Oakwood girls deny WCDS in CPIC title contest
By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on February 20, 2011 1:51 AM
Wayne Country Day used losing the 2010 Coastal Plains Independent 1-A girls' conference tournament as motivation for a run to the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 1-A state finals.
If the Chargers hope to make a third straight finals appearance they'll have no shortage of incentive again. All-CPIC center Teamber Burke scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Oakwood beat Wayne Country Day 58-49 for the CPIC tournament championship Saturday evening.
A night after penetrating at will against Greenfield's defense, Wayne Country Day appeared to be timid against Greenfield's 2-3 zone. The Chargers committed 11 first-half turnovers and were hesitant to attack defenders off the dribble.
"The refs let them play a little bit tonight and our girls took a while to adjust," said Wayne Country Day head coach Eric Perry. "I told them if the refs don't call the hand check they had to adjust and it took them a little while to adjust."
Burke had 14 points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot in the first half. Oakwood led 23-14 at the break.
"She's a little inside-out," said Perry. "She can be a one-man fast-break. We didn't box her out well. She moves so much. She taught us some tricks that's for sure."
Chargers' guard Catherine Ford scored 20 points in the first half on Friday night against Greenfield, and was held to four points in the first two quarters against the Eagles.
CPIC player-of-the-year and tournament MVP Harmony Simpkins knocked down a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to extend Oakwood's lead to 28-16. The Chargers got no closer than eight points the rest of the third quarter and Simpkins' free throws put the Eagles in front 39-28 entering the fourth quarter.
Ford's free throws cut the deficit to 46-38 with 2 1/2 minutes to play. Simpkins sank nine of 14 free throws over the final two minutes to seal the win.
Ford finished with 21 points and Sarah Best contributed 10. Kim Martell had eight points and nine rebounds. Ford and Best were named to the CPIC all-tournament team and were joined by Mack Thompson on the All-CPIC squad. Martell received All-CPIC honorable mention recognition.
Wayne Country Day (13-7 overall) begins play in the NCISAA state playoffs on Tuesday.
"We just have to take one game at a time," said Perry. "We have to focus on one opponent at a time and hope we get a favorable seed. I like our chances. Nobody is going to play harder than us."