Beddingfield girls avoid road upset

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 23, 2008 4:19 PM

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Wilson Beddingfield and Eastern Wayne faced the same dilemma midway through the fourth quarter Tuesday evening.

When each team watched its respective "big girl" foul out, the offensive responsibility shifted to the guards. The Bruins' tandem of Monique Spry and Shanique Clay took control, while the Warriors' backcourt struggled to execute on offense.

Beddingfield, rated the state's No. 1 Class 3-A team by ncpreps.com, held Eastern Wayne to two free throws in the final four-plus minutes and prevailed 70-59. The Bruins (17-0 overall) seized sole possession of first place in Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference play at 3-0.

The Warriors (12-3) dipped to 2-1 in the league.

On the boys' scene, Jamere Thomas led three Eastern Wayne players in double figures with 16 points in a 66-59 conquest of the Bruins. The Warriors (5-10) snapped a two-game skid in ECC play, while the Bruins (1-16) remained winless in three league outings.

Within a seven-second span in the fourth quarter, Bruin center Jean Best and Warrior center Brittani Billups -- who have each signed with Division I schools -- drew their respective fifth fouls. Billups exited first and then Best departed when she committed a pushing foul on Spry's 3 which tied the game at 57-57.

"It is unfortunate that our big girls got in foul trouble because then it turned into a guard-play game," said Beddingfield coach Debra Pegram.

And it worked in the Bruins' favor.

Spry and Clay, who combined for 30 points, controlled the tempo and constantly pressured the Warriors' guards. The Bruins coerced Eastern Wayne either into rushing its offense or forced turnovers with their full-court, man-to-man pressure.

"I should have done a better job preparing my team when Brittany fouled out," said Warriors coach Brent Holland. "After she fouled out, we came down court four or five times ... one pass and 3-pointer. Besides running our offense and attacking the basket, we just settled (for outside shots)."

Beddingfield scored 13 of the game's final 15 points and claimed its 23rd consecutive ECC regular-season victory.

"That's probably the best defensive effort we've had in the last four minutes of play (this season)," said Pegram. "When we go small, we go all out -- full-court man-to-man and I like that style better."

Billups finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and three assists. Jasmine Middleton supplied 15 points, while Tiara McIntyre added 14 for the Warriors, who owned a 10-point lead in the second half.

"We're still trying to learn, but this would have been a heck of a step for us tonight," said Holland.

Eastern Wayne's boys seized command with a 16-1 first-half run and led 34-24 at halftime. Beddingfield pecked away at the deficit throughout the third quarter and pulled within 40-39. Orlando Midgett's offensive putback, and Will White's steal and layup pushed the Warriors' advantage to 44-39.

The Bruins' Dequan Langston buried a 3 and Torey Newsome added a free throw to forge a 44-44 deadlock early in the final period.

The Warriors responded with an 11-3 run, which started on White's layup underneath. Daviyon Whisonant's steal and layup, and White's uncontested layup off Colton Butler's block made it 50-44.

The lead grew to 58-44 before Langston drained his second 3 of the half.

"I was very pleased to see us respond ... a big turnaround," said Eastern Wayne coach Marvin Bowman. "It was great to see the kids play well. We got a couple of steals off our defense and we fed off that. We made a couple of shots."

White concluded the night with 12 points, while Whisonant contributed 11.

Beddingfield's Terry Davis led all scorers with 20 points.

"It was a much-needed win because we're trying to get moving in the conference," said Bowman. "Hopefully, this will give us a little momentum for the rest of the conference season."

Girls game

Beddingfield 16 12 15 27 -- 70

Eastern Wayne 18 15 13 13 -- 59

BEDDINGFIELD (17-0, 3-0)

Anisa Dail 3 0 1-2 7, Casey Elliott 0 2 1-2 7, Monique Spry 4 1 2-2 13, Vielka Givens 3 0 2-2 8, Shanique Clay 7 0 3-9 17, Jean Best 7 0 2-4 16, Nicole DelaRosa 1 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 25 3 11-21 70.

EASTERN WAYNE (12-3, 2-1)

Lindsey Frederick 0 1 0-1 3, Noelle Kelly 2 0 0-0 4, Brittany Franklin 0 0 1-2 1, Jasmine Middleton 5 0 5-7 15, Tiara McIntyre 4 2 0-0 14, Eboni Reid 0 0 0-1 0, Danielle Daniel 0 1 1-2 4, Brittani Billups 7 0 4-8 18. TOTALS -- 18 4 11-21 -- 59.

Boys game

Beddingfield 12 12 16 19 -- 59

Eastern Wayne 16 18 10 22 -- 66

BEDDINGFIELD (1-16, 0-3)

Dequan Langston 0 2 0-0 6, Dahnique Eddie 0 1 0-0 3, Quashawn Smith 2 0 3-3 7, Jumal Rolle 2 0 0-2 4, Dalton Ford 1 0 0-0 2, Brandon Braswell 2 0 1-4 5, Travis Morgan 1 0 0-0 2, Terry Davis 10 0 0-0 20, Torey Newsome 3 0 4-8 10. TOTALS -- 21 3 8-17 59.

EASTERN WAYNE (5-10, 1-2)

Jamere Thomas 5 1 3-4 16, Daviyon Whisonant 4 1 0-0 11, A.J. Dreighton 0 0 2-2 2, Will White 6 0 0-0 12, Hassan Best 2 0 2-3 6, Orlando Midgett 1 0 2-2 4, Cody Kirkham 1 0 0-0 2, Dominique Saddler 1 0 0-0 2, Marvin Bowman 3 0 0-0 6, Colton Butler 2 0 1-1 5. TOTALS -- 25 2 10-12 66.