Local preps digest

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on February 2, 2013 11:13 PM

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Girls' basketball

Rosewood 52, Ayden-Grifton 41

* AYDEN -- Rosewood nearly squandered its final chance to earn its first-ever victory on Ayden-Grifton's home court during Ryan Wells' tenure as head coach Friday evening.

The Eagles watched the Chargers shave a 24-point deficit to two possessions late in the fourth quarter, but pulled away for a 52-41 victory on the Carolina 1-A Conference scene.

Wells is 3-5 all-time in regular-season action against Ayden-Grifton, which is moving back to the Eastern Plains 2-A Conference next season.

Rosewood held a comfortable 23-point lead at intermission and extended it by one point in the third period before Wells pulled his starters off the court. Ayden-Grifton responded with a 21-3 run and closed the gap to 45-39 with 1 minute, 30 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Eagles converted just one free throw and one field goal during that stretch.

"That's on me, the subbing rotation I had in at the end of the third going into the fourth (quarter)," Wells said. "I exposed some younger players to a situation that I probably shouldn't have (and) calling on the starters to come back in a little bit too late.

"It's not their fault."

Back-to-back steals from Krystal Yelverton and Lexi Mercer squelched the Chargers' comeback attempt. Mercer converted an uncontested layup and Yelverton hit the front end of a two-shot foul after getting fouled underneath the basket.

Mercer just missed a double-double with 21 points and nine steals. Yelverton contributed nine points off the bench. Alicia Burns and Holly Heath provided eight and six points, respectively.

Rosewood (12-5 overall, 5-1 CC) plays host to three-time defending conference champion Goldsboro on Tuesday.

Princeton 63, Spring Creek 23

* PRINCETON -- Princeton used a 17-1 run during the second quarter to pull away from Spring Creek on Friday night. The Bulldogs rolled to a 63-23 victory on the Carolina 1-A Conference basketball scene.

Princeton (9-8 overall, 3-2 CC) jumped ahead 23-8 after one period and led 40-9 at the intermission.

Savanna Massengill led the way for the Bulldogs with 24 points. Hailey Wood added nine points in the win. Charley Cox and Tori Paul each finished with eight points.

Alyssa Borja paced Spring Creek (1-15 overall, 1-4 CC) with nine points. Amber Buchan added seven points for the Gators.

Spring Creek plays host to Goldsboro on Monday night. Princeton entertains North Duplin on Tuesday.

Eastern Wayne 66, C.B. Aycock 53

* PIKEVILLE -- Eastern Wayne clinched a share of the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference championship with a 66-53 win on Friday evening at C.B. Aycock.

The Golden Falcons cut a 12-point third-quarter deficit to three points with six minutes left in the game. The Warriors (20-1, 9-0 ECC) closed the game on a 20-10 run. Eastern Wayne's Tiana Christopher led all scorers with 20 points.

"We were trying to speed the game up but it kept getting slowed down because of fouls," Warriors' head coach Tyrone Wagner said. "We decided to go with five guards and we were finally able to speed the game up and force some turnovers so we could get out and run. Clinching a share of the conference championship is big for our program."

Aycock's Quanika Artis scored 16 points and Myleah Jones had 15 points. Ashley Darden added seven points and 11 rebounds.

Eastern Wayne entertains Triton on Tuesday. The Golden Falcons (8-12, 5-4) play host to Southern Wayne on Jan. 8.

Southern Wayne 36, South Johnston 26

* DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne used a stellar defensive effort to shut down South Johnston 36-26 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference basketball action on Friday night.

Zaria Atkins led the Saints with 19 points.

Southern Wayne (11-8 overall, 5-4 ECC) plays host to North Lenoir on Tuesday.

Oakwood 61, Wayne Country Day 40

* GREENWOOD -- Third-ranked Oakwood defeated Wayne Country Day 61-40 on Friday evening.

Sarah Best paced the Chargers with 12 points. Hannah Pearson added eight points. Bailee Creger and Karis Hawkins each had seven points.

Wayne Country Day (6-11, 4-4 CPIC) plays host to Greenfield on Tuesday.

Goldsboro 56, North Duplin 8

* CALYPSO -- Carolina 1-A Conference leader Goldsboro earned a 56-8 win on Friday evening at North Duplin.

Tyona Moses led the Cougars with 17 points. Deja Aycock scored five points for the Rebels.

Goldsboro visits Rosewood on Tuesday while North Duplin travels to Princeton.

Cape Fear Christian 54,

Wayne Christian 38

* Cape Fear Christian turned back Wayne Christian 54-38 on Friday evening.

Brooke Barfield led the Eagles with 24 points. Kelsey Kornegay added 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals.

Boys' basketball

Goldsboro 91, North Duplin 69

* CALYPSO -- Goldsboro rolled past Carolina 1-A Conference opponent North Duplin 91-69 on Friday night.

Rasheed Jackson led the Cougars with 16 points. Damarian Henderson contributed 14 points. Myron Carmon added 12 points and Julius Murphy and Rasheen Artis each had 11. Joseph Baker finished with 10 points.

Tyler Royal led the Rebels with 17 points and Cody Ivey provided 15 points. Lee Rouse had 10 points.

Goldsboro visits Rosewood on Tuesday while North Duplin travels to Princeton.

Greene Central 88, Tarboro 80

* TARBORO -- Greene Central snapped an 11-game losing streak and picked up its first Eastern Plains 2-A Conference victory in an 88-80 win on Friday night at Tarboro.

Joseph Biggs poured in 23 points for the Rams. Brandon Belcher tallied 18 points and Jalyn Harper supplied 12 points.

Wayne Country Day 79,

Oakwood 61

* GREENVILLE-- Wayne Country Day used a hot offensive outing to best Oakwood 79-61 on Friday.

Lee Atkinson led the Chargers with 20 points. Joel Davis added 16 markers.

Wayne Country Day will host Greenfield on Tuesday night.

Cape Fear Christian 87,

Wayne Christian 28

* Wayne Christian endured an 87-28 loss to visiting Cape Fear Christian on Friday night.

Chris Easom led the Eagles with nine points and David Swets added eight points.

Wayne Christian (1-18, 0-11 CCC) visits Grace Christian of Sanford on Tuesday.

JV sports

* Boys' basketball: Goldsboro 71, North Duplin 23 -- Eric Bufkin led the Cougars (12-4, 5-0 CC) with 15 points. Kisheem Faison had 12 points and Andre Castille added 10 points. Goldsboro visits Spring Creek on Monday.

* Girls' basketball: C.B. Aycock 28, Eastern Wayne 16 -- The Warriors play host to Triton on Tuesday while the Golden Falcons entertain Southern Wayne on Feb. 8.

Middle schools

* Boys' basketball: Wayne Country Day 22, Oakwood 18 -- John Strickland led Wayne Country Day with eight points. The Chargers improved to 8-5 overall.