GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Nyesha Best drains game-high 30 points for EW

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on February 8, 2017 9:57 AM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

Sophomore point guard Nyesha Best torch-lit the nets for a game-high 30 points and artfully played keep away with the basketball over the final eight minutes as Eastern Wayne turned back county rival Southern Wayne, 62-56, in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference action on Tuesday evening.

The triumph moved the Lady Warriors to 15-7 overall this season and 5-6 in league play.

Best was dominant from the outset, scoring 19 points in a free-flowing first half that saw the hosts lead by nine after the opening quarter and 39-28 at the break.

Things changed, however, in a hard-fought third stanza.

Southern Wayne scored early and often, utilized a rotating wave of pressure to force a litany of turnovers and cut the advantage to just four with eight minutes to play.

Then EW head coach Michael Gurganus gambled -- sort of.

He instructed Best to dribble around, directly at and ultimately through Southern's defense -- a strategy which drew its share of question marks from the crowd but ultimately paid dividends with a much-needed league victory.

"They were sitting back in a zone, and I thought... why not pull them out?" the coach said. "And I wanted nothing but a wide-open layup -- we had some mishaps, but fortunately, it worked out."

Primarily because of Best, who closed the fourth period with nine points, including five for six effort from the charity stripe over the final 42 seconds.

Her MVP effort was complemented by forward Tammaria Smith, who scored seven points and grabbed six rebounds. Myesha Best contributed eight points, while Rayna Gibson and Channing Williams filed five apiece.

Southern Wayne (8-16, 2-10 ECC) was paced by the effort of Kiara Wallace, who notched 16 points and nine boards. Sophomore forwards Iyahna and Samiya Bess combined for 28 points and 15 rebounds.

Eastern Wayne closes out its regular season Thursday with a trip to Charles B. Aycock.