THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 15, 1995 TAG: 9509150752
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Nansemond River scored 12 unanswered points to take the lead in the second quarter and held off a late comeback by Lakeland for a 44-43 win in the Nansemond River Tipoff championship on Thursday.
Joycelyn Williams scored 19 points and hit two free throws with 33 seconds left for the Warriors (3-1).
``I felt a little shock before the foul shots,'' Williams said. ``But Jannie (Porter) tapped me on the shoulder and I looked at the 33 seconds, that's my number, and I felt confident.''
The Cavaliers (1-1) took the lead, 42-41, for the first time since early in the opening period when Angela Jones converted on a three-point play with just over a minute remaining.
Porter, who scored 15 points, hit two free throws on the Warriors' next possession to give Nansemond River a one-point lead with one minute left.
Lakeland was called for a double-dribble, but got the ball back when the Warriors threw the inbounds pass away. However, Williams jumped in front of Cherri Phillips' pass to Jones and was fouled.
``We made a couple of bad passes and took some bad shots in the paint,'' Lakeland coach Stephanie Odom said. ``At the end we rushed things.''
The Cavaliers started the game with an 11-2 run, capped by Jones' sideline jumper, forcing a Nansemond River timeout.
The Warriors regrouped and cut the lead to 13-9 at the end of the first quarter. Nansemond River caught fire in the opening minutes of the second period. Porter scored four points and Amber Tester, Monica Southall and Amy Patterson added two each as the Warriors used a 12-0 run to lead, 21-13. Lakeland failed to score until Afriyie Bray hit a layup with 13 seconds left before halftime.
``When our defense is on and clicking and we're playing where we're supposed to be, it's difficult to score on us,'' Nansemond River coach Sandra McCray said. ``It doesn't matter who it is.''
Added Odom, ``Their defense was great in the second quarter, and it seemed like we weren't moving, just standing still.''
Phillips finished with 11 points, while Rebecca Demile and Jones added nine each for the Cavaliers.
In the third-place game:
Arcadia 77, Franklin 49: Renee Savage scored 30 points and Shakeva Persinger added 20 to lead Arcadia (1-3). The Firebirds raced to a 20-7 lead to open the game and never trailed.
Franklin (0-2) pulled to within four with four minutes left in the second quarter before a 12-0 Arcadia run to end the half.
Mandi Vick led the Broncos with 22 points and 16 rebounds. by CNB