Lady Dolphins nearly upset unbeaten CVCC

By Michael Paul
Sports Editor
BOLIVIA—Freshman guard Anika Jones sank two free throws with 11 seconds left to clinch a 52-48 victory Saturday for unbeaten Catawba Valley Community College against Brunswick Community College.
For BCC (5-8, 9-16), sophomore Syerra Troutman scored 16 points, sophomore Emily Jackson 12 and freshman Monica Smalls eight. Sophomore Jennette Taylor scored six points, sophomore Shanita Hampton four and sophomore Tyesha McLean two.
CVCC (25-0) led 49-43 with 2 minutes, 31 seconds left, but Troutman made a layup with 2:16 left and Jackson hit a 3-pointer—her fourth of the game—to cut the lead to 49-48 with 1:26 left.
CVCC missed a shot with 30.3 seconds left, but it got the rebound and BCC fouled Jones. She made one of two free throws with 25.6 seconds left, giving CVCC a 50-48 lead.
After a timeout with 15.9 seconds left, BCC put the ball in play but seconds later the referee called a charging foul. BCC then fouled Jones, and her free throws ended BCC’s chance to win.
In the first half, BCC trailed 11-8 and went scoreless for six minutes. But CVCC scored only five points in that span and the half ended with CVCC ahead 21-14.
The game was the last this season for BCC at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics gym.
Wake Tech beats BCC
The Brunswick Community College women’s basketball team lost 55-46 Feb. 19 to Wake Tech in a Region 10 game at the Dinah E. Gore Fitness & Aquatics Center gym.
For BCC (5-7, 9-15), Tyesha McLean scored 15 points, Syerra Troutman 12 and Shanita Hampton seven.
BCC trailed 21-20 at halftime but a basket by Kenedra Smith, a layup by Hampton off a steal and a layup by Troutman off a turnover put BCC ahead 35-26.
The lead was 38-28 with 11 minutes, 41 seconds left in the game when Wake Tech began an 18-4 run and took a 46-42 lead with 4:44 left.
A jump shot by McLean cut the lead to 48-46 with 2:54 left, but that was the last score for BCC. Wake Tech scored the final seven points of the game.
The Lady Dolphins’ only points in the first six minutes came on free throws, as they hit three of eight and trailed 4-3. The Dolphins’ first field goal was by Troutman, when she scored with 13:49 left to give BCC a 5-4 lead.
The rest of the first half remained a low-scoring game. The teams were tied 13-13 with 5 minutes left. A 3-pointer by McLean put BCC ahead 18-16, but the half ended with Wake ahead 21-20.
BCC has a rematch March 3 at Wake Tech. It will be the final game of the regular season. The Region 10 championship tournament is March 8-10, and the winner advances to the NJCAA Division II national tournament.
Michael Paul is the sports editor at the Beacon. Reach him at 754-6890 or at sports@brunswickbeacon.com.