WCDS girls capture CPIC crown

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on February 6, 2008 1:47 PM

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The Wayne Country Day girls basketball team accomplished a team goal Tuesday night by easily defeating Kerr-Vance Academy 45-29 in their home finale.

With the victory, the Chargers locked up the regular-season Class 1-A Coastal Plains Independent Conference championship. Wayne Country Day (14-7 overall, 5-0 CPIC) claimed its 11 consecutive win and concludes regular-season play Friday at Greenfield.

"This was a goal of theirs. I asked them before the season what they wanted to do this year and they all said they wanted to win the conference," Chargers coach Eric Perry said following the emotional win.

Playing stellar defense from the opening tip, the Chargers jumped out to a 14-2 first-quarter lead. Brooke Norris and Bridgette Briggs each made contributions on both ends of the court for WCDS, setting the tone for a dominating first half.

"We had seen the sets that they like to run, and we knew we had to take away the first two looks, then control the boards," Perry said. "On offense, we tell the girls to keep shooting, and everything feeds through Bridgette in the post."

Holding Kerr-Vance to nine points at the intermission, Wayne Country Day appeared ready to finish off the contest in the third quarter. Defensive intensity fueled the Chargers' offensive surge.

Scoreless for the first 4:14 of the second half, the Spartans fell further behind. WCDS extended its lead to 28-9 during that span, icing the contest to the delight of the home faithful.

The fourth quarter wind up slightly in favor of the visitors, but when the final horn sounded the Chargers celebrated their conference title. Norris led all scorers with 18 points, while Briggs scored 13.

Wayne Country Day's boys survived an early scare in a 60-45 victory over the Spartans.

Playing at a fevered pace, Wayne Country Day raced out to a 23-12, first-quarter lead only to see Kerr-Vance rally in the second quarter. Foul trouble also plagued the Chargers, whose double-digit lead dwindled to 26-24 by halftime.

Wayne Country Day grabbed an eight-point advantage to start the third quarter. The Chargers (20-5, 4-1) put the Spartans away in the fourth, setting up Friday's showdown at defending league champion Greenfield.

Tim Hobbs led WCDS with 18 points, while Reco McCarter added 16.

"We have got to go out and try to redeem ourselves," coach Terry Jones said. "Greenfield kind of took it to us last time, but I think we are going to be ready. Our guys tend to step up in big games, and we have had some good things going for us in practice."

Girls game

Kerr-Vance 2 7 6 14 -- 29

WCDS 14 10 11 10 -- 45

KERR-VANCE

Emily Adkins 1 0 0-0 2, Carson Blackley 1 0 0-0 2, Hannah Copps 0 0 1-2 1, Chrissy McInnes 4 0 2-8 10, Tricia Terry 1 1 0-0 5, Amanda Wilson 0 0 2-2 2, Hillary Wilson 0 0 1-2 1, Alex Woodburn 2 0 2-2 6.

WAYNE COUNTRY DAY (14-7, 5-0)

Brooke Norris 7 0 4-7 18, Kim Martell 4 0 0-1 8, Mack Thompson 2 0 0-0 4, Catherine Ford 1 0 0-0 2, Bridgette Briggs 6 0 1-2 13.

Boys game

Kerr-Vance 12 12 7 14 -- 45

WCDS 23 3 17 17 -- 60

KERR-VANCE

Cameron Capell 1 1 0-0 5, Brooks Parham 1 1 3-4 8, Chandler Lloyd 3 0 0-2 6, Tyler Overby 1 0 1-1 3, Nico Humphries 1 0 0-0 2, Levi Coleman 0 1 0-0 3, Ladarius Richardson 3 0 4-6 10, Mo Lloyd 4 0 0-1 8.

WAYNE COUNTRY DAY (20-5, 4-1)

Floronta Wynn 2 2 3-4 13, Josh Gregory 2 0 4-6 8, Reco McCarter 6 0 4-6 16, Landon Cox 1 0 2-2 4, David Wilson 1 0 0-0 2, Tim Hobbs 7 0 4-9 18.