By Staff
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — An intense fourth quarter effort by the Southside boys basketball team was not enough to wipe out a slow start against cross town rival Northside, as the Panthers held off the pesky Seahawks 65-52.
Northside (7-9) busted out of the gate on fire Friday and quickly jumped out to a 21-9 lead thanks to a balanced attack that saw Kenneth Jenkins, Tony Peele and Daykuan Mackey each score four points in the first eight minutes.
Peele would go on to score a game-high 17 points, while Franklin was right behind him with 16. Isaiah McCullor netted nine, while Mackey chipped in eight.
After closing out the first quarter down by 12 points, the Seahawks (6-9) played even with the Panthers over the next two quarters.
Southside got a tremendous effort by sophomore Curtis Myers, who in his first varsity game brought intensity and a much-needed inside presence as he grabbed 16 rebounds and tied Willie Ruffin for a team-high 11 points. Southside’s Lonnie Williams and Dash Spruill each added eight points.
The Seahawks headed into the fourth quarter down 51-39, but managed to cut the deficit to 57-52 with 1:22 left in the game after Ruffin scored off of steal.
Southside would not get any closer as it drifted away from getting the ball in the paint to Myers and Spruill and instead hoisted up shots from the perimeter.
Southside presses past Northside
Southside overcame a sluggish first half in which it clung to a 13-8 lead over rival Northside, the Seahawks exploded in the third quarter and produced a 23-5 run which proved to be the difference in their 45-24 win over the Panthers Friday night.
Southside held a 10-4 lead after the first quarter, but Seahawks’ Bill Lake decided to rest a few key players during a second quarter in which it only scored three points.
Lake reasoned because of a holiday and a few snow days, his team had not been able to practice much in the past week, so he wanted to make sure nobody got burned out early.
While Southside struggled in the second, the Panthers failed to capitalize and only scored four points themselves.
Combined, the two teams tallied seven second-quarter points.
A persistent Seahawks’ press hounded Northside’s backcourt all game long, but in the third quarter it really took its toll on the Panthers.
Southside (10-5) opened up the third with a 16-0 run which was fueled by Katisha Hyman’s 10 third-quarter points. Hyman led the Seahawks with 14 points, while Quaneika Thomas netted seven and Chante Painter added six.
Alicia Brewers’ eight points led the Panthers (7-7), while Rochelle Davis added six.
Both teams will be back in action on Tuesday, as Northside will host Perquimans and Southside will travel to Manteo.
Northside 21 13 17 14 — 65
Southside 9 17 13 13 — 52
Panthers (65)
Tony Peele 17, Woolard 2, Cox 4, Kennith Jenkins 16, McCuller 9, Mackey 8, Artis 4, Slade 2.
Seahawks (52)
Willie Ruffin 11, Williams 8, Weston 2, Spruill 8, Curtis Myers 11, Windley 1, McCuller 6, Stilley 3, Aaron 2.
Girls
Northside 4 4 5 11 — 24
Southside 10 3 23 9 — 45
Panthers (24)
Brewer 9, Davis 7, Paniasey, 2, Harris 3, Gaynor 2.
Seahawks (45)
Painter 6, Thomas 7, Katisha Hyman 14, Avery 4, Cradle 4, Harding 2, Bogart 3, Hodges 2, Whitney 2, Starkie 1.