Published: 12:30 AM, Thu Feb 25, 2010
E.E. Smith girls start slowly, then cruise to win
By Al Myatt
Correspondent
E.E. Smith girls' basketball coach Dee Hardy had a headache before Wednesday night's second round 4-A sectional matchup with Wilmington Laney. The Golden Bullettes' first quarter didn't help her recovery.
A steal and lay-up by Shaylin Johnson gave the visitors an 11-10 lead, and Rebecca Burke's basket from underneath have the Buccaneers a 13-10 advantage. Senior Tia Moore drove and scored to trim the deficit to 13-12 at the end of eight minutes.
Smith (23-1) got the first four points of the second quarter on baskets by Amber Whitaker and Moore to take the lead for keeps. A 53-35 victory made Hardy feel better.
"We were a little shaky starting out tonight, definitely," Hardy said. "The main thing we said was just 'settle down and focus and play our style of basketball.' We pride ourselves in being able to create offense from defense and what we wanted to do was just settle down.
"We felt like if we were patient and disciplined, then we would be able to transition into some easy buckets."
Junior Jovanah Griffin worked inside for a game-high 18 points for Smith, and said Hardy delivered another message at halftime with the Golden Bullettes holding a 29-20 lead.
Halftime motivation
"Coach gave us some words of motivation, and we played with better teamwork in the second half," Griffin said. "The first half we didn't do really good on boxing out. The second half we keyed in on boxing out and played really good defense."
Burke had 15 points to lead Laney (13-10), and Karina Truesdale added 10.
Smith will host Southeast Raleigh, which eliminated Lumberton, at 7 p.m. Friday in the sectional final
Hardy has a degree of familiarity with Lumberton's Lady Pirates, having faced them in league play last season, but the focus in practice today won't be so much about the opponent.
"At this point in time, we can try to prepare for the other team, but I feel what it's going to boil down to is who executes their game the best," Hardy said.
E.E. Smith 53, Wilmington Laney 35
Laney 13 7 9 6 - 35
E.E. Smith 12 17 14 10 - 53
LANEY: Rebecca Burke 15, Kabrina Truesdale 10, Johnson 6, Parker 2, Bress 2.
E.E.SMITH: Jovanah Graham 18, Amber Whitaker 11, Tia Moore 10, Smith 6, McMillian 4, Hardy 2, Green 2.
Fouled out: None.
Technical fouls: None.
3-point goals: WL - Truesdale. EES - Whitaker.
Records: Wilmington Laney 13-10, E.E. Smith 23-1.