Local Preps Digest

By From staff reports
Published in Sports on February 19, 2010 3:05 PM

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CALYPSO -- The shots didn't fall.

The confidence never surfaced.

Sixth-seeded Princeton managed just one field goal in the opening half and dropped a 45-24 decision to Ayden-Grifton in the Carolina 1-A Conference girls' basketball tournament semifinals Thursday evening.

The second-seeded Chargers (11-10 overall) oppose top-seeded Goldsboro High for the championship today. Tip-off is 6 p.m. at North Duplin High School.

The Dawgs concluded the year 5-19.

"I thought Ayden-Grifton played really good," said Princeton head coach Marty Gurganus. "I thought they were more aggressive beating us to the ball and to the boards. I thought they set the tone early on how they wanted to play.

"We just didn't respond like we have the last two or three nights."

Ayden-Grifton led 12-4 after one quarter and 22-6 at halftime. Derrica Jones paced the Chargers' offense with 12 points before intermission, and ended with a game-high 19 points.

Teammate Ashley Dillahunt chipped in 11.

Nicole Melvin paced Princeton with seven points, three rebounds and four steals. Hannah Wood contributed six points and seven boards, while Rebecca Harlan supplied five points, two assists and eight rebounds.

Tylan George snared eight boards.

"I think the girls played well and really wanted to be here tomorrow night (today), but I don't we had the focus that we had against Spring Creek and against Rosewood last week ... I don't know why," said Gurganus. "But Ayden-Grifton came out hungry and had a mission (because) they wanted to be here tomorrow night."

Eagles fall in OT

DURHAM -- Wayne Christian erased a fourth-quarter deficit, took the lead and couldn't hold on in a 65-55 overtime loss against Cape Fear Christian in the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference girls' basketball tournament semifinals on Thursday evening.

The Eagles trailed by eight points in the fourth quarter and grabbed a two-possession lead with 30 seconds left in regulation. Cape Fear tied the game at 53-53 with a buzzer-beating shot, and forced overtime.

Cape Fear outscored Wayne Christian 12-2 in the extra session.

Jennifer Price led the Eagles with 11 points, four rebounds, four steals and six assists. Kaitlyn Kosuda contributed 11 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

Hanna Kaler chipped in 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. Kayla Kennedy collected eight points, while Summer Brathwaite recorded six points and five rebounds.

Wayne Christian (12-8 overall) hopes to receive an at-large bid to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association tournament. The 16-team field will be announced Sunday.

JV sports

* Girls' basketball: Wayne Christian d. Cape Fear Christian (no score) -- Jessica Swets paced the victorious Eagles with eight points, eight steals and four rebounds. Katie Isenhower contributed five points, eight rebounds and three steals. Haley Greenwood added four points and three steals. Brittney O'Hara supplied two points, three steals and four rebounds. Wayne Christian faces Crossroads Christian today for the Carolina Christian 1-A Conference tournament title.