kennedy
01-12-2008, 12:07 AM
Woodside girls roll after bounce
By Daniel Maher
Corresponent
NEWPORT NEWS — When Woodside’s Denyse Moore launched a baseline jumper with about 3:50 remaining in the first half Friday, the Wolverines badly needed a reversal of fortune against visiting Menchville.
Moore’s shot bounced several times and appeared ready to roll off the rim. But the basketball finally fell through the hoop, almost magically triggering a 13-1 run by Woodside over the next 2 minutes, 15 seconds and giving the Wolverines a lead they would never relinquish en route to a 44-34 victory.
"Anytime I make that (kind of) shot," Moore said, "it hypes me up. When we get hyped we try to pick it up."
The Monarchs (7-5, 4-5 Peninsula District) had opened a lead thanks to early scoring bursts by Rashida Elborne and Naimi Harrington. But after Moore’s fortunate bounce, Woodside’s tiniest player, Candice Kelly, slashed into the lane to grab a rebound and score on a layup. Then she raced to a tying layup after a steal in the forecourt.
A free throw by Menchville’s Cassandra Morgan briefly restored the lead to the Monarchs, but Woodside (7-2, 6-2) scored on its next three possessions for a 25-19 edge and some breathing room.
"The first half of the game we weren’t playing good at all," Moore said. "We let them get to our heads."
Wolverines coach Mike Tallon agreed, lamenting his squad’s poor fundamentals on a night when a lucky bounce seemed to turn the tide.
"That’s the worst game we’ve played all year long," Tallon said.
"Fundamentally, Menchville was the much better team. They’re a team I thought could give people trouble on any given night, and we just let ’em have wide open jump shots the whole first half."
"My team does have a lot of character, though. Even when they play badly they keep in the game."
Menchville trimmed the lead back to 27-25 when they scored the first points of the second half, but never got as close the rest of the way.
Cold shooting by the Monarchs throughout the second half and a deliberate offensive approach by Woodside in the fourth quarter combined to hold Menchville to only 11 points after intermission.
"I just thought we didn’t match Woodside’s intensity in the second half," said Menchville coach Aaron Webb. "We’re very young and we need to learn to match another team’s intensity for four quarters."
Tallon credited his point guard with being the anchor that kept Woodside within reach of district leaders Heritage and Hampton.
"We didn’t play intelligently at all tonight, but Bridjette Parker had the steadiest head out there, and that was key," Tallon said.
Parker contributed nine points and two steals, while Moore had 10 points and three steals. Seja Gamble dropped in 11 to lead Woodside’s scoring.
Elborne and Harrington paced Menchville with 12 apiece.
By Daniel Maher
Corresponent
NEWPORT NEWS — When Woodside’s Denyse Moore launched a baseline jumper with about 3:50 remaining in the first half Friday, the Wolverines badly needed a reversal of fortune against visiting Menchville.
Moore’s shot bounced several times and appeared ready to roll off the rim. But the basketball finally fell through the hoop, almost magically triggering a 13-1 run by Woodside over the next 2 minutes, 15 seconds and giving the Wolverines a lead they would never relinquish en route to a 44-34 victory.
"Anytime I make that (kind of) shot," Moore said, "it hypes me up. When we get hyped we try to pick it up."
The Monarchs (7-5, 4-5 Peninsula District) had opened a lead thanks to early scoring bursts by Rashida Elborne and Naimi Harrington. But after Moore’s fortunate bounce, Woodside’s tiniest player, Candice Kelly, slashed into the lane to grab a rebound and score on a layup. Then she raced to a tying layup after a steal in the forecourt.
A free throw by Menchville’s Cassandra Morgan briefly restored the lead to the Monarchs, but Woodside (7-2, 6-2) scored on its next three possessions for a 25-19 edge and some breathing room.
"The first half of the game we weren’t playing good at all," Moore said. "We let them get to our heads."
Wolverines coach Mike Tallon agreed, lamenting his squad’s poor fundamentals on a night when a lucky bounce seemed to turn the tide.
"That’s the worst game we’ve played all year long," Tallon said.
"Fundamentally, Menchville was the much better team. They’re a team I thought could give people trouble on any given night, and we just let ’em have wide open jump shots the whole first half."
"My team does have a lot of character, though. Even when they play badly they keep in the game."
Menchville trimmed the lead back to 27-25 when they scored the first points of the second half, but never got as close the rest of the way.
Cold shooting by the Monarchs throughout the second half and a deliberate offensive approach by Woodside in the fourth quarter combined to hold Menchville to only 11 points after intermission.
"I just thought we didn’t match Woodside’s intensity in the second half," said Menchville coach Aaron Webb. "We’re very young and we need to learn to match another team’s intensity for four quarters."
Tallon credited his point guard with being the anchor that kept Woodside within reach of district leaders Heritage and Hampton.
"We didn’t play intelligently at all tonight, but Bridjette Parker had the steadiest head out there, and that was key," Tallon said.
Parker contributed nine points and two steals, while Moore had 10 points and three steals. Seja Gamble dropped in 11 to lead Woodside’s scoring.
Elborne and Harrington paced Menchville with 12 apiece.