Red Devils Tame Wildcats

February 26, 2009

By Denis Vass of Graham High School

   Graham wasted little time showing their superiority against host Eastern Guilford tonight in a game played at Northeast Guilford, as the Red Devils rolled to a convincing 78-59 win to advance to Friday's sectional finals.

   The Red Devils(15-11) scored the game's first 6 points before the Wildcats could figure out what hit them and put the ball through the hoop. Tre Radcliff hit a free throw at 4:46 remaining in the 1st quarter to score Eastern Guilford's first point of the ballgame. Graham outscored Eastern Guilford 18-6 the remainder of the quarter, canning 5 three point shots, 3 by guard Michael Wooten.  The Red Devils defense thoroughly frustrated Eastern Guilford, as they could only make 2 of 12 shots.  Graham led 24-7 after one period of play.

  Graham continued their sprint the second quarter, as they pushed the lead to 21 points. Easterns shooting woes continued the 2nd quarter as they could only hit 3 of 15 attempts. The Wildcats shot 18% the first half, while Graham hit 45% of their shots (14 of 31).  Graham led 40-22 at the half.

   Eastern Guilford started a 9-0 run at the end of the 2nd period into the 3rd period, when Tre Radcliff was awarded a phantom basket off a blocked shot to cap a 3-point play as time ran out before halftime, and the Wildcats showed some sign of life after the break, scoring 6 points before Marquise Richmond hit a free throw to stop the Wildcat run.  Graham got it's second wind, and pushed the lead back  to 19 points midway through the 3rd quarter.  The Red Devils connected on two more three point shots.  Graham ended the game with 9 three point baskets, one game after canning 12 against Northwest Halifax.

  Eastern Guilford lost all it's inside threat when Quayshad Williams fouled out early in the 4th quarter, and all the Wildcats could do was launch three point shots in a futile attempt to catch the Red Devils.   Graham connected on 14 of 17 free throws the final period to ice the game.  The Wildcats could only manage to connect on 28% of their shots (18-64), while the Red Devils continued their torrid post season shooting, coming home at 45% (23 of 51)

   Graham was led by Marquise Richmond, who scored 19 points, hauled down 7 rebounds, dished out 6 assists, and blocked 2 Wildcat shots.  Justin Cousin added 16 points, connecting on 3 of 7 three point shots.  Michael Wooten added 12 points.  Wooten also had 3 3-point baskets.  Dominique Pass scored 8 points and had 7 assists and 4 rebounds, while Ryan Henderson scored 6 points and hauled down 8 rebounds.

   For Eastern Guilford, Terry Carter was the lone Wildcat in double figures as he scored 12 points. Jonathan White Brandon Harrison, and Brandon McCorey all scored 8 points each, while Quayshad Williams had 9 before fouling out.
 
   Graham will be playing Friday night at Mid-State 2-A conference member Northwood, a suprising winner tonight as the Chargers beat #1 seed Goldsboro 59-57 in the Sectional Finals. Graham has played the Chargers in two tight games this season, and Friday's game will be a knock-down, drag out brawl.  It should be an exciting game!