Lady Jackets fall in overtime

Matt Vaughan Herald Sports Editor

Roanoke Rapids -- Lady Jackets guard Keisha Moseley did all she could to carry her team to victory Friday night.

Her 19 points, including a three-point play that sent the game into overtime, weren't enough, however, as Warren County senior center Ashley Williams poured in an astonishing 26 points and 20 rebounds en route to a 54-52 overtime win for the Eagles.

“The whole night we tried to front her,” Lady Jackets coach Gary Edwards said. “They were just able to get the ball overtop us and she kept working to get into position. Once the ball got inside, she's got such good feet we were unable to stop her.”

Roanoke Rapids scratched and clawed throughout the first half to stop Williams, along with fellow post player Roshonda Henderson. The duo combined for 18 points and 14 rebounds in the first 16 minutes alone.

Strong perimeter defense from Lady Jacket Brittany Bowser led to numerous layup opportunities and fast break points that helped counteract the teams inability to stop the Warren County frontcourt.

Down 20-18 heading into the third frame, Roanoke Rapids used a 6-0 run to take their first lead of the game. The run was highlighted by two drives to the dish from Yellow Jacket guard Sasha Medina -- one, a floating finger-roll reminiscent of the San Antonio Spurs' George Gervin.

“We had our second wind,” Edwards said. “Our girls really played good defense, getting into their faces and causing havoc, upsetting them some.”

The problem for the Lady Jackets, one that ultimately undid them, was that once the Eagles did get the ball inside, there was no stopping Williams. She went on to score 10 points in the quarter and Roanoke Rapids found themselves down nine heading into the fourth.

Led by their perimeter defense and intrusive full-court press, the Lady Jackets reeled off a 12-0 run to take control.

Warren County fought back, though, and led by three with 9.2 seconds remaining in the game. Moseley stepped up big for the Lady Jackets, as she has all season, and knocked down a layup and hit the free throw after a foul. Medina missed a layup at the buzzer that would've sealed it for the home team.

In overtime, Bowser nailed a three to get things started and put the Lady Jackets ahead 51-48. After trading free throws, Eagles guard Odessy Jones streaked toward the basket to put her team up 54-52 with under 30 seconds left.

Coach Edwards called a timeout to set up a final play, but his team turned the ball over on the inbound.

“That just comes from never working on that play,” Edwards said. “Erin (Howell) had played really well, but she didn't wait long enough for the girl to come around on the screen. That's how it goes though. When you don't work on something and toss it up on the fly, you never know what'll happen. I'm really happy with our effort though; we played really well.”

The Lady Jackets fall to 5-7 with the loss. They play host to Northwest Halifax Tuesday night.

Junior varsity

In junior varsity action, the Yellow Jackets rallied from 10 points down in the second half, but missed a three-pointer with three seconds remaining to fall to Warren County 36-33. The Jackets were led by Kareem Martin with 9 points and Anthony Puess with eight.