By By BRIAN HAINES, Brian@wdnweb.com, Sports Writer
CHOCOWINITY — The Southside girls basketball team blew a 13 point second half lead only to overcome a five point deficit in halftime to reclaim a 67-66 victory against Four Rivers Conference foe Plymouth on Tuesday.
After the Vikings’ Desire Chesson went 2-2 from the free throw line to put her team up 66-63 with :56 left in overtime it looked like Plymouth would compete its comeback. However, Southside’s Quaneika Thomas sank both her free throws with 48 seconds to go to cut the lead to 66-65. From there it was up to the Vikings to try and run out the clock.
Seahawks’ coach Bill Lake desperately yelled out to his players to foul Plymouth but the crowd nose eclipsed the coach’s plea. It turned out to be a good thing for Lake as star guard Katisha Hyman was able to swipe the ball and streak down court where she was fouled in the act of shooting with 3.4 second left in the game.
Hyman, who tallied 16 points on the night, was cool as a fan as she hit both her shots to put Southside (6-1, 2-0) up 67-66.
After the Hyman free throw Plymouth (6-2, 2-1) was forced to go the length of the court in under four seconds but failed to do so leaving the team with a bitter OT loss.
“We came out real well, but (Plymouth) made some nice adjustments and picked up their play,” Lake said. “We were really fortunate to come out with a win. We had some key players step up in Quaneika Thomas, Katisha Hyman and Deandre Perdue who made a few big free throws at the end … What can you say, Katisha found away to steal the ball and make the big play.”
Thomas led the Seahawks with 18 points, while Chante Painter added 8 points and 12 rebounds.
Plymouth was led by Ebony Barrow and Kristy Gibson who both scored 18.
Vikings’ coach Kerry Baldwin said that his team’s slow start was costly.
“We got out real sluggish in the first quarter and that really put us in a big hole,” Baldwin said. “We got going in the second half but we need to work more on coming to the ball and cutting down turnovers.”
Vikings 71, Seahawks 27
There would be no need for overtime in the boys game as the Vikings had their victory wrapped early as they stormed out to a 21-3 first quarter lead and finished with a 71-27 victory.
Plymouth (6-2) got points from everybody on its roster and was led by Ronnell Blount’s 16 points. The Vikings also got 12 points from both George Norfleet and Carl McCray.
“We came out tonight and played hard, our momentum from (winning) the Northampton holiday tournament continued,” Vikings coach Marvin Davenport said. “We came out with a lot of intensity and didn’t make a lot of mistakes. We controlled the tempo and controlled the game.”
For Southside, the team’s offensive struggles continued as it failed to break the 10-point mark in all four quarters.
“It goes back to what we have been struggling with all along and that’s shooting,” Southside coach Sean White said. “We shot 17 percent for the game and that hurts.”
Brandon Jordan led Southside (2-10) with 10 points.
Southside will be back in action on Thursday when it plays at South Creek, while the Vikings will host Riverside on Friday.
Boys game
Plymouth 21 18 14 18 — 71
Southside 3 9 6 9 — 27
Vikings (71)
Carl McCray 12, George Norfleet 12, Ronnell Blount 16, Simpson 5, Hedgebeth 4, Trevon Cordon 10, Barnes 4, Moore 2, Gray 2, Rogerson 2.
Seahawks (27)
Stanley 5, Meyers 2, Jordan 6, Selby 4, Benston 4, Harding 1.
Girls game
Plymouth 6 14 20 18 8 — 66
Southside 14 16 13 15 9 — 67
Vikings (66)
Hines 1, Ebony Barrow 18, Kristy Gibson 18, Desire Chesson 14, Thomas 2, Swain 2.
Seahawks (67)
Katisha Hyman 16, Quaneika Thomas 18, Painter 8, Perdue 6, Clark 8, Starkie 3, Dubles 6.