SW handles Jones Senior
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on December 5, 2009 11:56 PM
DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne got hot at exactly the right time on Friday night.
After trading baskets with Jones Senior for most of the evening, the Saints rallied for 12 points in the final two minutes and earned a hard-fought 68-59 non-conference basketball victory.
Gary Woodard ignited the outburst.
With his team clinging to a three-point lead, the diminutive senior buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key. On the Saints next possession, Woodard drove the lane and tossed up a floating shot that hit the backboard and fell through as Woodard hit the deck.
The subsequent foul shot sealed the Southern Wayne victory.
"Gary was itching to get back out there," Saints head coach Russell Stephens said. "We had to be careful with him because he had four fouls, but with three minutes left we knew that it was time to put him back in."
The Saints late run spoiled an outstanding performance by Jones Senior center Thomas Fryor.
For much of the night it was Fryor who controlled the glass and patrolled the paint defensively for the Trojans. The lanky senior tallied 21 points and 12 rebounds in the loss.
"(Fryor) is a very good player because he is tall and he is quick," said Stephens. "He also has the advantage of being left handed, which helps him fool opposing shot blockers when he's in close."
Southern Wayne attacked Foye with a trio of big men that was led by Khari Faison.
Coming off one of the best performances of his career against Wilson Hunt on Tuesday, Faison answered the bell and battled in the paint. Faison finished with 14 points and nine rebounds against the Trojans.
Woodard added 13 points, eight of which came in the final two minutes. Bernard Gross tossed in 12 markers and Justin Artis finished with nine.
"Our guys contnue to play hard and I think we are clearly getting better," said Stephens. "It seems like we always have to make the game exciting."
Southern Wayne (3-2 overall) will host Jacksonville Northside on Tuesay and then welcome Wilmington Laney on Wednesday.