Former coach returns to down Ashley boys
Thu. December 27, 2012 at 10:23 p.m. | By Powell Latimer | StarNews Staff Writer
Ashley's Tyre Gathright shoots against Ashbrook on day one of the Leon Brogden Holiday Basketball Tournament at Hanover Hall on the campus of UNCW Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. (Photo by Star News photo by Matt Born)
Chad Duncan had a satisfying homecoming Thursday night in the first round of the Leon Brogden Holliday Basketball Tournament.
The Ashbrook boys basketball coach came back to Wilmington after formerly coaching Ashley and dealt his former team a stinging 67-41 loss.
"I'm happy to be here," Duncan said. "But I'm happier for these kids to get away so they can experience something, and hopefully they'll keep playing hard."
The Green Wave won by dominating the boards against a significantly taller Ashley team. Ashbrook didn't have a player taller than 6-foot-4 ,but still out-rebounded Ashley 28-14.
"They're a strong team," Ashley coach Bryn McSwain said. "They were able to push us off our spots. It felt like they were sending eight guys to the glass while we were only sending three."
Despite the Green Wave's rebounding advantage, the team only lead by one at halftime as Ashley forward T.J. Williams scored easy baskets inside. Williams scored nine of his 13 points in the first half.
But neither Williams nor his teammates were able to find any success offensively in the second half. Ashley scored just 16 points in the second half – four in the third quarter – and struggled to consistently find offense against Ashbrook's pressure defense. The Screaming Eagles only took 15 shots to Ashbrook's 27 in the second half.
"We were bleeding points on offensive rebounds and missing shots," McSwain said.
While Ashley struggled, Ashbrook pulled away. The Green Wave scored 29 points in the fourth quarter and were 15-for-22 from the free throw line.
Thursday’s Results
Boys
Hoke County 80, Laney 43
New Hanover 51, North Myrtle Beach 37
Ashbrook 67, Ashley 41
Hoggard 59, Frederick Douglass 41
Girls
New Hanover 36, Havelock 33
Laney 34, Conway 8
Hoggard 26 Ravenscroft 19
Ashley 40, Socastee 33
Friday’s games
Boys
Laney vs. North Myrtle Beach, 2:30 p.m., Hanover Hall
Hoke County vs. New Hanover, 4:30 p.m., Trask Coliseum
Ashley vs. Frederick Douglass Academy, 5:30 p.m., Hanover Hall
Ashbrook vs. Hoggard, 7:30 p.m., Trask Coliseum
Girls
New Hanover vs. Laney, 3 p.m., Trask Coliseum
Havelock vs. Conway, 4 p.m., Hanover Hall
Hoggard vs. Ashley, 6 p.m., Trask Coliseum
Ravenscroft vs. Socastee, 7 p.m., Hanover Hall