The Greenville News from Greenville, South Carolina • Page 25

Hi 33 9 6C SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 1995 nn PU0fi) 9 ffl AA GIRLS on a layup by Tarika Williams with 30 seconds left. Swansea sealed the verdict with four foul shots after that. In the finals for the first time since 1969, Carolina was bidding to become the first Greenville County girls team to win a basketball championship since the old Mauldin High won the Class title in 1956. The state championship was the first for Swansea, which finished second in 1971. SWANSEA (49): Shanlo JellcoatS 15 18, McNeol 20-0 4, Hollman 3 3 5 9, Nnl I 0-0 2.

Tome-ka Kllcy 7 1-4 15, Lr. WilliamsO 1 2 1, Tolals2l 6-13 49 CAROLINA (43): Messer 2 3 3, Neal 03-51. Willioms 2 fr? 4, Sloon 20-0 4. Lochelle Hughes6 3-615 Krystal Scolt44 4 12, Totals 15 11-2042 First quarter: 6-6. Halftime: Swansea, 2314.

Third quarter Swansea. 35 29. Three-point goals: Swoneso 1 Uetlcool I), Carolina O.Re-coids: Swansea 26 2, Carolina 28 2. get in a situation like I was in, and I did not play smart." LaChelle Hughes stepped up to bring the Trojans back, scoring 10 points in the third period. "There always has to be a player to take charge when we see somebody else's game is not on," said Hughes, who finished with 15 points.

"I just tried to do what I can do." Carolina got to within two points, but Swansea stretched the margin back to six, 35-29, after three periods. Swansea (26-2) then established firm control with the first six baskets of the fourth period, all on layups. Still, Carolina didn't quit, fighting back within five points, 45-40, past, and come from behind, we knew the game was far from over," Cooper said. "You don't get to the state championship by being ready to surrender. I knew it would be a game until the end." Trojan leading scorer Rachel Sloan, a sophomore who was named state AA player of the year by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association, was plagued by foul trouble most of the game.

She scored just four points before fouling out. "I think whenever you get in foul trouble early in the game, you have to play smart," Sloan said. 'That's something I did not do. I made very careless fouls. You have to play smart when you jans didn't have time to set up their pressure defense, which has, in turn, generated offense all season.

"A lot of times, we can jump right in our defense after a quick score," Moore said. "The fact there weren't many points scored was definitely a factor." Meanwhile, Swansea's pressure defense kept the Trojan offense from getting in synch until the third period. Carolina had won 28 straight, most by large margins, but Swansea coach Gina Cooper said she knew being behind wouldn't demoralize Carolina. "At halftime, because of the way we'd played teams in the. Young Trojans' 28-game win streak ends.

But coach Betty Moore vows to return. By Rudy Jones Staff writer COLUMBIA Carolina Coliseum can be an intimidating place for high school players accustomed to playing in cozy gymnasiums. Throw in the pressure of playing for a state championship, and it's quite a task for a team dominated by underclassmen to not get rattled. i Carolina's girls didn't play like Eau Claire beats Greer sm F4 straight AAA BOYS was the other Shamrocks who hurt Greer most early. "We were trying to take away from the big men because from what we had seen on film, (Eau Claire) couldn't hit from the outside," said Carlos Moss, Greer's point guard.

"Tonight, they were on fire from the outside." No one was hotter than Shamrock Jason Brown, who hit four 3-pointers en route to 17 points. Eleven of his points came in the first period. "We got down by 25 points in the first half, and it was hard to come back from that," Moss said. "We wanted to stop the inside game, but (Brown) is the one who killed us in the first half," said Neely. "He was hitting threes, and we weren't expecting that." Johnson, who has signed a letter of intent to play at South Carolina, had eight of his 10 points in the first half.

He called his performance the best of his three state finals games. Both Johnson and Glymph indi the state's top-ranked team for the first half of Saturday's AA state final against Swansea. They showed their mettle in the second half, but couldn't make it all the way back, losing 49-42. "We were very nervous. I don't know why," said Betty Moore, Carolina's coach.

"We are still pretty young. I guess the reason I can smile right now is we plan to come back." Fouls, turnovers, tentative play on offense and inaccurate shooting put the Trojans (28-2) in a 23-14 hole at halftime. Without made shots, the Tro A BOYS shot was long, and bounced to Stroman, who put it back in. After a pair of time-outs, Bow-den missed a shot under heavy pressure at the buzzer. Hayes had 22 points and Shawn Baxley 16 for Williston-Elko.

Ya-phet Harrison had 14 points and Bowden 10 for Great Falls. Rudy Jones WILLISTON-ELKO (55): Shawn Baxlev64-7 16, Robert Haves 8 2-322, Vic reed 1 0-0 2, Andrew Sovoge50-0 10, Cliff Stroman 1 2-44, Tolols21 8-14 55 GREAT FALLS (53) Walls 1 2-24, Gill 20-05, Lamar 22 26, Holmes 1 0-02, Coleman20-04, Hen-son 40-1 8, Bowden 50-0 10, Harrison 54-4 14, To-tols228-953 First quarter: Williston-Elko, 14-12. Half: Williston-Elko, 30-28. Third quarter: Great Falls, 38-37. Three-point goals: Williston-Elko5 (Haves 4, Boxlev 1).

Great Falls 1 (Gill 1) Records: Willis-ton-Elko21-10. Great Falls25-5. A GIRLS boys coach. Hah! They're not looking for a boys coach. But, it's nice to know they still have confidence in you." The Wildcats led by three points, 13-10, after the first period, but outscored Scott's Branch 34-9 over the next two periods to-take control.

Rudy Jones TERRELL'S BAY (S3) Reaves 2 5-9 9, Donna Williomson82-6 1 Williomson 1 04 3. Lawanda Boatwr ight 7 2-2 IB, Totols 19 9-17 53 SCOTT'S BRANCH (28) Ragan 1 1-24, Guess 2 1-25, Miller 40-08. Hunt 03-53, Fludd 1 6-88. Totals 811-1728 First quarter: Terrell's Bay. 13-10 Half: Terrell's Bov, 28-16.

Third quarter: Terrell's Boy, 47-19 Three-point goals: Scott Bronch 1 (Ragan I Terrell Bay 6 (D. Williamson 3. L. Williamson 2, Boatwright). Records: Scott Branch 20-5.

Terrell sBav 28-1. i North-South game gets financial boost Carolina's Katrina Neal, left, loses ball to Lucrecy Neat Willisfon wins on late layup, 55-53 rd By Rudy Jones Staff writer COLUMBIA Greer found out first-hand Saturday night why Eau Claire now has three consecutive state championships. The Shamrocks used a swarming defense to reel off 18 straight points to end the first period to take command of the AAA boys high school finals. Eau Claire went on to a 86-49 victory. The Shamrocks have not lost to a South Carolina high school in the past two years and were the only team to beat AAAA champ Irmo this season.

Greer (23-8) held a 6-3 lead until Eau Claire's defense kicked into gear. Greer didn't score the final 4: 19 of the period and finished the quarter with nine turnovers. "We're going to play good, tough defense," said Eau Claire coach George Glymph. "We're going to get after you, and if you can beat our defense, then you'll beat us. If you can't, we're going to win." "We just couldn't get anything clicking," said Greer coach Jeff Neely.

"I hate it for these guys, because they've had such a good year. They've played hard all year." Things didn't get any better the remaining three periods. Eau Claire's inside tandem of 6-foot-10 Leonard "Bud" Johnson and 6-foot-ll Jermaine O'Neal were expected to be the biggest obstacles for Greer. While the "Twin Towers" did their part, it RESULTS Baseball Trl-County Tournament Pendleton 4, Hanna 2 W-Brvont (1-0), L-Agllengo. 2B-Simpson P), Brenchak Watson Record Pendleton 3-1 Pickens 11, Pendleton 3 WAdams (1-0), L-Ricketts (0-1 S-Pettv 1 (P), Durham (PI Records: Plckens4-1, Pendleton 4-1.

Travelers Rest Tournament Mann 2, Greer 1 W-Revnolds(l-O). Mann 4, Greer 2 W-Garner (1-0), L-Moore. 2B-Archer (M) Records: Mann 2-1. Pendleton 9, Westside 7 3B-Gowans (W), HR-Stancil W). Records: Pendleton 24, Westside 0-2.

Other scores Sumterl.CentralO Softball Pendleton Invitational Riverside 15, Eastside 0 W-Motlhews (2-0), L-Cook. Hitters: Matthews Riverside 4, Pickens 2 (R)2-3. Riverside 8, Mann 0 W-Motthews (4-0) 11 strikeouts, L-Crafl. Hitters: Matthews! R) 2-3, 3B. Records: Riverside 4-0.

Basketball Maranatha Christian 81, Tabernacle Christian 77 (2 OJ) Joey Kelley scored 33 points as Tabernacle fell in the Victory Christian Tournament final in Sylva, N.C. Kelley made the all-tournament team after finishing with 114 points in the 3- game tournament. TABERNACLE (771 Joey Kelley 33. MikeGoins 21. Dobbins 4, Josh Whitiockl2.

BenHughes7. MARANATHA (81): Poui Wilson 28. Ben Harper 14. Hughes 4, West 8. Mork Jones 14.

Matthew Burns 11 Half Tobernocle 30-26 Reg 65-65. 1st OT 71-71. Record: Tobernocle 15-17. Girls soccer General Soccer Classic Championship Match Wade Hampton 3, Spartanburg 1 Gools: (S) Assists May (WHI.K Crawford (WH). Stephenson (WM) Shots WodeHompton 22 9 Records Wode Hampton 2 4).

Sportonburg 1-1. Consolation Match Southside 3, Easley 1 for thi title cated Johnson's absence from the Coaches Association's all-state team served as motivation. "That was stuck in the back of my mind," Johnson said. "I wanted to come out here and prove something. I think I did well enough tonight to make people ask 'Why isn't this guy on the all-state O'Neal was scoreless in the first half, then scored 12 third-period points and finished with 15 points.

Even with reserves in the game, the Shamrocks continued to roll. Eau Claire became the first boys team to win three straight state titles since Holly Hill in 1973-75. It was Eau Claire's seventh state title and fifth since 1989. Greer was bidding for its fifth state title, but first since 1978. EAU CLAIRE (86): Jovls02 22, R.

Brown 30-2 8, Jason Brown 61-117, Bud Johnson 50-0 10, Crewel 1-3 9, Baker 1 0-0 2, Simons2 1 -4 5, Salohud-din 2 1 -25, James 40-18, Carson 10-02, Rivers 1 3-4 5, Jermaine O'Neal 4 7-8 15. Totals33 16-2786 GREER (49): Gambrell 20-0 4, Downs 10-0 2, DerrickDrummond25-5ll, Evons30-06, Ron Bruton45- 13, Hargrove 00-20, CarlosMoss34-4 11, Wilson 10-02, Totals 16 14-2649. First quarter: Eau Clolre, 21-6. Holftime: Eou Cloire, 43-18. Third quarter- Eau Clolre, 65-30.

Three-point goals: Eau Claire 4 (J. Brown 4), Greer 3 Drummond 2, Moss 1 Records Greer 23-8. EauClaire26-3. NOTEBOOK meets. Golf, tennis sites set The High School League has announced locations for the state championship golf tournaments.

The AAAA tournament remains at Furman University. The AAA meet is set for Darlington Country Club, the AA meet for Sweetwater Country Club in Barnwell and the A meet at Wellman Golf Course in John-sonville. The team tennis finals in AAA, AA and A will again be at the Caughman Road Tennis Center in Columbia, with the individual tennis tournament set for the Richland County Tennis Center. Golf tournament set The Southern Cross Invitational boys golf tournament begins Friday at the Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken. Defending champion Mann will be challenged by 19 other schools, including Easley, Hanna, Greenville and Spartanburg.

The tournament is normally held later in the year, but is being played earlier this season because of scheduled work at the club. All-region basketball All-Appalachian AA Boys: Red Mc David. Kevin Podgetl, Palmetto; Germony Thompson. RaioFulier. Corolina; James Fuller, Adr ion Mootes, Woodruff Tre ft irlt-lond.

Blue Ridge, Chris Rogers. Jermaine Petty, Chris Humphries. Chopmon; Ken Proctor. Chev nee Player of the year Red Mc David, Palmetto. Coach of the year.

Brian Batson, Chopmon. Girls: Lowanda McDowell, liiobeth Well Stacy Porris, Chapman; Nikki Sutltvon, Palmetto; Beth Blevins. Melissa Potlerson, Woodruff Mel-anie Stewart, BlueRidge; Rochet Skxm. NikiMes-ser, Krvstol Scotl, LaChelle Hughes. Cor olino; Doc io Moore, Chesnee Player of the yeor: Rachel Sioon, Carolina Coach of theveor die) Betty Moore, Carolina, Roger Baiea Woodruff.

All Foothills AAA Boys: Geoff Bentrel. Rvon Alford. Eastside; Yohnick Martin, Chip Woodruff, Riverside, Danny Bruce. Travelers Rest. Patrick Gorner, Tommy Tricketl.

Wode Hampton; Derrick Drummond, Ron Bruton-Cortos Moss. Greer. Plover of the yew Derrick Drummond, Greer. Cooch of the year Jeff Neely. Greer Girts: EmiivLvnn.

Greer; AshlteDovies. Leslie Bentrel. Shannon Houde. Eostside. Tannho Mitchell.

Shindono Hunter. Broome; Melissa Ma-lorcher, Alison McPheelev. Riverside. Ketiv Moortieod. Chrisno Hill.

Wode Hampton Plover of the yeor ShonnenHoude. Eostude Coocti otitic yeor Cindy Motlas-DeHorl. Eastside. I COLUMBIA Cliff Stro-man's layup with three seconds left Saturday gave Williston-Elko a 55-53 victory over Great Falls High School and the state championship of boys class A basketball. The Blue Devils (21-10) had trailed 47-39 midway through the fourth period before rallying be-hind the shooting of Robert Hayes.

Hayes made three consecutive 3-pointers to get Williston-Elko back in the game. A layup by Andrew Savage with 1:33 left gave the Blue Devils the lead. Great Falls (25-5) later tied the score on a tip-in by Travis Bow-den with 40 seconds left. After calling a time out, Williston-Elko got the ball to Hayes, who drove baseline and shot. The STAFF ALAN HAWES AA BOYS Andrews gets 2nd crown COLUMBIA Andrews won the school's second state championship in AA boys basketball Saturday, racing past Bishopville, 85-54.

The Yellow Jackets (31-0) broke open a tight game by outscoring Bishopville 27-4 in the second period to take a 44-14 halftime lead. Bishopville (25-6) gave a furious effort in the second half, but could get no closer than 19 points. Dennis Graham had 22 points to lead Andrews. Lance Felder led Bishopville with 28 points. Bishopville coach Harold Galloway missed his eighth-straight game because of illness.

Galloway has been confined to a wheelchair for the last 30 years because of injuries suffered in an automobile accident. He has been a coach for the last 20 years. Assistant coach Mac McClary coached the team in Galloway's absence. ANDREWS (85): Trovove Giles 52-2 14, Dennis Grohom 8 2-2 22. Moore 1 0-0 2, Legette 1 0-1 2.

Green 1 0-0 2. M. Knowlin 4 0-0 8, Spivev 1 0-2 2. Ken Cumbee 7 2-5 16, MartinGilhord 73-3 17. Totals J59.I58S.

BISHOPVILLE 10-02, Davis 00- 30. T. Beniomin41-59, J. BenjaminO 1- 21, Lonce Felder 9 7-1 1 28. Totols 19 12-3054 First auorter: Andrews, 17-10 Holf-time: Andrews.

44-14. ThirdquorterL Andrews, 58 36. Three-point goals: Bishopville 4 Boyd 2, Felder 2). Records: An-drews31-0. Bishopville 25-6.

Staff, wire reports The North-South all-star game, $40,000 in debt and nearly mismanaged out of existence four years ago, picked up a well-wheeled sponsor to drive it back into the black. The South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association signed a three-year deal to sponsor the annual year-end contest, which features 80 of the state's leading high school seniors. The pact also has an option for two more years that would carry through to the 1999 game. Officials for the game or the trade organization wouldn't disclose the amount, but it is enough, organizers expect, to retire the last $17,000 of a $40,000 debt game management owed to several creditors since 1990. The South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association funds scholarships for its members from the game's proceeds.

About 4,200 people attended last year's game at Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach. New staff The South Carolina High School League has hired two staffers to replace assistant executive director Patsy Mack, who is retiring this year. Jerome Singleton, an assistant principal at Dutch Fork and Dru McPherson Nix, a teacher-coach at Silver Bluff, have been added to the staff. Both will inherit some of Mack's duties and both are expected to be active in member services. Track sites set The High School League has announced sites for six of the eight semifinal track meets.

In the Upstate, the AAAA meet will be at Northwestern, the AAA meet at Clemson, the AA meet at Batesburg-Leesville and the A meet at the S.C. School for the Deaf and Blind. In the Lowcountry, the AAAA meet will be at Summerville and the AAA meet at Hilton Head. No site has been set for the AA and A Watson gets 10th state hoops title COLUMBIA Taft Watson just keeps rolling along. Watson, the state's winningest coach in both boys and girls basketball, got his 10th career state title Saturday as Terrell's Bay manhandled Scott's Branch, 53-28, in the class A girls high school state final.

It was the second straight title for Terrell's Bay and Watson's seventh as a girls coach. He has 1,453 career victories 738 with boys and 715 with girls. How about retirement for the 73-year-old coach, who also serves as interim boys coach? "I think about retirement one minute, then I think about coming back the next," Watson said. "They say they're looking for a.