Statesville tops LA

Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 22, 2005

WILSON-Lawrence Academy fell to Statesville Christian in the championship round of the Greenfield Christmas Tournament Tuesday night, 50-35.

The Lady Warriors took a 4-2 lead after baskets by Jodi White and Jessica Johnston.

Statesville then rattled off seven points to take a 9-4 advantage before two Lawrence baskets cut the lead to one (9-8).

With a minute remaining in the first quarter Sarah Gillam put Kate Gillam’s pass in the basket for two to tie the score at 12, but just before time expired Bridgett Henderson hit a bucket to put Statesville ahead 14-12.

The Lions controlled the second quarter outscoring the Warriors 12-4.

Statesville’s half court press forced Lawrence to make long lob passes, allowing the Lions to get back on defense before the Warriors could set up their offense.

At the end of the half Statesville held a 26-16 lead.

The Lions hit a deuce and a trey before Jane Perry hit a wide-open White for the layup to break the Lawrence scoring drought.

The teams traded baskets before Statesville scored eight unanswered points, taking a 42-20 lead.

Kendall Street muscled in the lane for two, ending the Lions’ scoring run, but Drew Burgiss answered for Statesville.

K. Gillam and White each hit a Lawrence bucket as the Warriors fell behind at the end of the third, 44-26.

Statesville hit two baskets to start the final quarter.

Lawrence stepped up their aggressiveness under the basket and did a better job finding the open man.

Street hit a layup to cut the Lions lead to 20 (48-28).

Laurel Taylor sank a basket just inside the three-point line followed by another Street layup.

K. Gillam took Taylor’s bounce pass to the hoop for two and Street sank a foul shot to cut the Lions lead to 13 (48-35)).

Time was against the Warriors as Statesville ran three minutes off the clock before Burgiss scored a basket in the final seconds as the Lions took a 50-35 victory.

&uot;The half court pressure in the second half took us out of our game,&uot; said Lawrence head coach Charlie Hardin.

&uot;Our passing game looked good in the first but they started pressuring and we didn’t adjust.

We finally adjusted in the fourth quarter, but it was too late,&uot; Hardin continued.

White had a double-double for the Warriors, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

Street had nine points and seven rebounds in the loss.

Statesville (50): Egle Bauzaite – 14, Drew Burgiss – 11, J. Jolly – 7, M. Sakalyte – 7, B. Henderson – 6, J. Jordan – 5

Lawrence (35): Jodi White – 10, K. Street – 9, J. Johnston – 6, S. Gillam – 4, K. Gillam – 4, L. Taylor – 2