Wildcats seniors go out in style
Here is a recap of Friday's Carolina Day-Rabun Gap (Ga.) girls basketball game from correspondent Parker Johnson:
ASHEVILLE - The Carolina Day girls basketball team got to send off its seniors in winning fashion Friday night.
The Wildcats (18-3, 3-1) defeated the Rabun Gap (Ga.) Eagles (12-6, 3-1) by a final score of 47-27, behind 11 points from center Halei Gillis. Rabun Gap guard Meona Feather led all scorers with 16 in a losing effort.
The result gave the two Carolinas Athletic Association frontrunners a split on the season, after Rabun Gap had won the first matchup on January 15.
This was the first game back for Carolina Day senior Mikayla Ray, a former All-CAA selection who had been sidelined with a knee injury. She had eight points.
“She makes us a different team. She gives us more inside presence, and she went out tonight and played the way she has always played,” said Wildcats coach Joe Carrington of the returning senior.
The game was a hard-nosed defensive struggle from the start. With both teams possessing players over 6 feet, 5 inches in the post (Gillis for Carolina Day and Alyssa Humes for Rabun Gap), the focus of the game offensively and defensively was down low.
This led to a first half where neither team was able to surmount 10 points in a quarter. The halftime score was 17-13 in favor of Carolina Day.
The Wildcats came out of the locker room with fire. Zaria Joyner and Gillis led an offensive charge for the Wildcats, as the team got to the free throw line 10 times in the third quarter, earning free points while racking up fouls on the Eagles.
The frustration created by a feisty Carolina Day team came to its peak as Rabun Gap was assessed a technical foul for an illegal substitution with 1:34 left in the quarter. This capped a 16-2 run for Carolina Day in the third frame.
“In the third quarter I thought we played really well. We limited them to one shot every possession, and our kids were focused on where their scorers were tonight on defense,” said Carrington.
Despite a barrage of three-point shots and a late push from Rabun Gap, the Wildcats never looked back, cruising to a 47-27 victory. They were even able to take several seniors out of the game in the closing seconds so that they could receive one final round of applause from the home crowd in Nash Athletic Center.
The two talented teams will now fight for the CAA conference championship, and look to make deep runs into the playoffs as the season comes to a close. Both teams will travel to Asheville Christian Academy next week, with Rabun Gap playing on Tuesday, and Carolina Day playing on Friday.
Here is a recap of Friday's Carolina Day-Rabun Gap (Ga.) girls basketball game from correspondent Parker Johnson:
ASHEVILLE - The Carolina Day girls basketball team got to send off its seniors in winning fashion Friday night.
The Wildcats (18-3, 3-1) defeated the Rabun Gap (Ga.) Eagles (12-6, 3-1) by a final score of 47-27, behind 11 points from center Halei Gillis. Rabun Gap guard Meona Feather led all scorers with 16 in a losing effort.
The result gave the two Carolinas Athletic Association frontrunners a split on the season, after Rabun Gap had won the first matchup on January 15.
This was the first game back for Carolina Day senior Mikayla Ray, a former All-CAA selection who had been sidelined with a knee injury. She had eight points.
“She makes us a different team. She gives us more inside presence, and she went out tonight and played the way she has always played,” said Wildcats coach Joe Carrington of the returning senior.
The game was a hard-nosed defensive struggle from the start. With both teams possessing players over 6 feet, 5 inches in the post (Gillis for Carolina Day and Alyssa Humes for Rabun Gap), the focus of the game offensively and defensively was down low.
This led to a first half where neither team was able to surmount 10 points in a quarter. The halftime score was 17-13 in favor of Carolina Day.
The Wildcats came out of the locker room with fire. Zaria Joyner and Gillis led an offensive charge for the Wildcats, as the team got to the free throw line 10 times in the third quarter, earning free points while racking up fouls on the Eagles.
The frustration created by a feisty Carolina Day team came to its peak as Rabun Gap was assessed a technical foul for an illegal substitution with 1:34 left in the quarter. This capped a 16-2 run for Carolina Day in the third frame.
“In the third quarter I thought we played really well. We limited them to one shot every possession, and our kids were focused on where their scorers were tonight on defense,” said Carrington.
Despite a barrage of three-point shots and a late push from Rabun Gap, the Wildcats never looked back, cruising to a 47-27 victory. They were even able to take several seniors out of the game in the closing seconds so that they could receive one final round of applause from the home crowd in Nash Athletic Center.
The two talented teams will now fight for the CAA conference championship, and look to make deep runs into the playoffs as the season comes to a close. Both teams will travel to Asheville Christian Academy next week, with Rabun Gap playing on Tuesday, and Carolina Day playing on Friday.
