West Henderson falls to Asheville

By Jeremy Trantham
Times-News Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.
Mike Dirks/Times-News
West Henderson’s Colby Thelan tries to avoid the steal from Asheville’s Zavion Brown.

Senior Adam Troutman’s basket had brought West Henderson’s deficit to two with 2:30 to play on Wednesday at West. Once again Asheville High senior Wakefield Ellison had an answer.

The Cougars’ standout senior canned an open 3-pointer from the corner to help push Asheville to a 64-53 victory. Ellison, who has committed to East Carolina, finished with a game-high 25 points.

“I thought we played hard,” said West coach Rob Bliss. “Asheville’s an awfully athletic team. We just had some breakdowns defensively a couple of times and they made some big shots. Our margin for error isn’t very big when it comes to teams like this so even the smallest mistake can change the outcome of the game and that’s what happened tonight.”

A lot of several small mistakes on the boards added up to cost West. The Cougars (5-4) outrebounded the Falcons (4-4) 41-21.

“That’s been our Achilles heel all year,” Bliss said. Some of it is our stature and some of it is that we’re not in the habit of being physical. Then some of it is we’re playing the big boys on the block.”

Bliss said that in eight games this season, the Falcons have allowed 120 offensive rebounds.

Still, West had its chances despite falling behind 20-9 at the end of the first quarter and then by 10 early in the fourth. The Falcons battled back to take a 26-25 halftime lead but saw it evaporate late in the third. Ellison broke a 40-40 tie with an inside bucket which sparked a 15-5 run.

Sophomore forward Kevin Thomas spearheaded an 8-0 West run capped by Troutman’s putback with 2:30 remaining.

Asheville patiently worked around West’s trapping defense to find Ellison alone in the corner. Cougar guard Zavian Brown hit all six of his free throw attempts in the closing moments as West went cold from the field.

Brown had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists. Maurice Harrison added 10 points and eight rebounds.

Troutman also had a double-double with a team-high 15 points and 10 rebounds.

“Troutman’s a kid that as a coach you’re so proud of,” Bliss said of the senior who saw limited playing time last season. “He’s certainly our most consistent player both on the offensive end and on the glass.”

Thomas scored six of his 14 points in the fourth quarter while Kagan Williams added nine points on three 3’s for the Falcons.

For one half, the Lady Falcons hung right with the Lady Cougars. But West’s 32-26 halftime deficit unraveled in a hurry as Asheville pulled away for a 78-54 win.

“In the first half we had our feet under us and in the second they went on a run right there and we just couldn’t seem to catch up,” said Lady Falcon coach Stephanie Scott-Gaddy. “As far as the defense our intensity level wasn’t quite where it needed to be.”

Desiree Gamble led the charge with 27 of her game-high 31 points in the second half.

Summer Kremer had 10 points for the Lady Falcons. Kaitlyn Burton added nine points and eight rebounds, Sieara Bishop added nine points and five assists while Chelsea Turlington had seven points and four steals.

The Lady Falcons fall to 2-6 on the year.

“I think (this game) will help us know what we need to practice and work on,” Scott-Gaddy said.

West will return to action on Dec. 29 a home to start a two-day tournament.

SUMMARIES

BOYS

ASHEVILLE (64) — Ireland 2, Whitmire 4, Darity 2, Head, Smith 2, Ray 7, Wakefield Ellison 25, Zavion Brown 12, Maurice Harrison 10, Harvin.

WEST (53) — Thelen 1, Young 2, Roberts 4, Williams 9, Adam Troutman 15, Kevin Thomas 14, Hyatt 8, VanWingerden.

Halftime: West, 26-25.

GIRLS

ASHEVILLE (78) — Cortney Rogers 18, Desiree Gamble 31, Scanzoni 1, Lane 7, Merissa Brewton 11, Ma. Brewton 8, Watty, Surratt, Lance 2, Smith.

WEST (54) — Summer Kremer 10, Cantrell 8, Burton 9, Turlington 7, Bishop 9, Stewart 1, Ciaramitaro, Rogers 4, Dinardo 6.