Lady Warriors win over W. Branch

Published 10:43 pm Friday, December 5, 2008

What started poorly ended well for the Nansemond River’s girls basketball team Friday in a 52-43 defeat of visiting Western Branch. The victory improved the Warriors to 2-0 overall and in Southeastern District play. They hit the road next week, with district games at Grassfield on Tuesday and Oscar Smith on Friday.

Shooting guard Andrea Jones led Nansemond River with 17 points, tied with the Bruins’ Lauren Johnson for high total in the game. Trinese Fox scored 10 points for the Warriors, who also got a strong defensive performance in the paint from center Brittany Boyd.

Trailing 9-3 midway through the first quarter, Nansemond River reeled off seven unanswered points to lead 10-9 at the stanza’s end. Jones, Fox and Jasmine Clark each hit 2-point field goals and Fox added a free throw to hers after being fouled.

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The Warriors pushed their lead to 26-18 at halftime, with Jones scoring five points in the second quarter and DeShanna Honore’ chipping in four. Western Branch hit only 4 of 22 field goals in the half and was 0 of 8 from 3-point range.

Nansemond River helped the Bruins stay within striking distance, however, by committing bushels of fouls. Western Branch went to the line 15 times in the first half, compared to eight trips for the Warriors. By game’s end, the Bruins (1-1) had shot 32 times from the charity stripe and Nansemond River only 11.

The second half’s only real suspense came when Western Branch reserve Amanda Henricks stole a pass and converted a layup to pull the Bruins within 37-30 a minute into the fourth quarter.

However, Jones nailed a 3-point shot and was fouled in the act by Henricks 15 seconds later. Jones converted the resulting free throw and her team’s lead was up to 41-30. She has scored a combined 32 points in two games this season.

Nansemond River hit on 20 of 58 field goals, 4 of 20 3-point attempts and 7 of 11 free throws.