Role players spark Rosewood girls in 2nd half

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on March 4, 2015 1:49 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

LAKE WACCAMAW -- Understudies hardly find the spotlight on the stage and their efforts are hardly recognized without any fanfare.

Not this time.

Rosewood's Hannah Daniels, Alyssa Garrison and Jala Holloman probably discovered some floor burns and bruises this morning after scrambling for loose balls, battling taller East Columbus players for rebounds and causing a few held-ball possessions.

Most importantly, the trio's hustle and desire helped the Eagles return to the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A eastern regional for the second consecutive year. Lexi Mercer and Holloman scored 25 and 12 points, respectively, in a come-from-behind 55-49 upset of the No. 7-ranked Gators on Tuesday evening.

The Eagles (22-3 overall) oppose top-seeded Gates County at either 7 or 8:30 p.m. at Crown Arena in Fayetteville on Thursday.

"We knew we had a goal that we all wanted to accomplish and that was go to Fayetteville, especially for our seniors so we came out and played our best," said Garrison, who provided five rebounds, three assists and one steal.

Garrison, Daniels and Holloman worked in the second half.

Each, at some point, forced a loose ball that led to a fast-break bucket or managed to box out underneath the basket for a rebound that they passed to either Mercer or point guard Krystal Yelverton. Rosewood surrendered at least six inches in height at four positions on the floor, but dictated the tempo -- a faster pace -- in the second half.

Despite foul trouble and visible frustration, Yelverton finished with seven assists, six rebounds, three steals and a 3-pointer.

East Columbus took its final lead, 40-38, on Charity Powell's offensive putback. The No. 11-ranked Eagles responded with an 11-2 run that started with Holloman's wide-open 3 near the Rosewood bench and an uncontested layup from Yelverton, who pick-pocketed the Gators near midcourt.

Daniels and Garrison, meanwhile, either converted "spot" shots from the baseline or in the paint as the Eagles built a 49-42 lead with 4-plus minutes left in regulation. Daniels and Garrison combined for nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals.

RHS head coach described the trio's effort as "awesome."

"I think we were kind of nervous at first and then we came together," Daniels said. "Coach told us to calm down and have fun (in the second half). Once I got out there and started scoring, I got more confidence in myself.

"It was very physical, they're really big."

The Gators (22-3) climbed to within 49-45 on Marlena McClure's 3-pointer that was actually a two, but the referee missed seeing her foot on the line. Rosewood maintained a two-possession advantage the remainder of the game and denied East Columbus' bid for a third straight trip to the eastern regional.

Playing for the third time in a four-day period, the Eagles had trouble finding their legs in the opening half. They uncharacteristically played passive against the Gators' zone and didn't attack the seams.

Grantham said the effort was better in the second half. Rosewood shot a play-off high 52 percent (22 of 42) from the floor for the game after going 10 of 18 in the opening half.