Warriors have Wright stuff

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Nansemond River scored 17 consecutive points between the last minutes of the first half and the first 90 seconds of the second half and moved on to Saturday morning’s semifinals in the Fall Ball tournament, defeating Heritage 65-47 at River Monday night.

It was a well-balanced attack for the Warriors as four players finished in double digits, but Nick Wright was the first half force on both ends of the floor.

Within four minutes, Wright had outscored Heritage by himself, giving River a 6-4 lead.

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Wright kept on controlling both lanes, and by the time he got his first chance to rest with 7:15 left before halftime, Wright had tallied 10 points, six boards and three blocks.

Just when Wright’s inside domination was established, the 6’6&uot; center showed his outside range.

With River holding for the last shot of the half, Vaughn Wilson ran a pick-and-roll with Wright at the top of the key with the clock going past :10.

Wright set the pick and remained out beyond the three-point line as Wilson drove to the basket.

Wilson kicked it out to Wright, who drained the three.

Wright’s three gave River a 32-18 lead at the half, and the Warriors had run off 10 points in a row to end the period.

River was just as hot coming out of the break. The Warriors scored seven more unanswered points in the first 1:30, taking a 39-18 lead after the game had been close for most of the first half.

Wright finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and five blocks. Sean Debbly and Wilson had 11 points each; Andre Jones finished with 10 points and four steals.

In the last game of the night, Lakeland’s Fall Ball season came to a close with a 44-35 loss to Wilson.

In a regular season game three weeks ago, Lakeland had bested the Presidents by 19.

Monday however, Wilson jumped out to a 20-8 lead and Lakeland never led.

Lakeland finished the first half on an 8-0 run, with six of those points coming from Lamont Simmons.

Lakeland kept the deficit under 10 during the second half, but was unable to get closer than two possessions.

Chris Hearn’s left-wing three, the Cavaliers’ only trey of the game, made it 26-21 with about 13 minutes left.

A few minutes later, a Simmons lay-up cut the Wilson lead to four at 33-29, but Lakeland could not come all the way back.

Simmons was Lakeland’s leading scorer with 10 points.

Mario Hunter and Voyland Cooke had six rebounds apiece.

Darren Copeland had four assists.

King’s Fork begins their tournament play tonight with a quarterfinal game versus Norview.

andrew.giermak@suffolknewsherald.com