RW-AG boys
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on February 4, 2010 1:46 PM
The final score didn't tell the whole story.
Rosewood's turnover total certainly did.
The Eagles gave the ball away 35 times and could never mount a comeback in a 68-54 loss to Carolina 1-A Conference opponent Ayden-Grifton on Wednesday evening.
Rosewood turned the ball over 11 times in the first quarter while struggling with the Chargers' full-court press. Passes either sailed high, off the finger tips of teammates or into the waiting arms of Ayden-Grifton defenders.
The Chargers led 18-6 on Shyheem Dixon's layup and took an 18-9 advantage into the second quarter.
The Eagles lost possession eight more times in the second quarter, but Garrett Burns 3-pointer and Will Caughron's layup had Rosewood down just 31-23 at the half.
"You're not going to win a ballgame I don't care who you play when you turn the ball over 35 times," said Rosewood head coach Daniel Mitchell. "It's just one of those things where a lot of it was we didn't do what we were supposed to do in the first half as far as running our press return. We did a poor job running our press return early in the game."
Ayden-Grifton (7-8 overall, 4-2 CC) continued to capitalize on the Eagles' turnovers and pounded the ball inside to Dixon in the second half. Dixon led all scorers with 25 points. Tevin Peterson's layup stretched the advantage to 50-33 late in the third quarter.
The Chargers used a 7-2 run to push their cushion to 61-41 midway through the fourth quarter. Peterson provided 16 points.
"I thought they kind of set the tone," said Mitchell. "It's just one of those things where a lot of it was we didn't do what we were supposed to do. Effort-wise I thought we played well, but our decision making was bad.
"It looked like with the speed of play we were a step behind all night. I didn't expect us to throw the ball around the gym like that."
Cody Harris led Rosewood with 15 points, while Jacquez Raynor finished with 10.
The Eagles (7-12, 2-4) continue a stretch of three games in as many days when they visit Goldsboro tonight.
"I guess everybody in the conference is kind of in the same boat," said Mitchell. "It's going to be a critical stretch for everybody. We've just got to take it one game at a time, and hopefully try to improve on it and get better than we were tonight."