GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Eagles fend off Gators' second-half charge

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on February 6, 2017 9:59 AM

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Rosewood stepped into the locker room with a 14-point advantage and extended it to 21 points in the third quarter of their pivotal Carolina 1-A Conference clash Friday evening.

Then things got interesting.

Eagles head coach Tee Wooten warned his team about complacency.

Gators head coach Charlie Cotten, on the other hand, decided to speed up the tempo. The Gators shaved the deficit to single digits behind the play of speedy guard Destiney Sutton, who led all scorers with 24 points.

But Rosewood held on, 60-52.

"I told the ladies at halftime, let's not come out and be lethargic because we had a lead, you don't get comfortable," Wooten said. "We're working on some things because of the track we're on...in the hunt (for the conference title).

"You need to still stay sharp even when we're ahead. We can't regress and do the things wrong that we've worked so hard to get better at all season long."

Shakera Williams' offensive putback, her lone field goal of the game, closed the gap to 51-43. The teams traded baskets before the backcourt tandem of Payton Lane and Braylee Butts -- who combined for 40 points -- sealed the deal in the final 2 1/2 minutes.

Ashley Marriner knocked down 13 points for SC, which fell to 10-10 overall and 7-5 against Carolina opposition this season. Butts had seven rebounds and six assists, while Nekia Williams filed the following statline -- seven points, nine rebounds, three blocked shots.

RHS climbed to 11-9 overall and 9-2 in the league.