Local digest

By From staff reports
Published in Sports on January 7, 2012 11:38 PM

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Girls' basketball

Goldsboro 47, North Duplin 27

* CALYPSO -- Brandy Johnson recorded the first triple-double of her prep career and slow-starting Goldsboro launched defense of its Carolina 1-A Conference title with a 47-27 triumph over North Duplin on Friday evening.

Johnson, a junior guard, collected 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals for the Cougars, who extended their Carolina Conference regular-season win streak to 21 games. Shatoria Exum, the shortest player on the court, led all scorers with 14 points. Talaya Lassiter provided 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Goldsboro (10-2 overall, 1-0 CC) misfired on its first 19 possessions of the game and trailed 5-0. Johnson's 3-pointer off Lassiter's assist snapped a seven-minute drought, and her back-to-back layups off steals jump-started the Cougars' stagnant offense.

"A very slow start," said GHS head coach LaTina Bullock. "We couldn't get our offense going and it really affected us mentally. The girls just took their time and finally picked it up."

The Cougars employed a man-to-man defense for the first time this season and forced the Rebels (2-8, 0-1) into 40 turnovers. Five Goldsboro players combined for 19 steals.

"For some reason, our zone defense hasn't been working and we haven't been moving our feet," said Bullock. "We weren't getting our hands up and in order to wake them up we went man-to-man because they knew they were going to have to move (their feet).

"I think we did a fairly good job in the defense and I commended the girls for playing a defense that we really haven't practiced. I think they did a very good job tonight."

Goldsboro played without center Kasheika Wallace, who tore ligaments in two fingers on her right hand.

Senior Tearra Ammons and Jasmine Jones led the Rebels' offense with eight and six points, respectively. Jessica Jones scored five points before fouling out.

C.B. Aycock 53,

Eastern Wayne 39

* PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock improved its perfect mark in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play to 5-0 and seized first place in the league standings with a 53-39 win over Eastern Wayne on Friday night.

The Golden Falcons started strong and set the tone for the physical game in the first period. Ivy Hartzell scored six of her 17 points in the first period and the home team built a 16-10 lead.

"It was physical all night and I was really pleased with how our girls kept their composure," C.B. Aycock head coach Laura Romo said. "We stayed out of foul trouble and made plays in the paint after we were able to grab a rebound."

Imari Howell added 17 points of her own for the Golden Falcons (9-3 overall, 5-0 ECC). Courtnei Gilbert finished with 12 points.

Najah Muhammed paced Eastern Wayne (7-8 overall, 3-1 ECC) with nine points. Tamiya Dortch and Elondia Grant each finished with eight points.

C.B. Aycock plays host to Middle Creek on Jan. 13. The same night Eastern Wayne visits Triton.

Princeton 67,

Spring Creek 25

* PRINCETON -- Savanna Massengill poured in 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Princeton began Carolina 1-A Conference play with a 67-25 win over Spring Creek on Friday evening.

Nicole Melvin had 10 points for the Bulldogs. Alyssa Borja scored 13 points for the Gators and Janna Price added nine.

Princeton (6-6, 1-0) visits North Duplin on Tuesday while Spring Creek (0-11, 0-1) travels to Rosewood on Jan. 13.

South Johnston 50,

Southern Wayne 31

* DUDLEY -- South Johnston scored the first 12 points of the game and never looked back in a 50-31 win on Friday evening at Southern Wayne.

Jane Hamilton led the Saints (1-11, 0-4) with 11 points. Sharonne Maultsby added nine points. Whitney Williams finished with 22 points for the Trojans.

Southern Wayne plays host to North Lenoir on Jan. 13.

Tri-Cities 42,

Faith Christian 37

* MONROE -- Faith Christian fell short in the first round of the Monroe Tabernacle Invitational in a 42-37 loss to Tri-Cities Christian.

Brianna Champion paced the Conquerors with 19 points and six rebounds. Christina Powell supplied six points. Katie Watson and Elizabethe Weeks each had five points. Watson pulled down 12 rebounds.

Faith Christian's Brianna Champion was named to the All-tournament team.

Boys' basketball

Spring Creek 51,

Princeton 47

* PRINCETON -- Rashawn Edwards' steal and lay-up broke a tie with 40 seconds remaining as Spring Creek opened Carolina 1-A Conference play with a 51-47 win on Friday night at Princeton.

Edwards finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Adam Haggerty contributed 15 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks. He sank a pair of free throws to help seal the victory.

"I am so proud of our guys for how hard we played on the defensive end," Gators' head coach Taylor Jones said. Our leadership from Adam and Rashawn was excellent. They carried us through to this victory."

Dalvin Stancil scored 20 points for the Bulldogs. A.J. Smith provided 10 points and C.J. Jefferys had nine points.

Princeton (7-7, 0-1 CC) visits North Duplin on Tuesday. Spring Creek (6-5, 1-0) travels to Rosewood on Jan. 13.

Ayden-Grifton 45,

Rosewood 38

* AYDEN -- Rosewood opened Carolina 1-A Conference play with a 45-38 loss on Friday night at Ayden-Grifton.

Jyonte Raynor led the Eagles with 11 points. Dee Mabry had nine points.

Rosewood (4-6, 0-1 CC) plays host to Spring Creek on Jan. 13.

Trinity-Fayetteville 50, Wayne Country Day 38

* FAYETTEVILLE -- Wayne Country Day endured a 50-38 loss on Friday night at Trinity Christian of Fayetteville.

Deshar Thomas led the Chargers with 22 points. Wayne Country Day visits Freedom Christian on Tuesday.

JV Sports

* Boys' basketball: Eastern Wayne 57, C.B. Aycock 47 -- Neil Clark led the Golden Falcons with 21 points. Jimmy Ellis added 12 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat. C.B. Aycock fell to 6-5 overall and 3-2 in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference.