Tigers answer challenge in first round|Paschal nets 36 to lead Williamston

Published 12:56 am Tuesday, February 23, 2010

By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
WILLIAMSTON — After watching momentum shift in favor of Gates County during the second quarter, Williamston first-year coach Hughes Barber challenged his team to play a better second half in their first-round state playoff battle with the Red Barons.
The challenge was accepted, and the test was passed.
The No. 1 seeded Tigers out-scored the third-seeded Red Barons 21-9 in a decisive third quarter which helped propel Williamston into the second round of the NCHSAA 1-A playoffs.
The Tigers, who are ranked No. 1 in the state according to NCPreps.com, improved their record to 25-0 and will host the winner of the Perquimans-Creswell matchup on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
“Tonight was just one of those games where we were glad to get a win,” Barber said. “It took (Gates County) almost getting the lead for our girls to finally wake up and start playing and boxing out and doing the fundamentals.”
Williamston held a 17-9 lead after the first quarter, but the Tigers failed to execute properly in their press in the second quarter and was out-scored 14-13.
“We weren’t rotating back. Once (Gates) got the ball down the court my three guards at the front of the press were staying at halfcourt and they weren’t hustling. It’s all effort. Defense is effort, and if we’re not playing good defense it’s because we are not giving the effort.”
Gates continued to rally and managed to cut the Tigers’ lead to 23-20 after a Dashina Dudgins free throw with under three minutes left in the first half.
Williamston star guard Katie Paschal helped keep the Barons at bay when she scored an old-fashion three-point play to widen the lead to 26-20. The Tigers eventually went into halftime up 30-23.
Paschal scored a game-high 36 points, while grabbing eight rebounds, collecting seven steals and handing out six assists.
With her 36-point effort Paschal is now six points away from 3,000, and is currently sixth on North Carolina’s all-time scoring list. The senior leads the state in scoring with a 33 points per game average.
Dudgins led the Barons (17-7) with 20 points.
The Tigers went into halftime on shaky ground, but came out and laid down the foundation for a solid victory with their run in the third quarter.
“I just told them that they needed to come out and pick up the intensity,” Barber said. “It’s just all about effort. I just can’t stand lack of effort.”
The Tigers ended the game getting a decent effort from other players besides Paschal, as Cassie Harrell added seven blocks, eight rebounds and five assists, while Zakkeya Morris’ eight points was the second highest on the team.
Gates County 9 14 9 23 — 55
Williamston 17 13 21 15 — 66
Red Barons (55)
Erin Bradley 12, Wiggins 6, Mayer 6, Adams 4, Dashanna Dudgins 20, Raynor 6.
Tigers (65)
Katie Paschal 36, Harrell 2, Wynn 6, Morris 8, Little 6, Moore 2, Rodgers 2.