wayne squad. Brittani Billups scored a game-high 19 points for Eastern Wayne. Danielle Daniel added 12 and Frederick had 11.

Brianna Lofton led Southern Wayne with 13 points.

Southern Wayne hosts Wilson Beddingfield next Friday while Eastern Wayne entertains Wilson Hunt.

Boys game

Eastern Wayne 16 9 11 20 -- 56

Southern Wayne 19 12 11 17 -- 59

EASTERN WAYNE (4-9, 0-1)

Jamere Thomas 5 0 2-5 12, Daviyon Whisonant 5 1 6-6 19, A.J. Dreighton 1 0 0-0 2, Will White 3 0 1-2 7, Hassan Best 0 0 2-2 2, Cody Kirkham 1 0 0-0 2, Marquis Tinsley 1 0 0-0 2, Marvin Bowman 4 2-2 10. TOTALS -- 20 1 13-17 56.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (5-10, 1-0)

James Artis 1 0 4-4 6, Monterio Brewington 1 0 0-0 2, Dwight Smith 0 1 4-8 7, Kendirck Thompson 4 0 0-2 8, Brandon Anderson 2 0 1-4 5, Jon Hart 3 6 1-2 25, Desmond Raiford 3 0 0-0 6. TOTALS -- 14 7 10-20 59.

Girls game

Eastern Wayne 13 23 15 11 -- 62

Southern Wayne 1 9 13 17 -- 40

EASTERN WAYNE (11-2, 1-0)

Lindsey Frederick 1 3 0-0 11, Brittany Franklin 2 0 0-0 4, Tiarra McIntyre 3 2 0-0 12, Eboni Reid 1 0 0-2 2, Danielle Daniels 0 4 0-0 12, Brittani Billups 6 0 7-10 19. TOTALS -- 14 9 7-14 62.

SOUTHERN WAYNE (8-6, 0-1)

Kanesha Jones 0 0 2-4 2, Shakoria Clark 0 1 2-2 5, Brianna Lofton 5 1 0-0 13, Lynnesha Leonard 2 0 0-4 4, Kayla Powell 3 0 1-4 7, Ineka Williams 3 0 1-2 7. TOTALS -- 14 2 6-17 40.