By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

LAKE WACCAMAW – It was a good night for payback at the East Columbus High gym.

The East Columbus Gators, who had suffered a 72-68 loss to the Laney Buccaneers on Nov. 28 in Wilmington, came back with a vengeance on Friday night to thump the Laney squad 64-43 behind the play of center Jermaine Waddell and guard Jerry Moore.

Waddell bucketed 21 points while Moore had 12 points and 12 assists for the Gators, who put their season record at 6-2.

The Gators, who will step into Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference on Tuesday night when they visit Whiteville, also got a 12-point effort by B.J. Patrick and some key board play by Jim Freeman.

“When we played Laney the first time, they dictated the game with their outside shooting, and we struggled offensively,” said ECHS coach Clarence Ganus. “We knew we would have to be very aggressive from baseline to baseline in order to control the game tonight. I feel we did a pretty good job of hitting the boards and limiting Laney’s shot selection. It was the kind of effort we needed in preparing to open our conference schedule.”

Laney guard Jonathan Moore, who hit six 3-point goals in the Laney’s November win over East Columbus, was held to 10 points. Jermaine Emmanuel was high scorer for the 4A Bucs with 11 points.

Laney played the game without veteran head coach Fred Lynch on the bench. Lynch was attending a national high-school athletic directors convention in California.

Jerry Moore was a perfect 5-for-5 from the field in the first half and then turned to getting the ball inside to Waddell, Freeman and Patrick in the second half

“Jerry is one of the most unselfish players I’ve ever coached,” Ganus said. “He’s always looking for the open pass. If the shot’s there, he’ll take it, but if he can get the ball underneath, he’d rather do it that way.”

Waddell and Freeman each got some big baskets off offensive rebounds for the Gators, who led 17-5 after one quarter and 33-18 at the half. Laney was unable to post a serious comeback run in the second half as it record slipped to 2-4.

The Laney girls team stayed unbeaten with a 59-35 win over the Lady Gators.

The key in the victory came in the third quarter when the Lady Bucs outscored the home squad 18-2.

Laney, which is predicted to win the Mideastern 4A Conference this fall, was led by Shartara Jackson’s 18 points and Qwedia Wallace’s 15 points.

Shaquanna Bress had 14 points for East Columbus, followed by Jasmine Young with 11.

“We’ve played a very tough schedule and we’re getting better,” said ECHS coach Karlyn Stephens, whose Lady Gators slipped to 2-6. “The third quarter was the big difference in the game tonight. I think we can make a good showing in our conference this season.”

GIRLS GAME

LANEY (59): Jackson 18, Wallace 15, Lynch 4, Toney 2, Braye 4, Bass 6, Dixon 3, Baker 6, Spolarich 2.

EAST COLUMBUS (35): Bress 14, Young 11, Bracey 3, Bennett 3, Moore 4.

BOYS GAME

LANEY (43): Emmanual 11, Moore 10, Baker 9, Gattison 7, Robinson 4, Sowers 2.

EAST COLUMBUS (64): Clark 2, Freeman 7, Waddell 21, Patrick 12, Moore 12, Ganus 3, Campbell 5, Johnson 2.