Local Preps Digest
By From staff reports
Published in Sports on December 29, 2009 1:50 PM
KENLY -- Imari Howell recorded a double-double with 21 points and 21 rebounds as Charles B. Aycock's girls' basketball team routed Rocky Mount Prep 69-29 in the first round of the North/South Classic at North Johnston High School.
"I've been waiting for Imari to come and play like that in games," said Golden Falcons head coach Laura Romo. "I hope it continues. When the rest of us step up it allows Imari to play the way she did."
Aycock outscored the Jaguars 27-13 in the second quarter and led 40-16 at the half. The Golden Falcons (4-4) forced 22 turnovers.
Courtnei Gilbert finished with 14 points for Aycock and Courtney Sheeks had 12.
"It was interesting to see how we would play after five days off," said Romo. "We shot the ball well and ran the floor well. I thought we did a much better job offensively and defensively together."
Kenyetta Bunn paced Rocky Mount Prep with 15.
The Golden Falcons play in the semifinal round at 8 p.m. tonight.
Gators sunk
KENLY -- Spring Creek could not hold off a late rally en route to a 45-36 loss at the hands of Durham School of the Arts on Monday in the opening round of the annual North-South Holiday Tournament at North Johnston High School.
The Gators opened up a 11-6 lead after one period, but the Bulldogs battled back and pulled within one point at the intermission.
Durham School of the Arts went to work in the third quarter and pulled away to a nine-point advantage on a 3-pointer by Destiny Locklear. Poor shooting at the free throw line by Spring Creek allowed the Bulldogs to put the game away in the final minutes.
"I thought we played well enough to win in the first and fourth quarters," Gators' head coach Amanda Ramford said. "In between we couldn't do much right. We shot really poorly at the foul line and it's time that we commit to getting into the gym and working on that."
On the night the Gators connected on only 33 percent of their attempts at the charity stripe.
Melanique Deveaux led Spring Creek with 12 points. Norma Valentin added six markers while Jana Price and Elizabeth Edwards each added four points respectively.
The Gators (1-7 overall) will be back in action today in the second round of the bracket at 3 p.m.
Dawgs falter
ROANOKE -- Princeton never found its offensive footing en route to a 51-29 loss to Roanoke on Monday night.
Tylan George led the Bulldogs with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Princeton will play Edenton Holmes today at 4 p.m. in the consolation game of the Roanoke Holiday Invitational.
Cougars prevail
ROANOKE -- Goldsboro got off to a hot start and never looked back as they cruised past Edenton Holmes in the first round of the Roanoke Holiday Invitational on Monday.
The Cougars carried a seven-point lead into the second half and extended the advantage to 17 points by the end of the third quarter.
Akeyanna Whitlor paced the Goldsboro offense with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Zearra McDuffie added 12 points and 13 assists.
Goldsboro will face Roanoke in the tournament finals tonight at 7 p.m.
Boys' basketball
Chargers win
CARY -- Wayne Country Day built a 17-point advantage in the first half and cruised to a 57-42 victory over Cary Christian in the opening round of the Cary Academy Holiday Invitational.
The Chargers advance to play Western Harnett in the semifinal round today at 3:30 p.m.
In Monday's win, Tim Hobbs paced the victors with 16 points. Reco McCarter added 14 points and eight rebounds for WCDS.
Cougars roll
ROANOKE -- Goldsboro took advantage of a hot shooting night from behind the three-point arc as they bested Edenton Holmes 78-62 on Monday night in the opening round of the Roanoke Holiday Invitational.
Resean Brewington buried four 3-pointers as part of a 26-point outing to lead all scorers. James Williams tallied 17 markers and Robert Kornegay scored 10 points in the win.
Goldsboro will battle Roanoke in the tournament finals tonight at 8:30 p.m.
Dawgs dropped
ROANOKE -- A late rally was not enough to propel Princeton past Roanoke on Monday night.
The Redskins held on for a 63-59 victory in the opening round of the Roanoke Holiday Invitational.
Andre Nixon paced the Dawgs with 14 points and 12 rebounds. David Gurganus added 12 points and seven assists. Wes Wood also finished with 12 markers.
Princeton will battle Edenton Holmes in the consolation game of the bracket tonight at 4:30 p.m.