Word of God girls upend Wayne Country Day
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on December 3, 2009 1:50 PM
Eric Perry's postgame smile told the whole story.
The Wayne Country Day head coach knew his team didn't turn in its best effort and nearly completed the comeback in a 34-30 loss to visiting Word of God on Wednesday night.
The contest was a rematch of the 2009 N.C. Independent Athletic Association 1-A championship game won by the Chargers.
While the Holy Rams held on to claim the non-conference road victory, Perry saw his team cut an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to four with less than 10 seconds to play.
"I'm proud of the girls because they played like champs," said Perry. "They never gave up. I'm proud of them for the effort. We didn't play smart, but they gave me 100 percent. The girls know they can play with the top teams in our division."
Word of God was just 1-for-8 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter. Wayne Country Day sophomore guard Catherine Ford scored eight of her game-high 20 points during the final eight minutes.
Ford's 3-point play cut the margin to 29-23 with less than three minutes to play. The Chargers wouldn't get any closer until Ford's free throws sliced the lead to 34-29 with less than 10 seconds left.
Wayne Country Day struggled to knock down open shots and find its offensive rhythm in the first half against the Holy Rams' 2-3 zone defense. The Chargers scored just two points in the first quarter and trailed 19-10 at the half.
Ford scored all 10 of Wayne Country Day's first half points.
"We just didn't shoot the ball worth anything," said Perry. "We're still a work in progress. It is what it is right now, but I would hate to play us at the end of the year."
Kaila Ealey led Word of God with 12 points.
The Chargers (1-3 overall) play host to Waccamaw on Tuesday.