ARGS overcomes early CC lead, ousts Lady Panthers
Getting off to a 7-0 start against second-seeded Appomattox Regional Governor’s School in last Thursday’s Tri-Rivers District basketball semifinals at Surry came made to order for Charles City’s Lady Panthers.
But the number three seed’s early momentum quickly faded as the Dragons outscored the Lady Panthers 15-2 over the remainder of the first quarter and never looked back on the way to a 63-47 triumph. The loss denied Charles City a third shot at district kingpin Franklin and lowered the Lady Panthers’ record to 12-9 heading into this week’s Region A tourney.
“I can sum this up in four words — no heart, no effort,” a disappointed Lady Panther coach, Andre’ Jones, said afterward.
“For the last two games, Franklin and this one, we went through the motions,” he said. “On any other year, this would be the end of the season.”
Charles City moves on, however, under an experimental program by the VHSL this year that allows all Group A teams to enter region play.
“We didn’t execute, we didn’t do what we were supposed to, and we didn’t make the effort,” Jones said.
Jolisa Williams’ trey followed by Ebony Coles’ stick-back and Williams’ steal and lay-in staked Charles City to its 7-0 advantage less than three minutes into the contest. But only Williams’ shot off a Coles assist found the bottom of the net over the next five minutes.
With forward Roslyn Presley leading the way with her game-high 30 points, the Dragons roared back, first cutting the deficit to 9-4 and then finishing the quarter with an 11-0 run.
The Dragon lead reached 17-9 early in quarter two before a Shana Braxton field goal ended the Lady Panther drought. But Charles City never recovered, falling behind 33-20 at halftime.
Charles City missed out on an opportunity to relegate Presley to non-factor status. The Dragon team leader picked up her second personal foul at the 4:41 mark of the second quarter, but she managed to avoid a third over the course of the game.
“We went after her, but we seemed intimidated and played scared tonight,” Jones said. “Scared won’t cut it anymore.”
Appomattox opened the third quarter with a 5-0 run to extend its lead to 18. Charles City never got closer than 13 the rest of the way.
Williams’ 20 points topped Charles City. Coles tossed in seven while Braxton added six followed by Shana Brown’s five, Toni Harris’ four, two apiece from Shaunte Williams and Hilary Wynn, and Joy Wynn’s one.