Ayden-Grifton grabs lead, chains up Dawgs

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 19, 2010 3:05 PM

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CALYPSO -- The rematch is set.

Tevin Peterson led three players in double figures with 16 points, and second-seeded Ayden-Grifton ousted Princeton 64-55 from the Carolina 1-A Conference boys' basketball tournament Thursday evening.

The Chargers (12-10 overall) face top-seeded Goldsboro, which won both regular-season meetings, in the championship game today. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. at North Duplin High School.

"I thought we lost it early when we gave them five fast-break layups in the first half," said Princeton head coach Jeff Davis. "We had 10 turnovers in the first half and gave them 12 points. We were lucky to be that close at halftime, I thought.

"We were a little nervous early and I don't know why."

Shyheem Dixon contributed a double-double, 12 points and 13 rebounds, as the Chargers beat the Dawgs for the second time this season. Monte Atkinson knocked down 14 points and passed out a team-best seven assists.

Senior play-making guard David Gurganus emerged Princeton's top scorer with 13 points and five assists. Matt Williamson supplied a double-double -- 12 points, 10 rebounds. Wes Wood provided seven points off the bench and Andre Nixon pulled down nine boards.

Ayden-Grifton entered halftime ahead 30-20 and extended its advantage to 14 points midway through the third quarter.

Princeton answered with a 10-0 run. Matt Williamson's offensive putback led to Benton Myers' basket off David Gurganus' back-door assist. Wes Wood converted a layup off Patrick Jacobs' assist to close the gap to 40-36 with 2:06 left in the period.

The Chargers responded with consecutive baskets and carried a 44-38 lead into the final quarter. The Dawgs fell behind by double digits before Wood buried a 3-pointer off Myers' assist.

Ayden-Grifton scored seven of the next nine points that included two technical foul free throws by Peterson. The lead swelled to 60-47 and each coach emptied his respective bench for the final two-plus minutes of action.

"I thought our minds were in a bigger hurry than they should have been, especially in the first half," said Davis. "We just got ourselves in too big of a hole."