By By Aaron Carpenter, Staff Correspondent
Yeatesville — The Southside Seahawks boys finally had reason to celebrate Friday night as they got their first win of the season against the Northside Panthers 51-48.
After a lackluster first half that saw only 33 points scored between the two teams, ending with an 18-15 lead for Southside, both teams came out looking much better.
The Panthers started out the half on a 10-0 run using a full-court press that caused several turnovers for the Seahawks and led to some easy shots.
Southside’s Jimmy Stokes, who scored all 16 of his team-leading points in the second half, put an end to that with a short jumper with 5:32 left in the third.
Over the next five minutes, the Seahawks couldn’t seem to get over the hump to take the lead back from Northside. The Panthers’ Anthony Martin and Isiah McCullor scored 14 of the teams’ 20 in the third to keep the lead.
Northside took a 35-31 lead into the fourth and seemed poised for its second win of the season.
However, three quick fouls by the Panthers, some intense press defense by the Seahawks and a nice shot by Stokes got the lead back for Southside in the first two minutes of the fourth, 38-37.
Michael Chase scored the last two of his team-leading 16 on the night to retake the lead for the Panthers with about four to go.
Stokes made a quick two and Southside never trailed again.
However, that’s not to say there wasn’t some doubt as to the outcome of the contest.
Northside kept it close until Dash Spruell put the Seahawks up by six with just over a minute left.
Undaunted, the Panthers’ squad battled back and were within two, 50-48 when a foul by Nic Moore sent Chase of Northside to the line for a one-and-one with only 11 seconds left.
Unfortunately for Northside, the first shot clanged off the rim, Southside rebounded the ball, and 1-4 free throw shooting over the last few seconds was enough for the Seahawk win.
The Lady Seahawks had a similar result against the Lady Panthers, earning only their second win of the season, 54-47.
The game started off a little sloppily, with fouls and turnovers being the norm on both ends of the court as Southside built a 9-2 lead in the first five minutes.
Elizabeth Harris of Northside then sank a three to cut the lead to four, and with the exception of a four point deficit early in the 2nd quarter, that’s as close as the Lady Panthers got all night.
The first quarter ended with Southside leading 13-7, and their stifling pressure defense allowed Northside a mere three points in the entire second quarter.
The Lady Seahawks took a 32-10 lead into halftime.
It was a good thing they did.
Northside came out in the third quarter and in the first seven minutes went on a 16-2 run to cut the lead to eight.
The teams played evenly for the rest of the quarter, with Southside taking a 40-29 lead into the fourth.
The Lady Seahawks were also out-scored in the fourth, 18-14, but hung on to win the game.
Southside’s Jayvee team completed the sweep, winning 68-61.