Lady Warriors roll past Grassfield
Published 10:58 pm Tuesday, December 7, 2010
![IMG_2358](https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2010/12/IMG_23581.jpg)
Charging the basket: Nansemond River center Delisia Sharpe goes up in the lane for a basket in NR’s Southeastern District game at Grassfield Tuesday. Sharpe had a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards as NR won 66-51.
CHESAPEAKE — In a sharp performance for any point in the basketball season, let alone the second contest of a campaign, Nansemond River led from late in the first period on for a 66-51 victory at Southeastern District opponent Grassfield Tuesday night.
A balanced team effort was marked by four Lady Warriors scoring in double digits and forcing 25 Grassfield turnovers versus only 12 NR turnovers.
Nansemond River (2-0, 2-0) rolled to a 59-26 win over city rival Lakeland to open its season Friday.
Grassfield started with a win over King’s Fork Friday. The Lady Grizzlies finished third in the district, with a 13-5 Southeastern record, a season ago.
The Lady Warriors struggled to get going in the first few minutes, but the inside-outside combination of junior center Delisia Sharpe and senior guard Briana McClain put the Lady Warriors in front to stay.
McClain hit four jumpers for 10 points in the opening period, including a three in the closing seconds to answer a Grassfield two-pointer a few seconds prior that looked to be the final points of the period. Instead, McClain’s three made it 16-11 Lady Warriors.
Grassfield trimmed NR’s lead to a point early in the second before more Lady Warriors got into the act offensively.
Kiara Washington drove the baseline and tossed in a tough 10-foot shot followed on NR’s next trip with Jenel Cannon’s 17-foot jumper from the wing to stretch NR’s lead to 22-17.
Sharpe continued being a force around the basket. She scored on an offensive rebound followed moments later with a lay-in from a good assist by McClain. Sharpe had nine points and eight boards by halftime as NR led 31-24.
The second half was never a complete rout, but NR led by 10 or more the whole way after scoring the first five points of the half, a three-pointer by Cannon and Jasmine Arthur’s turnaround bank shot from the right block.
Nansemond River won the third period 13-7 without its top two scorers from the first half, Sharpe and McClain, scoring a point. By a couple possessions into the fourth period all nine Lady Warriors who had been on the court to that point had scored.
Grassfield fouled and sent the Lady Warriors to the line throughout the final three minutes. NR wound up 17-for-28 at the line and a 13-point margin was the closest Grassfield could make it.
Ashante Humphries scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half and added four steals. McClain finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Cannon had 12 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists. Sharpe finished with a double-double, 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Nansemond River hits the road again Friday evening to face Oscar Smith.