Sports - December 2002

Cherryville takes two from the Rebels

TERRANCE THOMAS, LTN Staff Writer

December 16, 2002 - VALE — The Cherryville-West Lincoln rivalry is alive and well.

Fans packed West Lincoln’s gym Friday night to see the two schools play.

Cherryville fans had the last laugh. Their girls won 52-28 and their boys were victorious 82-70.

The girls game was all Cherryville from start to finish. The Lady Ironmen shot out to a 8-0 lead and didn’t look back.

They stretched it from 8-0 to 17-5 to 29-10 at halftime and then 43-22 at the end of the third.

The Lady Rebels struggled on offense. They scored six points or less in three of the four quarters.

West made just 11 baskets for the game. Lily Tallent scored 15 of her team’s 28 points. Brittany Watts added six.

Cherryville had four players in double digits in scoring.

Lydia Rayfield hit four 3-pointers in her 15-point game. Ebone Johnson had 12, Natalie Willis and Angie Walls both contributed 10 each.

In the boys game, emotions were running high, coaches yelling at coaches and fans at the officials, who called the game tightly.

Rivalries, well, bring out the spirit in everyone.

It was a tight game until the end, even though West didn’t hold the lead at any point in the game.

However, the Ironmen could not break away from the Rebels. Midway in the second quarter, Cherryville went up 30-19 but B.J. Holland capped a 10-4 run to get back within five.

West jumped out to an 11-4 run in the third quarter to make it a one-point game, 43-42.

But after Cherryville’s Kenneth Harris’ layup, a technical foul was called on West Lincoln right after a foul was committed.

That meant two foul shots, two technical shots and the ball back to the Ironmen.

They took advantage of it, hitting three free throws. And, when they got the ball, Antone Little canned a 3-pointer to give Cherryville a nine-point lead and what everyone thought was the knockout punch.

But the Rebels didn’t quit and put together a scoring combination themselves (highlighted by a 3-pointer from Chase Caldwell) to stay a close 54-50 at the end of the quarter.

Cherryville behind Harris’ game-high 28 points pulled away early in the fourth quarter.

With the score 70-62 and 3:42 left, West started to have problems at the free throw line. The Rebels made only 2-of-9 while trying to make a comeback.

Cody Branton was one Rebel who didn’t quit. He drew fouls and scored a couple of baskets and a 3-pointer late in the game.

“We were in position to win the game,” said Branton who led West with 20 points. “I just missed some free throws. I should have shot better than that. We’ll come out Monday and get ready for Chase Friday.”

Ben Bryant (12 points) and Zack Franklin (11) also had good games. Six others scored from three to five points for the Rebels.

West played perhaps its best offensive game of the season.

“We knew their intentions were to come in here and make it a track meet,” said assistant coach Charles Littlejohn. “We really wanted to come in and slow things down.

“If we would have made shots down the stretch, we would have had it,” he said. “This is a big step for us. Our offense scored 70 points. They are a pretty good team and they give pretty good pressure. I’m not totally upset.”

Other than Harris, Little helped Cherryville win with his 19. Maurice Hunt had 12.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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