Cary WBB make trip to third round

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Wendell - It would seeming be Cary High Head Women's Basketball Coach Donald Kents' worst nitemare.

To be opening up the 2012 NCHSAA State play-offs against the school he teaches at but two games removed, he finds this nitemare start turning into a dream.

Following a 4 point win (51-47) over the #5 seeded, Lady Warriors from East Wake, Cary followed it with a low scoring 2 point win (29-27), over the #4 seeded, Lady Buccaneers from Wilmington Laney High School, and allowing Coach Kent to watch his team advance to the teams first sectional final since the 04-05 season.

Cary, now playing with only 8 dressed players, is getting it done with team defense, and getting scoring from their two biggest players.

CHS's run started Monday  night as they traveled to East Wake to take on the Lady Warriors, the #2 seed out of the Greater Neuse Conference.  Cary was the #4 seed out of the Tri-9 conference.

East Wake got the opening quarter started jumping out to a 6-2 lead behind baskets from Tianna Knuckles and Shakerrya Morrison, holding that till the 5:23 mark.

That is when Cary got going.

After two straight jump-ball calls, the Lady Imps finished the last 3 minutes of the quarter going on a 10-3 run to take 12-9 lead into the quarter break.

Junior Whitney Coleman got things started with a put back off a rebound at the 2:59 mark tying the game at 6.  She followed that up, off an assist from Junior Natalie Sherwood, giving Cary the 8-6 lead at the 2 min. mark.

Sophomore Azura Stevens closed out the first putting the last four points on the board.

Following a 3-pointer by Ciera Williams, that gave EWHS at 9-8 edge w/1:34 left in the quarter, Stevens converted on a lay-up on the other end giving Cary back the lead. 

Steven's, with 15.1 seconds left, scored from close in to make it 12-9, CHS after the first.

The Lady Warriors opened the second applying pressure and hitting shots as they went on a 11-2 to open up a 6-point advantage at 20-14.

Knuckles hit four straight from the line then Morrison hit from close range to make it 15-12, EWHS, with 6:17 till the half.

After a basket by Stevens for Cary, Knuckles, who finished with 18 to lead East Wake in scoring, hit from long range to make it 18-14.  Then following a steal, EWHS made it 20-14, with 5:29 till the break.

From there the two teams exchanged baskets, as Stevens put up 9 of her game high 30 points to help Cary walk into the locker room down only by 1, 26-25, at the break.

Cary retook the lead shortly after returning from the break as Stevens scored two quick baskets making it 29-26, CHS.

Coleman, who finished with 20, made it a 4-point lead, as she scored with 3:10 left in the 3rd.  She finished the 3rd scoring, off an assist from Freshman Meredith Courtney, making the score 36-30, CHS.

The Lady Imps extended out to their biggest lead, 10-points, with 6:16 remaining off a jumper by Coleman making it 42-32.

East Wake closed it to within 2, 44-42, with 2:36 left, after going on a 10-2 run.

Following a EWHS full time-out, Daisha Thorpe and Willams scored on back-to-back baskets making it 42-36, prompting Coach Kent to use a full time-out of his own.

Shortly after the time-out, Coleman made it 44-36, scoring off a steal at mid-court turning it into an easy lay-up.

Knuckles answered by scoring 5 straight points just :30 seconds apart making it 44-41, CHS.  Williams hit 1-of-2 from the line to close out the run making it 44-42.

Steven's closed out the win going 4-for-4 from the line sealing Cary's 51-47 win over East Wake advancing them to the second round to face Wilmington Laney down in Wilmington.

Down in Wilmington it was once again Stevens and Coleman carrying the scoring load as Cary advanced to the third round, first time since the 04-05 season, with a scrappy 29-27 win over the Lady Buccaneers.

With the win, Cary advances to face the Lady Wildcats from Millbrook High School Friday night, 2/24, at Millbrook.