Fike eliminates Southern Wayne

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 23, 2010 1:46 PM

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WILSON -- Same team.

Same result.

Different leaders.

One year ago, Wilson Fike invaded Dudley and Jeremy Atkinson turned in an unforgettable offensive show which helped eliminate Southern Wayne from the postseason.

This time, Jerrell Williams and A.J. Hines did the damage. The duo combined for 36 points in the Golden Demons' 65-54 triumph over the Saints on Monday evening at Harvey Reid Court. Fike extended its win streak to 10 games and visits Hertford County for a semifinal-round game in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A sectional playoffs on Wednesday.

Southern Wayne finished the year 17-10 overall.

"We ran into a hot team that is playing well right now," said Saints coach Russell Stephens. "It seems like to me we ran into a buzzsaw. They just shot the lights out here."

Indeed.

Williams and Hines torched the nets for a combined 17 points in the opening quarter. The hot start completely disrupted the Saints, who displayed an uncharacteristic passive attitude once they got the ball on offense.

"During the whole year we have not seen that many shots hit on us (like that)," said Stephens. "Usually defensively we're going to make one or two stops in a row, and that didn't happen tonight. It didn't come from us not playing tough defense because on some of those shots, we were right there (in their face).

"When we didn't get a stop on the defensive end, that didn't get our offense going."

Fike (16-7 overall) led 37-27 at halftime.

Southern Wayne climbed within seven points early in the third period, but could get no closer. The Golden Demons' advantage ballooned to as many as 20 points throughout the second half.

Rashaad Hill paced the Saints with a double-double -- 14 points, 10 rebounds. Khari Faison contributed 10 points and seven boards, while Bernard Gross provided nine points and seven rebounds.

Williams had 24 for the Golden Demons. Hines scored 12, followed by Antonio Hinnant (11 points) and Jimmie Lewis (10).