Host Jags Come Up Short

RALEIGH - Sanderson girls coach Marcus Davis was hopeful his team wouldn't have a letdown heading into the championship game of the Athens Drive Invitational Tournament. His team had just beaten Fuquay-Varina soundly and already had two wins against Athens Drive this season.

"My assistant coach and I were talking this morning about how hard it is to beat a team three times. In the locker room we talked about having a great first four minutes and the team really responded and had a great start."

His team responded in a big way, defeating the host Athens Drive Jaguars 66-24 to pick up the tournament title.

Sanderson jumped out to a 20-4 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.

Athens Drive coach Patrick Daley also conceded that Sanderson's fast start was the difference in the game.

"It was one of those nights. Sanderson played great from start to finish. We tried multiple things to stop their offense. I thought we were totally prepared to play this game so it surprised me that when they threw the first punch, we didn't really have an answer."

Sanderson had five players to finish with double figures, lead by Jessica Fife with 14 points and Mary Boylan with 12. No Athens Drive player finished with more than five points.

Daley hopes that the tournament will give his team some continuity in a season that has been short on it so far.