1A East Regional: East Columbus starts slow, gels at right time

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 6, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

FAYETTEVILLE -- Used to the West coast style of high school basketball, Jon Scharpenberg didn't know what to think when he took over the East Columbus varsity girls' program.

He couldn't get used to his team dancing in the locker room before and after games, hearing them play drums and display a laid-back mentality that didn't match his intensive nature.

"They have fun," a grinning Scharpenberg said.

And they've taught their coach how to relax, even after an uncharacteristic 3-5 start to the season.

Two seniors, a junior and two freshmen have molded into a group that's led East Columbus (19-5 overall) to its second consecutive trip to the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A eastern regional.

"I'm glad we had the tough schedule and (I) knew we might start off rough, but it brought us together a little bit," Scharpenberg said. "The girls have figured out that they have a role ... have a job to do and they can do that. We've really been preaching to them all season long to do what you do best and let things take care of themselves.

"There are certain things you can't control. Effort, you can control."

Just one player, senior Lauren Jenkins, scores in double figures for East Columbus, which claimed the Three Rivers 1-A/2-A Conference regular-season and tournament championships. Jenkins pulled down 25 rebounds in a 67-66 win over Princeton last Friday.

Senior De'Maya Berry collects 6.9 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. Junior Kayla Brown supplied eight points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals.

Freshman Marlena McClure contributes 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and a team-leading five steals each outing.

"Marlena, she hasn't played like a freshman," Scharpenberg said. "She's going to make mistakes and we're going to live with it. It's what I care about after you make the mistake, how you handle it.

"De'Maya has been the one girl I can point to all season long who has been the rock. She has a strong will ... when she sets her mind on something or you put a goal out there (to reach), you will not stop her."

As a team, the Gators average 44.5 points, 15.2 steals, 42.2 rebounds and 5.7 blocked shots a game.

East's full-court pressure bothered Princeton during the first half and led to some easy baskets in transition. The Bulldogs employed a 2-2-1 press of their own and played a box-and-one on Brown -- the team's top 3-point threat.

The Gators made some critical third-quarter mistakes and trailed by two heading into the final period. They couldn't hold an eight-point lead on two occasions and needed McClure's free throw with 9.5 seconds left to keep their season alive.

"Give credit (to Princeton)," Scharpenberg said. "They were the real deal. And to finish second or third in that conference, I'm really nervous about Rosewood because that team gave us all we could handle."