Lynn Burke
02-25-2008, 11:26 PM
King's Fork too much for Menchville
By Tris Wykes | Correspondent
SUFFOLK — Just reaching the Eastern Region tournament was a huge accomplishment for the Menchville High girls basketball team. But once there Monday night, the Monarchs were overwhelmed 57-34 in the first round by King’s Fork, a district champion playing on its home court.
Menchville (12-13), finished sixth in the Peninsula District during the regular season before winning a game in the district tournament to claim a No. 4 seed for regional play and continue the program’s remarkable ascent this season.
King’s Fork, however, was just too much. The Bulldogs have won the Southeastern District’s regular-season and tournament titles the last two seasons and star swing player TaShauna Rodgers has been the district’s player of the year both in both campaigns.
Rodgers, who’s piling up college scholarship offers despite being only a junior, scored 20 points in about 24 minutes of playing time. She scored 31 in each of the Bulldogs’ prior two games. Ransheda Jennings added 15 points, and center Margaret Farris had 10.
Menchville entered with no players boasting double-digit scoring averages and was led by Rashida Elborne, who scored all 12 of her points in the first half. Shiesha Taylor had eight points and Niema Harrington, who began the game as the Monarchs scoring-average leader at 8.5 points per game, had five points.
King’s Fork roared to a 16-4 lead and was up 23-10 after a quarter and 35-23 at halftime. Bulldogs coach Garry Murphy substituted liberally from then on, resting Rodgers and Farris, who are sure to take a pounding if their team manages a postseason run.
“With us playing back-to-back nights, we just wanted to end this game in the first half,’’ said Murphy, whose team hosts Wilson tonight in a quarterfinal game. “Mentally, I think we looked ahead somewhat. We got a report that Wilson had won and I had to work to keep our players’ focus here and not on Tuesday.’’
King’s Fork (23-3) committed nine of its 22 turnovers in a sloppy third quarter, during which Menchville shot 2-for-16 from the floor and which ended with the Bulldogs up 42-27. The teams combined for 23 turnovers and 14-for-65 shooting from the floor in the second half.
KING’S FORK 57, MENCHVILLE 34
MENCHVILLE (12-13): Elborne 12, Taylor 8, Harrington 5, Clements 4, Morgan 2, Vedder 3.
KING’S FORK (23-3): Rodgers 20, Jennings 15, Farris 10, Stone 2, Branch 0, Gatling 4, Robinson 2, Skinner 2, Bellot 2.
Menchville 101347— 34
King’s Fork 2312715 — 57
3-point goals — Menchville 1 (Vedder), King’s Fork 3 (Rodgers 3).
By Tris Wykes | Correspondent
SUFFOLK — Just reaching the Eastern Region tournament was a huge accomplishment for the Menchville High girls basketball team. But once there Monday night, the Monarchs were overwhelmed 57-34 in the first round by King’s Fork, a district champion playing on its home court.
Menchville (12-13), finished sixth in the Peninsula District during the regular season before winning a game in the district tournament to claim a No. 4 seed for regional play and continue the program’s remarkable ascent this season.
King’s Fork, however, was just too much. The Bulldogs have won the Southeastern District’s regular-season and tournament titles the last two seasons and star swing player TaShauna Rodgers has been the district’s player of the year both in both campaigns.
Rodgers, who’s piling up college scholarship offers despite being only a junior, scored 20 points in about 24 minutes of playing time. She scored 31 in each of the Bulldogs’ prior two games. Ransheda Jennings added 15 points, and center Margaret Farris had 10.
Menchville entered with no players boasting double-digit scoring averages and was led by Rashida Elborne, who scored all 12 of her points in the first half. Shiesha Taylor had eight points and Niema Harrington, who began the game as the Monarchs scoring-average leader at 8.5 points per game, had five points.
King’s Fork roared to a 16-4 lead and was up 23-10 after a quarter and 35-23 at halftime. Bulldogs coach Garry Murphy substituted liberally from then on, resting Rodgers and Farris, who are sure to take a pounding if their team manages a postseason run.
“With us playing back-to-back nights, we just wanted to end this game in the first half,’’ said Murphy, whose team hosts Wilson tonight in a quarterfinal game. “Mentally, I think we looked ahead somewhat. We got a report that Wilson had won and I had to work to keep our players’ focus here and not on Tuesday.’’
King’s Fork (23-3) committed nine of its 22 turnovers in a sloppy third quarter, during which Menchville shot 2-for-16 from the floor and which ended with the Bulldogs up 42-27. The teams combined for 23 turnovers and 14-for-65 shooting from the floor in the second half.
KING’S FORK 57, MENCHVILLE 34
MENCHVILLE (12-13): Elborne 12, Taylor 8, Harrington 5, Clements 4, Morgan 2, Vedder 3.
KING’S FORK (23-3): Rodgers 20, Jennings 15, Farris 10, Stone 2, Branch 0, Gatling 4, Robinson 2, Skinner 2, Bellot 2.
Menchville 101347— 34
King’s Fork 2312715 — 57
3-point goals — Menchville 1 (Vedder), King’s Fork 3 (Rodgers 3).