THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200314
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JAMES C. BLACK, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 47 lines
Jannie Porter's move was simple but sweet.
Time and time again Wednesday, the Nansemond River guard dribbled left, squared up, released and then most importantly, hit the bottom of the net. And Lakeland simply did not have a response.
Porter finished with 20 points as second-seeded Nansemond River defeated the Cavaliers 63-51 in a semifinal of the girls Southeastern District tournament at Oscar Smith High. The Warriors (16-3), in their first year of Group AAA play, meet top-seeded Oscar Smith a 59-58 winner over Great Bridge, in the final Friday at 6 p.m.
``I was in a zone,'' Porter said. ``I was determined to not get frustrated because I got frustrated the last game.''
That would be the Hickory game, when the senior guard only scored four points in the Warriors' 47-36 victory. She scored eight in the first quarter on Wednesday as the Warriors took a 22-13 lead.
``It's just a matter of being patient and letting the game come to you,'' Nansemond River coach Sandra McCray said. ``I just told her I am not expecting every shot she puts up goes in.''
But between Porter and junior guard Joycelyn Williams, the Warriors backcourt could do no wrong in the opening period.
Williams opened the scoring with a layup and then later scored on a jumper and two 3-pointers as Nansemond River took a 20-10 lead. Williams, who finished with 16, and Porter combined for 18 of the team's first 20.
``That was the turning point because psychologically, we never got back into it,'' Lakeland coach Stephanie Odom.
The Cavaliers (12-6) trailed by as many as 15 but managed to avoid the blowout with Cherri Phillips' shooting and Afriyie Bray's inside game.
Phillips hit five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points and Bray scored 18 to lead the Cavaliers.
OSCAR SMITH 59, GREAT BRIDGE 58: Joetta Thorpe's two free throws with 33.7 seconds left gave Oscar Smith a four-point lead as the Tigers (21-1) held on.
Trailing 57-53, Erika Smith hit a 3-pointer with 23.8 to pull the Wildcats (13-9) within one. On Oscar Smith's next possession, Smith got a steal but the Wildcats committed a turnover with 8.2 seconds left. The Tigers then scored on a pair of free throws with 7.3 seconds left by Amber Parker. Chindra Lewis scored on a put back of a 3-point miss as time expired for Great Bridge.
Sharnnia Artis finished with 20 points and Thorpe 14 to lead Oscar Smith. Kia Bell scored 11 of her 16 in the second half for Great Bridge.