Springfield South Beats Springfield North One Last Time 93-63

[SFIND]

By Bryant Billing

SPRINGFIELD- It was just about as much as you could ask for. A near-sellout, and fast-paced game, an intense atmosphere, and plenty of former stars from both your schools. Not to mention a win for the home team. All you could ask for, that is, if your weren't a North Panther. Springfield South (9-9) never lost it's lead over Springfield North (0-16) and handily beat the Panthers 93-63.

South set the tone early.

South took an early 4-0 lead, and North came back to tie it a 4-4. That was as close as the game ever got. A Jared Murphy basket with 3:47 left in the first put South up 11-4. North was doomed by 11 first quarter turnovers. South was able to capitalize off them and penetrate whenever the wanted. The Wildcats were up 25-14 at the end of the first.

South continued to control the game.

Akeem Freeman put South up 31-20 with a basket with 6:07 left in the first. Doug Storey sank a three-pointer at the buzzer to put South up 53-35 at the end of the second. South was able to maintain it's lead off of a lot of put-backs.

Then the Wildcats buried any chance North had.

Michael Cooper started off the third with a steal and two-hand slam that brought the South fans to their feet. North was hurt badly in this quarter when a fourth foul was called on him. He had to sit the rest of the quarter. South then continued on a 13-2 run. South was up 75-48 at the end of the third.

South head coach Bill Slagle then took out his seniors not to long into the fourth, letting the younger Wildcats get some time in. South still won the quarter 18-15, and that made the final of 93-63.

This was a good game, of you were a South fan. South basically dominated all categories, that is, except rebounds. The Wildcats were able to build a strong first quarter lead while letting North dominate the boards. Quick having to sit in the third really helped the Wildcats overcome that.

Truth be told, South really didn't play that good of a first quarter. North guards did a bad job at guarding South. It seems when South in not guarded, they try to score too quick. That was also the case tonight. They took some shots they really should not have.

But other than that, the Wildcats were almost perfect. South applied great pressure and read North like a book. The Wildcats intercepted many of North's passes and turned them into points. When it was all said and done, South won the turnover battle 32-5. Yes, they really did. North could also not stop South penetrating. The Wildcats came in whenever they wanted. Once North figured that out, the started loading everyone inside. That opened up space on the outside for South to make some three-pointers. They did, and finished with 5.

All in all North was just too bad. South has struggled this year, but North's defense was just too bad. North's real bright spots are underneath in Richard Quick and Mario Troutman. South couldn't stop them, although I doubt that was in their game plan to stop them. The two combined for 31 points and 23 rebounds. Both had double-doubles's, too. Quick had 14 points and ten rebounds while Troutman had 17 points and 13 rebounds.

The Wildcats were lead by a strong showing from the senior class. Doug Storey, who has been battling a nagging injury, led the Wildcats with 22 points. Eleven of those came from the free-throw line, where he went 11-12. Michael Cooper followed that up by going 7-8 from the field and scoring 16 points. Brandon Boyd also had 11 points for the Wildcats. In the junior category, Zack Burks had a good night. Burks finished 6-9 from the field and went 2-3 from three-point range. He finished with 19 points.

This was a fun time. Many came out and remembered the past of both of these storied program, and many looked forward to the future.

North now hosts the Stebbins Indians tonight at 7:30. South now travels to Greenville this Tuesday, February 4, at 7:30. Then South has another important one. The Wildcats will host the Wayne Warriors at the last game in Tiffany Gymnasium. The game is next Friday, February 8, at 8:00.

Here's Some Stats: Individual: Player, Field Goals made/attempted, Total Points. North- Trent Elliott 2-4 4; Victor Corner 4-12 9; Kelvin Cobb 2-4 4; C.J. Hookfin 4-8 9; Mitch Monke 1-1 5; Mario Troutman 7-11 17; Richard Quick 7-8 14. South- Akeem Freeman 5-14 10; Doug Storey 4-10 22; Michael Cooper 4-9 16; Lucas Smith 4-12 8; Jared Murphy 1-2 2; Zack Burks 6-9 19; Brandon Boyd 5-10 11; Jermaine Bush 1-2 2; Trey DePriest 1-3 3. Team Stats: Field Goals, Three-Pointers, Free-Throws, Turnovers, Rebounds. North-27-48 (56%), 1-6 (17%), 6-20 (30%), 32, 30. South- 38-87 (44%), 5-13 (38%), 16-24 (67%), 5, 23.

Here is the Fourm with discussion of the game. Pictures are on that topic: http://www.yappi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161389