GIRLS' BASKETBALL: EW's slow pace frustrates CBA

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

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Two things are certain in life -- death and taxes.

Add the delay game to that list if you play Eastern Wayne on the basketball court.

The Warriors employed the stall tactic, which shortened the clock and frustrated rival Charles B. Aycock on Monday evening. In fact, the Golden Falcons hardly touched the ball the final 11/2 minutes of a 57-51 loss in opening-round action of the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference girls' basketball tournament.

"In the fourth quarter, I felt comfortable if we had the lead to go four corners," Eastern Wayne head coach Michael Gurganus said. "Fortunately, it worked out. Give Aycock credit. They came out firing, the shots were going in for them and we needed to do a better job getting out on their shooters."

Fourth-seeded Eastern Wayne (17-7 overall) led by nine at the break.

Nyesha Best's 3-pointer gave the Warriors their biggest lead of the game, 32-20.

Then Aycock warmed up -- specifically Cassandra Lassiter. The sharp-shooting guard ripped the cords for two 3-pointers, the second coming off Lexi Edmundson's assist. Lassiter eventually emerged as the game's top scorer with 21 points.

The Golden Falcons shaved the lead to 39-37 on a basket by Edmundson and a 3-pointer from reserve Sharon Moorefield. EW answered with a 5-0 mini run, only to see it halted by Destiny Washington's offensive putback and another Moorefield basket.

Up 44-42, the Warriors pulled the four-corners offense out of the playbook

"I have all the confidence right now with my guards to make the right decisions, the right plays and right now, we're using it as a weapon and hopefully it will keep working," Gurganus said.

It aggravated CBA's patience.

Eastern Wayne quickly built a 53-44 lead. Best, Treycie Ford and Tammaria Smith played critical roles in the offensive surge. Cara Lenzi and Edmundson each hit two free throws, which trimmed the deficit to 54-51 with 2:14 remaining in regulation.

The Golden Falcons wouldn't score again.

Best and twin sister, Myesha, iced the game with a give-and-go open-court layup that capped Eastern Wayne's second win over its county foe in the past five days.

"All I tell them I want a wide-open layup," Gurganus said. "And if backdoors (are open) and if we beat our girl to the basket, no one helps, it's a layup. Basically that's all we're doing...spreading the court."

Nyesha Best and Ford collected 18 and 14 points, respectively. The duo combined for 12 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals. Channing Williams knocked down nine first-quarter points and Smith finished with eight.

EW visits J.H. Rose in semifinal-round play Wednesday. Tip-off is 6 p.m. inside the Rose Garden.

Edmundson and Washington (seven rebounds) complemented Lassiter with eight points apiece for CBA, which dipped to 12-12 overall.