RHS girls complete another unbeaten season in league play

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 12, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Princeton expected to face Rosewood's suffocating, full-court pressure defense Thursday evening.

In fact, the Bulldogs spent three-quarters of their practice learning to finding the holes and getting baskets in transition. But they just couldn't emulate the Eagles' style of play.

Rosewood opened the game in tenacious fashion, generated steals that led to transition baskets and rolled to a 69-41 decision in the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season finale for both teams. Rosewood finished unbeaten in league play for the second time in the past three years.

"We knew what they were going to do and of course, they are very good at it," PHS head coach Marty Gurganus said. "They just don't ever quit. Even when you get the ball past them, they're coming up behind you looking to steal.

"They're good at it."

The Eagles scored the game's first 21 points and limited the Bulldogs to two field attempts during a 5 1/2-minute stretch. Gurganus burned a timeout and told his team to keep playing, take a deep breath and settle down.

Jazmaine McCain put Princeton the board with two free throws at the 2-minute, 16-second mark.

"We're the type of team that we have to play with a fast pace. That's our style," said RHS senior Lexi Mercer who just missed her first career quadruple-double with a game-high 31 points, 12 rebounds, 11 steals and eight assists.

"We like to get a steal off of our press and then put it in the basket on an easy layup. When we do that and see the ball go in, it just continues to go in for us."

PHS committed 35 turnovers.

But the opening quarter was also costly for Rosewood. Nekia Williams and a Princeton player collided for a rebound, and each hit the court hard. Williams walked off the court under her own power, but later hyperventilated in the locker room. She was transported to the hospital to undergo further tests.

Head coach Rick Grantham did not speculate on her condition.

Williams' absence further depleted the Eagles' bench that continues to play without Macy Tyndall (concussion protocol) and Payton Lane (appendicitis). Lane is expected to return to practice Monday.

"I'm getting a little nervous," Grantham said.

Alyssa Garrison knocked down 14 points for Rosewood, which earned its 41st regular-season conference win its last 42 outings. Jala Holloman contributed 10 points. Garrison and Holloman combined for seven of the Eagles' 18 team assists on 24 made field goals.

Maddie Adkins paced the Bulldogs' offense with 11 points, including nine from 3-point range. McCain just missed a double-double with nine points, nine rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots.