Local digest

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on December 11, 2008 1:46 PM

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Rosewood used strong defense and timely shooting to best Hobbton 42-37 on Wednesday night in "The Nest."

The Eagles were led offensively by Jacquez Raynor's 16 points. James Harris was the only other Rosewood man in double figures with 10 points.

"It was a defensive struggle all the way," said Eagles head coach Daniel Mitchell. "Our guys really played well on that end of the floor."

Rosewood (3-3 overall) will travel to Rocky Mount Prep on Friday.

Saints stopped

LaGRANGE -- Southern Wayne got a triple-double effort from Rashard Hill but it wasn't enough as North Lenoir escaped with a 60-57, non-conference victory on Wednesday night.

Hill finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 steals. Khalil Artis was the only other Saint in double figures with 10 points.

Southern Wayne (4-4 overall) entertain county rival Goldsboro on Friday.

Dawgs dropped

RALEIGH -- Princeton struggled to find any offensive rhythm early and suffered a 56-46, non-conference loss to Raleigh Charter on Wednesday evening.

David Gurganus and Andre Nixon led the Bulldog attack with 11 points apiece. Benton Myers added nine points.

Princeton (3-5 overall) will travel to Midway on Friday.

Warriors fall

WILSON -- Wilson Fike came through with just enough offense and edged Eastern Wayne 68-57 on Wednesday night.

Jeniri Cyrus emerged the Warriors' offensive leader with 19 points. Cody Kirkham finished with 12 points and Colton Butler added 11.

Jeremy Atkinson scored a game-high 22 points for Fike.

Eastern Wayne will host Wilmington Laney on Friday.

Girls' basketball

Chargers suffer loss

Country Victoria NITCP, a touring team from Australia, sent the message to Wayne Country Day early on that it was here for much more than sightseeing.

Country Victoria jumped out to an 18-6 lead and extended its advantage to 44-14 at the half en route to a 73-32 victory on Wednesday evening.

Bridgette Briggs led the Chargers (8-1 overall) with nine points and Bridgette Briggs contributed seven. Catherine Ford added six.

Elise Strachan paced Country Victoria with 12 points and Cortney Williamson supplied 10 points.

Wayne Country Day entertains Terra Ceia on Friday.

Falcons falter

PIKEVILLE -- It was a back-and-forth battle from start to finish, but in the end, North Johnston seized a 40-37 victory over Charles B. Aycock on Wednesday night.

Trailing 37-33 with just 40 seconds to play, Kendra Speight knocked down the second of two free throws to pull the Golden Falcons within one possession. The next North Johnston offensive trip yielded no points and Torie Benton pulled down a rebound.

Benton raced into the frontcourt, pulled up at the top of the key and buried a game-tying 3 with 20 ticks left on the game clock.

Undeterred, the Panthers moved the ball around the key to guard Casey Creech. The fast-thinking scorer turned toward the basket and heaved an off-balance 3-point shot.

The ball banked off the glass and through the net with less than two seconds remaining in the game.

"It hurts losing a close game like this," said C.B. Aycock head coach Carrie Reynell. "We had our chances to put the game away at the free throw line and didn't."

Camille Williams paced the Golden Falcons (0-9 overall) on both ends of the floor throughout the game. She finished with 20 points, five rebounds and three blocks. Courtney Sheeks added seven points, while Benton finished with six points and a game-high nine rebounds.

Eagles edged

Hobbton slipped past Rosewood 41-40 on Wednesday evening.

Paige Babb paced the Eagles' offense with 15 points.

Hobbton was led by 13 points from Anna Schoonmaker.

Rosewood (1-5 overall) will travel to Rocky Mount Prep on Friday.

Bulldogs down Cats

PRINCETON -- Tylan George scored 13 points and pulled down nine rebounds as Princeton defeated Hobbton 48-42 on Tuesday evening.

George added three blocked shots and two steals.

Brittany Baker (three assists) and Tiffine Battle supplied seven points apiece. Ashley Braswell added five points and nine rebounds, while Amber Wood passed out three assists.

Nicole Melvin had five points and seven boards.

JV sports

* Boys' basketball: Southern Wayne 60, North Lenoir 41 -- Jonathan Joyner and Delfawn Whirls led the Saints with eight points respectively. Southern Wayne improved to 6-1 on the season.

* Boys' basketball: C.B. Aycock 51, North Johnston 37 -- Shepard Whitfield paced the Golden Falcon offense with 16 points and eight rebounds. Cameron Rowe added 10 points and six steals for Aycock, who improved to 3-4 overall.

Middle schools

* Boy's basketball: Rosewood 53, Spring Creek 49 -- Jyonte' Raynor led three Eagles in double figures with 19 points. Dee Maybrey and Jonathan Cherry collected 10 points apiece. Cameron Newcomb chipped in six points. Rosewood (1-4, 1-2 WCMSAC Division II) is the guest of Norwayne today.