WCA girls sharp in defeating Cary Academy
By Tom Ham
In a turnaround performance in its home opener Tuesday night, the Wilson Christian Academy varsity girls basketball team, the reigning North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A champion, rolled to a 45-30 victory against Cary Academy, a 4-A member of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association.
Seniors Kate Hoskins and Jacelyn Bailey led the Lady Chargers to their second win is many evenings to open the 2022-23 season. Bailey netted 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Hoskins wound up with 14 points and eight rebounds.
We were way more patient,” assessed veteran WCA head coach Brian Trull. “We made the right decisions and the extra pass led to open shots.”
Added Hoskins: “We moved our feet and got into a rhythm. Communication was a big part of it and we were a lot more under control. We learned our lesson (Monday in a win), and we got it under control.”
Trull and Hoskins each noted WCA’s defense against Cary 6-foot-3 freshman Kaylin Pernell was critical. Praised was the defensive effort of 6-foot-2 senior Sophia Nesbit, who limited Pernell to a mere two points in the second half.
“Our defense on No. 22 (Pernell) was the key to us being in the game,” Trull declared. “We adjusted to a 1-2-2 (zone defense) and Sophia put on her.”
Added Hoskins: “We saw her. We matched that by putting our big (Nesbit) on their big (Pernell). She absolutely locked her down. Her defense stopped (Pernell) for the most part.”
Leading 10-8 after the first quarter, WCA, boosted by the defensive adjustment, boosted the margin to 20-10 on junior point guard Chloe Villaverde-s 3-pointer. Led by Pernell, who finished with 13 points, Cary’s Chargers trimmed the defiict to 25-19 at halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter until Pernell laid in her only second-half basket with 4:38 showing in the period. Bailey answered for WCA. A field goal each from Nesbit and junior Gracie Farmer fueled a 7-0 run to end the quarter and send Wilson Christian to a 32-22 advantage.
Hoskins opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer and the lead crested at 45-25 on Bailley’s bucket with 2:49 showing. Both Trull and Cary head coach Brandon Pope emptied their benches with over two minutes left.
Wilson Christian drained seven 3-pointers and shot for 42% accuracy beyond the arc. WCA shot for an overall percentage of 52% from the floor.
“If they gave us 3’s and we saw them, we shot team,” said Hoskins, who bombed in a pair of 3-pointers.
“When they ran man(-to-man defense), we looked for easy lay-ups. We stayed under control and took what they gave us. We knew what to do.”
CARY ACADEMY (30)
Hala, McMahon 3, Surnfeal 6, Smith 4, Esposito 4, DeMatteis,
White, Pernell 13.
WILSON CHRISTIAN (45)
Hurteau, Villaerde 3, Miller, Bailey 14, Martin, K. Hoskins 14, Farmer 6, Price, Nesbit 6, Mercer, Parker, Little 2.
Score by quarters:
Cary 8 11 3 8 — 30
Wilson Christian 10 15 9 11 — 45
By Tom Ham
In a turnaround performance in its home opener Tuesday night, the Wilson Christian Academy varsity girls basketball team, the reigning North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A champion, rolled to a 45-30 victory against Cary Academy, a 4-A member of the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association.
Seniors Kate Hoskins and Jacelyn Bailey led the Lady Chargers to their second win is many evenings to open the 2022-23 season. Bailey netted 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds, while Hoskins wound up with 14 points and eight rebounds.
We were way more patient,” assessed veteran WCA head coach Brian Trull. “We made the right decisions and the extra pass led to open shots.”
Added Hoskins: “We moved our feet and got into a rhythm. Communication was a big part of it and we were a lot more under control. We learned our lesson (Monday in a win), and we got it under control.”
Trull and Hoskins each noted WCA’s defense against Cary 6-foot-3 freshman Kaylin Pernell was critical. Praised was the defensive effort of 6-foot-2 senior Sophia Nesbit, who limited Pernell to a mere two points in the second half.
“Our defense on No. 22 (Pernell) was the key to us being in the game,” Trull declared. “We adjusted to a 1-2-2 (zone defense) and Sophia put on her.”
Added Hoskins: “We saw her. We matched that by putting our big (Nesbit) on their big (Pernell). She absolutely locked her down. Her defense stopped (Pernell) for the most part.”
Leading 10-8 after the first quarter, WCA, boosted by the defensive adjustment, boosted the margin to 20-10 on junior point guard Chloe Villaverde-s 3-pointer. Led by Pernell, who finished with 13 points, Cary’s Chargers trimmed the defiict to 25-19 at halftime.
Neither team scored in the third quarter until Pernell laid in her only second-half basket with 4:38 showing in the period. Bailey answered for WCA. A field goal each from Nesbit and junior Gracie Farmer fueled a 7-0 run to end the quarter and send Wilson Christian to a 32-22 advantage.
Hoskins opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 3-pointer and the lead crested at 45-25 on Bailley’s bucket with 2:49 showing. Both Trull and Cary head coach Brandon Pope emptied their benches with over two minutes left.
Wilson Christian drained seven 3-pointers and shot for 42% accuracy beyond the arc. WCA shot for an overall percentage of 52% from the floor.
“If they gave us 3’s and we saw them, we shot team,” said Hoskins, who bombed in a pair of 3-pointers.
“When they ran man(-to-man defense), we looked for easy lay-ups. We stayed under control and took what they gave us. We knew what to do.”
CARY ACADEMY (30)
Hala, McMahon 3, Surnfeal 6, Smith 4, Esposito 4, DeMatteis,
White, Pernell 13.
WILSON CHRISTIAN (45)
Hurteau, Villaerde 3, Miller, Bailey 14, Martin, K. Hoskins 14, Farmer 6, Price, Nesbit 6, Mercer, Parker, Little 2.
Score by quarters:
Cary 8 11 3 8 — 30
Wilson Christian 10 15 9 11 — 45
