Golden Falcon girls take ECC title

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 18, 2012 11:11 PM

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ERWIN -- Charles B. Aycock kept its composure and converted its free throws.

Eastern Wayne didn't.

Ivy Hartzell recorded her second double-double in as many games and Aycock claimed the 2012 Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference girls' basketball tournament crown with a 42-32 victory over its archrival Friday evening at Triton High School.

Hartzell logged 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Golden Falcons, who captured their second ECC tournament championship in the past three seasons.

"We kept our composure," said CBA head coach Laura Romo.

Unlike their previous meeting 14 days ago, the Golden Falcons (15-6 overall) didn't let the Warriors affect their mental attitude. Even when Myleah Jones, Imari Howell and Quanika Artis each picked up three first-half fouls, Aycock got the necessary defensive stops and attacked the basket.

The physical and emotional contest led to 41 personal fouls, a technical foul and 42 trips to the free throw line.

"I think fouls played a major part," said EW head coach Tyrone Wagner. "Tianna Christopher sat most of the first half with three fouls. Some of their players had three fouls. I think that really hurt us the most because we lost Tianna's points."

The top-seeded Golden Falcons seized their biggest lead, 21-11, just before halftime and held a nine-point advantage at the break. Brooke Dougherty's offensive putback closed the gap to 29-24 after three periods.

Tamiya Dortch kissed a shot off the glass off Christopher's rebound and assist, which shaved the deficit to 33-30. Hartzell swished a jumper at the elbow off Kayla Newsome's assist and consecutive turnovers led to free throws for the Golden Falcons.

Aycock shot 7 of 10 from the line in the final eight minutes, and 18 of 29 for the game. In their previous meeting, the Golden Falcons missed 19 free throws, including crucial one-and-one chances in the closing seconds of a one-point loss to the Warriors at New Hope.

"We hit our free throws this time," grinned Romo.

Eastern Wayne finished 4 of 13 at the free throw line. Dortch, Apriann Sutton and Shontel Monk tallied five points apiece. Overall, 10 Warriors scratched in the scoring column.

"We came out flat, missed a lot of easy shots and missed a lot of free throws ... which really hurt us," said Wagner. "At the end, we just lost our composure."