Lady Vikings fall to Oakwood in title game
Lady Vikings fall to Oakwood in title game By Nick Terry sports@rrdailyherald.com | 0 comments
ROANOKE RAPIDS - Facing the only team to beat it this season, the Halifax Academy girls basketball team fell behind early against The Oakwood School, leading to a 61-53 loss in Saturday's Coastal Independent Conference Championship.
baskets of the game, Oakwood got hot and closed the first quarter on a 10-2 run to give it a 15-6 advantage after one. The nine-point advantage for the Eagles quickly reached double-digits as their pressure defense began to get to the Lady Vikings (23-2, 11-2 Coastal Independent Conference), resulting in several turnovers leading to easy baskets and an 11-2 run to start the second.
"They changed up their regular press defense against us, and we turned it over during the beginning of the ball game," Halifax Academy head coach Rabbit Long said of his team's early struggles.
Once the Lady Vikings were able to settle in though, they began to chip away at the Lady Eagles' lead and fought their way back into the game. With the score 26-10 midway through the second, Halifax Academy closed the period on a 19-9 run to cut its deficit to 35-29 at the half.
"Once we made adjustments, the girls came out and we were able to cut it to six going into halftime," Long said. "The girls did an outstanding job once we found the middle and I felt like we did all right. Finding the middle of the floor was the key to breaking the press."
The momentum the Lady Vikings picked up in the second quarter carried over into the second half as they opened the third on a 10-6 run to pull within two. But once they cut it to a one-possession game, the Lady Eagles responded by closing the third with an 8-3 run of their own, giving them a 49-42 edge after three.
Halifax Academy had one final run left in it though, and opened the fourth on a 9-4 tear to again cut its deficit to two. However, just like the previous time the Lady Vikings made it a one-possession game, the Lady Eagles had an answer. Oakwood closed things out on an 8-2 streak to give it the conference title.
Kelly Williams led all scorers with 27 points, while Kim Shearin added 14 of her own.
Williams, Kate Starnes and Shearin were named to the All-Conference team, with Williams being named the conference's MVP for the regular season as well. Williams also made the All-Tournament team and was joined by teammate Drew Rose.
Lady Vikings fall to Oakwood in title game By Nick Terry sports@rrdailyherald.com | 0 comments
ROANOKE RAPIDS - Facing the only team to beat it this season, the Halifax Academy girls basketball team fell behind early against The Oakwood School, leading to a 61-53 loss in Saturday's Coastal Independent Conference Championship.
baskets of the game, Oakwood got hot and closed the first quarter on a 10-2 run to give it a 15-6 advantage after one. The nine-point advantage for the Eagles quickly reached double-digits as their pressure defense began to get to the Lady Vikings (23-2, 11-2 Coastal Independent Conference), resulting in several turnovers leading to easy baskets and an 11-2 run to start the second.
"They changed up their regular press defense against us, and we turned it over during the beginning of the ball game," Halifax Academy head coach Rabbit Long said of his team's early struggles.
Once the Lady Vikings were able to settle in though, they began to chip away at the Lady Eagles' lead and fought their way back into the game. With the score 26-10 midway through the second, Halifax Academy closed the period on a 19-9 run to cut its deficit to 35-29 at the half.
"Once we made adjustments, the girls came out and we were able to cut it to six going into halftime," Long said. "The girls did an outstanding job once we found the middle and I felt like we did all right. Finding the middle of the floor was the key to breaking the press."
The momentum the Lady Vikings picked up in the second quarter carried over into the second half as they opened the third on a 10-6 run to pull within two. But once they cut it to a one-possession game, the Lady Eagles responded by closing the third with an 8-3 run of their own, giving them a 49-42 edge after three.
Halifax Academy had one final run left in it though, and opened the fourth on a 9-4 tear to again cut its deficit to two. However, just like the previous time the Lady Vikings made it a one-possession game, the Lady Eagles had an answer. Oakwood closed things out on an 8-2 streak to give it the conference title.
Kelly Williams led all scorers with 27 points, while Kim Shearin added 14 of her own.
Williams, Kate Starnes and Shearin were named to the All-Conference team, with Williams being named the conference's MVP for the regular season as well. Williams also made the All-Tournament team and was joined by teammate Drew Rose.
