Kabrina Truesdale running the point for the Lady Bucs who advanced with their second round blowout win over Greenville Rose on Wednesday.  Hoggard, however, was eliminated by undefeated Durham Hillside.  Photo Eric Bartsch

Laney 56 - Rose 20

Laney was the top seed and five time defending champions coming into the Mideastern Conference Tournament.  The lost in the finals…it apparently didn’t leave a good taste in their mouth as they appear to be more focused and determined than ever before.

After racing out to a 18-2 lead over Greenville Rose in Michael Jordan Gymnasium on Wednesday at the end of the first quarter, the Lady Bucs stretched the margin to 29-7 by halftime.  According to Amber Doniere, a seventh grade women’s basketball guru, “Laney was clicking on all cylinders.  They came out with good intensity and aggressiveness.”

Head coach Sherri Tynes on if the loss to Hoggard made her team a bit more hungry…”I think so.  Our seniors and juniors aren’t used to it (losing), and they didn’t like it.  It may have helped us get focused…our intensity was good, we came out ready to play.”

The lead grew to 47-9 in the third quarter, and Laney led by as many as 40 points before the Bucs cruised to the 56-20 blowout win.

“Our defense got us rolling,” Tynes said.  “They struggled with our traps and we got some easy baskets as a result.”

Up next for Laney will be a trip to Raleigh to take on Athens Drive Friday night.  Coach Tynes is familiar with this team, as the Bucs faced them last year in the playoffs and expects a tough physical game.  In preparation for Friday’s showdown, Tynes said, “We need to work on setting good screens and being strong with the ball.”

The Bucs were led by Shatara Jackson’s 16 points and Kabrina Truesdale chipped in with 11 while running the point.  

Hillside 56 - Hoggard 42

Hoggard was eliminated by undefeated Durham Hillside on Wednesday ending their season with a 19-9 record.  The Vikings posted a 58-50 first round win over Clayton, but couldn’t get past Hillside in second round, as they were downed 56-42.

Hillside is #2 in the state and ranked

nationally;  it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see them win the state championship. They average 74 points a game while holding their opponents to 34, bu the Lady Vikings went to Durham and gave it their best shot.

Katy Norris opened the game by drilling three straight three pointers and put Hoggard up 9 to 3. Hoggard Coach Ray Beatty said, “At that point our girls realized we could play with this team.”

At the end of the first quarter Hoggard led 14 to 9; this marked the first time Hillside had been behind all year.

Hillside fought back with a good pressure defense and held the Vikings to just five points in the second quarter while scoring fifteen of their own as they assumed a  24-19 lead at the half. 

Showing no quit, the Lady Vikings responded in the third quarter and outscored Hillside 15- 13.  “We were right there and we knew we had a chance if we kept it close,” Beatty said.  

However Hillsides’s full court press helped force 13 turnovers in the final period as they pulled away from Hoggard.  Asia Williams, a 6-3 guard and Jerelle Gorham combined for 13 points down the stretch.  Williams led all scorers with 28 points while Danielle Bongiorno paced the Vikings with 17 points.   Katy Norris added nine points for Hoggard with her early trifectas, but couldn’t add to that total, while Trisha Varno scored eight and McKenzi Edwards seven.

Coach Beatty said, “She seemed to love the big game atmosphere and she stepped up and played equally with the Hillside girls. In this game we knew we would have to have everyone to battle and we came up short, but I am so proud of the way our girls played.”  

Coach Beatty asked to pass along his gratitude to the staff and many Viking supporters, both young and old that have given him a pat on the back and congratulated him on winning the conference championship.