over Stallions
LAKE WACCAMAW – The East Columbus Gators moved to within a win of claiming a second consecutive Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference boys basketball championship by taking a 76-60 victory Friday over the visiting South Columbus Stallions.
The Gators managed to pull away in the second half after holding a slim 34-31 halftime edge over the Stallions, who were playing for the third time in as many nights.
East Columbus, now 9-0 in conference play and 17-3 overall, claimed its ninth straight victory with senior Jerry Moore scoring 23 points, getting eight rebounds and collecting seven assists.
Coach Clarence Ganus’ Gators were also led by B.J. Patrick with 21 points and Jim Freeman with 12. The Gators have not lost a conference game since the 2004-05 season and are now carrying a 23-game winning streak over conference opponents.
South Columbus, coming off an emotional 58-55 home loss to Whiteville on Thursday and a 59-48 non-conference home loss to West Columbus on Wednesday, placed three players in double figures against the Gators, who dropped their third loss of the season to East Columbus.
Romaine Vereen led Coach Nathan Faulk’s Stallions with 16 points, followed by Derrick Clay with 15 and Bryant Edwards with 13.
The loss dropped the Stallions to 1-7 in conference and 4-14 overall.
In the girls game, East Columbus trailed 17-12 at the end of the first quarter, but rallied to gain a 22-16 halftime lead en route to a 57-37 win over the Lady Stallions.
East Columbus, now 7-2 in conference and 12-8 for the season, got 15 points each from guards Taquanna Bress and T.T. Bennett. Bennett sank three 3-point shots to spur the victory. Lady Gator center Tabitha Moore contributed 12 points as ECHS took its third win of the season over the SCHS girls team.
Kelly Strickland scored 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and Amanda Dowe had 12 for South Columbus. The Lady Stallions have a 2-6 conference record and 5-13 overall mark.
South Columbus will play Friday at Pender. East Columbus will resume its schedule Friday when it travels to play Pender.
GIRLS GAME
| S. Columbus |
17
|
5
|
6
|
9
|
-
|
37
|
| E. Columbus |
12
|
16
|
17
|
12
|
-
|
57
|
SOUTH COLUMBUS (37): Strickland 13, McCoy 4, Dowe 12, Long 2, Williams 4, Shaw 2.
EAST COLUMBUS (57): Bress 15, Young 6, Bennett 15, Moore 12, Jacobs 1, Bracey 4, Edwards 4.
BOYS GAME
| S. Columbus |
16
|
15
|
10
|
19
|
-
|
50
|
| E. Columbus |
19
|
14
|
17
|
26
|
-
|
76
|
SOUTH COLUMBUS (60): Edwards 13, J. Vereen 2, Wright 2, R. Vereen 16, Clay 15, Bryant 4, Keel 7.
EAST COLUMBUS (76): Clark 2, Freeman 12, Waddell 6, Patrick 21, Moore 23, Ganus 7, Davis 3, Moore 2.
