By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — Williamston’s pursuit of perfection and a state championship both came to a heart-breaking end on Wednesday. The Tigers let a 12-point fourth quarter lead slip away as they fell 69-63 to Pender in the NCHSAA 1-A East Region tournament at J.H. Rose High School.
After trailing 16-15 at the end of the first quarter, Williamston (27-1) turned up its intensity and shut down the Patriots to out-score them 37-26 throughout the middle quarters. However, Pender (29-1) point guard Jannetta Robinson ripped off nine of her game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter to ignite a 27-11 run over the last eight minutes.
Pender coach Gary Battle said the key to his team’s rally was that his players never stopped believing in themselves and were able to control the tempo late in the game.
Williamston was able to overcome a strong athletic Pender front court, which was led by Muriel Seabrooks (nine points, 10 rebounds), but it could not overcome the loss of forward Equalia Vines (19 points, six boards).
Vines picked up four fouls by the end of the third quarter, and lasted only 15 seconds into the fourth quarter before she was called for her fifth, and fouled out of the game.
All three officials were quick to blow their whistles, as several Patriots and Tigers racked up fouls on questionable calls.
Elks did say that if he had to do it over, he would have held back on starting Vines at the start of the fourth quarter.
Vines was a key contributor in Williamston’s halfcourt offense and, without her, Tigers’ sophomore point guard Katie Paschal was left to carry the load offensively.
Paschal finished the game with a team-high 27 points and four assists.
The Tigers started the fourth quarter up 52-42, and looked like they would be able to adapt to playing without Vines, when Paschal nailed a three-pointer from the left side to give them a 57-45 lead.
However, the Patriots’ Robinson kept her team in the game, and after Savesha Hudson sank a pair of free throws with 3:32 remaining, Pender took a 62-61 lead. One it would not surrender.
As the clocked ticked toward zero, the sense that the Tigers were letting the game slip away increased. Then, at the :27 mark disaster struck for Williamston.
Having played with four fouls for a large portion of the fourth quarter, Paschal had done a good job of playing aggressive, smart basketball. However, her season came to an end when she was called for a questionable offensive foul with the score 66-63 in favor of Pender.
Upon hearing the call Paschal was devastated, as she fell to her knees as if the weight of the world was on her shoulder; and for good reason, as she carried the weight of the Tigers’ offense the entire fourth quarter.
With Paschal out of the lineup, the Tigers failed to score the rest of the game. Down 66-63 with 10 seconds to go Williamston’s Cassie Harrell was able to get off a clean shot from downtown, but failed to hit the rim as the ball and the Tigers’ hopes of moving on sailed out of bounds.
Before the Harrell three, the Tigers had a prime opportunity to regain the lead when they were down 64-63 with :50 left on the clock. However, Williamston failed to execute on offense.
The Tigers feverishly pass the ball around the top of the key, as Paschal ran circle routes around the paint trying to get open. Williamston was unable to get the ball in her hands. as Pender ended up with a the ball and another two points. On the ensuing Tigers’ possession, Paschal was called for charging.
The Tigers’ point guard said the stunning loss will serve as motivation.
Pender 16 12 14 27 — 69
Williamston 15 22 15 11 — 63
Patriots (69)
Holmes 2, Hudson 4, Seabrooks 8, Jannetta Robinson 30, Bland 9, Gresham 8, F. Bland 9.
Tigers (63)
Jones 6, Clemmons 2, Katie Paschal 27, Peele 2, Roberson 7, Equalia Vines 19.
Plymouth will face Jones Senior in the 1-A East Regional
By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — For Plymouth, beating Jones Senior in the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A East Regional could be as simple as mowing the lawn.
Vikings’ coach Darius LaGroon said in order for his team to come out on top in tonight’s postseason battle with the Trojans, each Plymouth player has to place a premium on personal responsibility on the defensive end.
While the grass looks pretty green at Plymouth this season, LaGroon and his Vikings are trying to achieve golf course status. In order to do that, they need three more wins.
The path to Augusta starts tonight at 8:30 at Minges Coliseum when the 18-2 Vikings battle the 10th-ranked Trojans of Jones Senior (21-4).
LaGroon, who after serving for three years on Elizabeth City State University’s basketball staff, is in his first year with Plymouth and said he has not gotten a chance to scout the Trojans, but knows that their front court presents a challenge.
LaGroon was right as his counterpart, Kenneth Brown, said he had not seen much of Plymouth, but knows it possesses a potent offense.
Aside from a recent football rivalry that has seen each team knock each other out of the state playoffs the last two years, Jones Senior and Plymouth have a lot in common.
For LaGroon, tonight marks the first time he has coached in an East Region playoff game, while Brown, despite his 20 years of coaching, will also be making his East Region debut.
Both coaches also largely favor a zone defense and prefer to play up-tempo basketball.
While the new to the area LaGroon didn’t place much emphasis on the Jones-Plymouth football rivalry, Brown hopes his Trojans recent loss to the Vikings will serve as a motivational tool.
While LaGroon didn’t stress the importance of the football rivalry, he did say that having a lot of players that played for a state championship team is a big plus because it fosters a winning culture and improves their ability to handle pressure situations.
LaGroon said the biggest factor for his team will be its ability to keep its eye on the prize.
The Vikings will be playing ball at 8:30 p.m. at Minges Coliseum. Admission is $8.