Sports - December 2003

Heartbreaking night for men and lady wolves

Published December 17, 2003

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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The Lincolnton Wolves had North Gaston where they wanted them. Then the unthinkable happened, letting a four-point lead slip away in the final two minutes of the game to lose 75-74.

Head coach Bob Cowie felt the difference between a win and loss came down to mental mistakes.

“We did not play very smart down the stretch and that cost us. The game was right there for us to win,” he said.

The Wildcats were led by Okeba Rollinson, who nailed two three-pointers in the first quarter. The Wolves’ Brant Eagle provided a strong post presence connecting for five points in the paint. At the end of the first quarter it was 13-11 advantage Wildcats.

At the 4:40 mark in the second quarter the Wolves took their first lead of the game 19-18. Guard Darren Wilson made two three-pointers and had eight in the quarter. Jordy Jefferies was a nice compliment to Wilson scoring six.

Dusty Friday provided quality minutes off the bench showing good court vision and making good passes. At the end of the half the score was 31-25 Wolves’ lead.

Lincolnton held a 37-29 lead with 5:30 left in the third quarter. However, that lead nearly evaporated with 17 seconds left in the period with the Wolves leading 51-49.

Left-hander Rollinson, for the Wildcats, found his stroke connecting on three three-pointers in the quarter giving him 19 for the game.

The fourth quarter was nip and nuck with the Wolves holding the advantage for most of the period. Lincolnton led 56-55 with 5:44 left in the fourth.

In the clutch, Eric Wilson, who had struggled for most of the game, showed why he’s a great player scoring three baskets within the final two minutes.

 With the Wolves up 66-64 Rollinson hit a lay-up to tie the game up with under thirty seconds left in the contest.

Lincolnton was holding the ball for the last shot when with 15 seconds left a mental mistake was made. A five-second violation didn’t allow the Wolves to attempt a final shot.

North Gaston missed a jump shot, with Jefferies contesting, to send the game into overtime.

Eric Wilson nailed a three-pointer to put the Wolves up 73-70 with 2:35 left in the extra period.

On the ensuing possession, Wilson drove to the basket and on what appeared to be a basket and the foul, the referees called it a jump ball.

The hoop would’ve given the Wolves a 75-70 lead, but it was not to be.

With around a minute left Darren Wilson made one three throw to push the Lincolnton lead to 74-70.

After a Wildcats’ possession the Wolves tried to inbound. On the inbound’s play Aaron Tyson stole the pass and hit a layup with the foul. He made the charity shot to make the score 74-73 Wolves’ lead.  

Tyson was not through with his clutch play. He tied up a Lincolnton player with less than 30 seconds on the clock. The tie up gave the Wildcats possession.

He then scored the game winning basket banking in a layup to end the game break the Wolves’ hearts 75-74.

The Wolves had four players in double figures: Jefferies had 18 points, Darren Wilson had 17, Eric Wilson had 14 and Zack Gibson connected for 11 points.

Jefferies, although disappointed with the loss, felt he and his teammates played pretty well.

“We played pretty good, but we forced some shots at times. If we take better shots and rebound a little harder, I think we’ll come out on top,” he said.

North Gaston left-hander, Rollinson, scored a game-high 31 points behind a eight three-pointer performance.

“Three-pointers are one of the strong parts of my game and I saw that zone and my eyes got big,” Rollinson said.

“He shot the lights out and there were times Snyder had him contested and he was shooting it from 25 feet. There is nothing you can do about that,” Cowie said of Rollinson’s performance.

Tyson, the Wildcats’ life-saver had five points in the extra period to give him 16 for the game.

North Gaston: Okebe Rollinson 31, Tae Friday 3, Jason Castner 4, Jermiah Williams 9, Luke White 2, Aaron Tyson 16, Jeff Johnson 6, Jared Ewers 2.

Lincolnton: Zack Gibson 11, Eric Wilson 14, Dusty Friday 2, Darren Wilson 17, Jordy Jefferies 18, Kyle Snyder 6, Brant Eagle 7.

Women’s Varsity

Lindsay Sain’s 32 points were not enough to keep her squad from losing 57-54.

The Lady Wolves and Lady Wildcats went back and forth in a highly competitive game through the first three quarters.

At then end of the third quarter, the Lady Wildcats held a 43-41 advantage.

A three-pointer and lay-up by North Gaston’s Monica Johnson gave her team a 48-44 lead with 5:10 left in the fourth quarter.

Sain was quick to answer scoring three straight points to make the score 48-47.

Johnson, a quick player and excellent dribbler, was not finished, scoring four straight points to give her team the lead 52-47.

Andrea Smith, for the Lady Wolves, made two free throws to make the score 52-49 with less than two minutes in the game.

After a North Gaston score, Sain nailed a three-pointer from the top of the key to tie the game at 54 with 44 seconds left.

Monique Sexton gave the Wildcats the lead 56-54 with a layup.

With nine seconds left a Lady Wolves’ jumper went in and out.

Dominzque Davis, who had 14 in the game, hit a free throw to seal the deal for the Wildcats.

The 32 points for Sain was a career-high.

“I just went out there and gave it my all. We lost Shantae (Shank) so I knew I had to step it up. I know I have to be a leader, I can’t back down,” she said.

Head coach David Johnson was very happy with Sain’s performance.

“She’s really taken the challenge upon herself to make us a better team,” he said.

Sain believed a big reason they lost was Johnson’s penetration.

“We would wait until she got down to the free-throw line before we stopped her, then she would just lay it up,” she said.

Johnson led all scorers with 25 for the Lady Wildcats, Sexton chipped in with 10.

Santana Edwards and Jessie Cline both scored nine for the Lady Wolves. Andrea Smith contributed with four points.

Johnson believes that he’s seeing his team come together, but it not quite there.

“Our team is still trying to find it’s identity- what type of team it is. I’ve lost one player (Shank) and three other girls to knee problems. But for them to play as a team is a tremendous improvement,” he said.

The loss lowers the Lady Wolves’ record to 1-5.

North Gaston: Monica Johnson 25, Dominzque Davis 14, Cierra Kennedy 4, Jenna Cole 2, Monique Sexton 10, Lashanna Kennedy, Chelsea McLean 1.

Lincolnton: Lindsay Sain 32, Jessie Cline 9, Santana Edwards 9, Andrea Smith 4.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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