BOYS' BASKETBALL: Warriors shut down Saints

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 14, 2017 9:59 AM

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Respect your opponent.

Play every possession.

Win the third quarter.

Eastern Wayne did all three during an opening-round, 72-60 triumph over Southern Wayne in the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference tournament Monday evening. The third-seeded Warriors (11-13 overall) continue play Wednesday at D.H.Conley.

A game time has not been set.

"We talked about the attitude that we would have to have coming into this game," said EW head coach Bill Manning, whose team rallied from a 23-point deficit to defeat the Saints just six days ago in the same building.

"We knew after the game here the other night, they would come in feeling like they had something to prove. We talked about how we couldn't afford to take plays off. They're too good...a really dangerous team."

The Warriors entered halftime ahead 34-23.

Manning wanted to see his team stretch the double-digit advantage a little further.

They did. EW converted two quick possessions in transition and extended its lead to 39-25 barely two minutes into the second half. The Saints pulled to within nine points on several occasions throughout the final 14 minutes of action, but could get no closer.

"(When) we were getting back into the game, they found a way to get that basket 'and one,' and go back up 12," Saints head coach Dwight Smith said. "We stood around a couple of times and let them get some rebounds. Hustle. They wanted it, went after it (and) understood the importance of this game.

"They went out and got it."

EW led 53-38 after three periods.

"We won the first five minutes of the third quarter," Manning said. "That was huge."

Yeonte Royal and Eric Agee led four Warriors in double figures with 17 points apiece. Agee also compiled six rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots. Omar Marreno filed a double-double - 14 points, 10 rebounds. Wesley Case dropped in 12 points.

Jakevis McCullen pumped in 14 points for the Saints, who concluded the year 6-18 overall. Bless Thomas provided 13 points - nine in the second half.