Aycock girls clinch ECC hoops title outright

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on February 11, 2011 1:47 PM

• Print
• Email

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock opened up an early lead and hung on for dear life in a 36-34 win over Southern Wayne on the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference scene on Thursday night.

The Golden Falcons claimed the outright regular-season conference title.

C.B. Aycock led 20-11 at the half, but seemed unprepared for the Saints' third-quarter fullcourt press. Southern Wayne battled back and used a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter to take a 34-32 lead into the final minute.

Lauren Parrish pulled the Golden Falcons even with a putback with 57 seconds left. After Southern Wayne missed a pair of potential go-ahead free throws, Ivy Hartzell was fouled while going for a rebound.

Hartzell sank both shots with 32 seconds to play and pushed the Golden Falcons back in front.

Danielle Carlton got a clean look at a 3-pointer with 12 seconds to play, but the ball rattled out. Hartzell secured the rebound and the victory.

"This is what the girls wanted all year," said C.B. Aycock head coach Laura Romo. "They wanted a conference championship, and they came out and did what it took at the end to make it happen."

Hartzell led the Golden Falcons with 11 points. Courtnei Gilbert added 10 points.

Danielle Carlton paced the Saints with 13 points.

Aycock (16-5 overall, 11-1 ECC) drew an opening-round bye for the season-ending ECC tournament, which begins Monday. The Saints (6-13, 4-8) are the No. 5 seed.