Wakefield girls basketball
Sanderson's Derricka Lewis (left) scored 22 points in Thursday's match-up at Wakefield, but Kayla Harris (right) — and her 32 points — helped the Lady Wolverines to an 18-point victory.
Lady Wolverines fight off Spartan challenge
Wakefield senior Brittany Christian understood or came to understand three truths during Thursday night's 78-60 victory in the Cap-7 Conference girls basketball opener against Sanderson.
First, the Lady Spartans' shooters — especially Courtney Trumps, who scored 23 points — can definitely light it up. "We knew they had good guards," the Lady Wolverine recalled.
Secondly, Sanderson freshman Derricka Lewis is a star in the making — well, maybe already a star. "She was just killing it out there, taking it to the basket," she said. "She is going to be good. She already is good."
And finally, the best way to answer a run — like the 10-2 spurt by the Lady Spartans in the second quarter — is to go on one of your own.
Following the Sanderson surge, capped by a Trumps jumper, giving the squad a 28-25 advantage with 4:58 left in the second, Christian and Company rattled off a 15-3 run to close out the half. And Nicole Weaver drove home the dagger, hitting a three-pointer before heading to the locker room.
Click here for highlights from the Wakefield/Sanderson girls basketball game Dec. 10.
The late first-half charge blew open the game, and the Lady Wolverines never allowed Sanderson to come within closer than nine points all game.
"They when on a run right before we went on a run, so we knew we had to do something," said Christian, who finished with 26 points.
While both teams put on a shooting clinic in the third quarter, amassing a combined 43 points, the Lady Wolverines never relinquished control, and improved to 1-0 in conference opener.
Wakefield forward Kayla Harris was especially impressive Thursday, tallying a game-high 32 points, including 14 points from the foul line. She also added 11 rebounds.
Christian said the Lady Wolverines tried their best to take advantage of what the Sanderson defense allowed them.
"When they went into a zone, we figured that was good for us because we have good shooters, and we have confidence in them," she said. "And when they came out to defend us, we looked inside and found Kayla or Alex (Friedl).
Friedl came off the bench and put together a fine performance, scoring eight points — one more than she had in the previous two games combined.
"Alex played with a chip on her shoulder, and she came out playing hard," Christian said.
Using a match-up zone, the Lady Wolverines finally found a method to slow down the Lady Spartans' hot shooters, who nailed five third-quarter treys. In fact, in the fourth quarter, Wakefield held Sanderson without a made bucket for nearly seven minutes.
Wakefield's Kayla Fisher (with ball) drives to the hoop during Thursday's contest.
The Lady Spartans' scoring drought resulted in an 18-point defeat, but the contest was much more competitive than the scoreboard would indicate.
In addition to Trumps' big night, Lewis — who already has a fan in Christian —finished with 22 points and Dashawna Smith added seven.
For the Lady Wolverines, Nicole Weaver tallied six points, and while Makayla Williams scored just one bucket, it was an impressive finish on a fast-break to end the first quarter. "That was really, really nice," Christian said of the ninth-grader's bucket.
Having started the week off roughly, falling to Clayton by one point, the Lady Wolverines have rebounded with wins over East Wake and Sanderson back-to-back nights.
But Christian understands that what happened before the opener means little now.
"We all know what happened before tonight is in the past. Now this is conference, this is where it really matters," she said. " We have to give everything every night — especially for us seniors because this is our last go-around."
Wakefield (7-2) hits the road, visiting Millbrook Tuesday, Dec. 15, and Leesville Road Friday, Dec. 18.
Sanderson (3-4) looks to get back on track hosting Cary Monday, Dec. 14, and Millbrook Friday, Dec. 18.
