Published: 12:00 AM, Tue Feb 23, 2010
Seventy-First girls whip Scotland
By Jaclyn Shambaugh
Correspondent
Seventy-First catapulted from an early lead in its opening round contest of the NCHSAA 4-A East Sectionals to top East Wake 96-71.
Seventy-First will take on Mideastern top-seed Wilmington Ashley on Wednesday in the second round.
The Falcons (22-4) opened the game on a 14-2 scoring run and led 27-10 at the end of the first quarter, giving the Mid-South No. 2 seed all the cushion it needed to get the win.
Junior Diona Curtis led all scorers with 37 points.
Curtis put 10 points on the board for the Falcons in the first quarter, aided by fellow starters Doris Jamerson and Carolyn Smith, who each scored nine in the period.
Smith finished the night with 19.
Curtis said her performance was more a matter of physique than physicality.
"I don't think I really played that physical," said the junior. "I just have a big body. It wasn't too hard to get open."
Seventy-First coach Tracie Taylor praised her team's tenacity at the start of the game, an effort Taylor asked of her players prior to the opening tip-off.
"I think we came out really aggressive on offense and defense," the coach said. "I told the girls to go out and do all they could do, and if they get tired, we've got a sub for them."
The Falcons cut off the Warriors' passing lanes, forcing turnovers and transitioning on the other end.
Taylor credited her team with setting a fast pace to give the Falcons an edge.
"Not a lot of teams play at an up-tempo pace like we do," Taylor said. "I think it frustrates those teams.
"We were on the court with a purpose. There were only a few times when we were out there not playing our game."
Foul trouble
East Wake's frustration seemed to manifest itself in the form of fouls. The Warriors committed enough to put the Falcons in the double-bonus with a minute remaining in the first quarter. Seventy-First had been whistled for five fouls at the time.
The Falcons shot just over 50 percent from the foul line, turning in a 23 of 45 performance.
"I think we need to work on making our free throws before the next game," Curtis said.
The junior made nine of her 20 attempts.
East Wake (10-16), the No. 3 seed from the Greater Neuse River, kept pace with the Falcons through the next three quarters, but couldn't overcome the Falcons' early lead.
The Falcons led 51-29 at halftime.
The Warriors' season-ending loss came despite a 23-point effort by guard Jazamine Gray.
Teammate Tianna Knuckles added 18.
Seventy-First 96, East Wake 71
East Wake
10
19
20
22-71
Seventy-First
27
24
23
22-96
EAST WAKE - Lindsey 8, Tianna Knuckles 18, Farnor 2, Wade 5, Morrison 3, Jazamine Gray 23, Eleazor 2, Radway 6
SEVENTY-FIRST - Swait 1, Jamerson 8, Da. Curtis 9, Jacobs 5, Ewers, Carolyn Smith 19, Munn 6, Diona Curtis 37, Huston 2
Fouled out: EW - Morrison; SF - Galbreath
Technical fouls: None
3-point goals: EW - Knuckles 2, Gray, Radway 2; SF - Da. Curtis, Jacobs, Ewers
Records: East Wake 10-16, Seventy-First 22-4