By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
WILLIAMSTON — Katie Paschal certainly showed she’s worthy of being a McDonald’s All-American.
The Williamston senior, who will play for the East Carolina Lady Pirates next year, was nominated to play in the prestigious McDonald’s All-America game. Paschal will find out Feb. 11 if she made the cut.
“That would be huge,” said Paschal, after scoring 41 points in her team’s 62-42 win over Edenton on Wednesday night. “I know the game is on ESPN so that would be a big deal.”
Williamston first-year head coach Hughes Barber said the nomination speaks volumes about Paschal’s passion and desire for basketball.
“It’s a big honor,” Barber said. “It’s very impressive to be nominated for that. It’s a big accomplishment for her. It speaks about her dedication and her work ethic towards basketball.”
Paschal helped keep the fourth-ranked Lady Tigers (16-0, 9-0 Four Rivers Conference) undefeated with the win over the Aces (8-9). The senior, who now has 2,695 points in her prep career, got her team started on the right foot by scoring 12 first-quarter points, as the Lady Tigers raced out to a 17-6 lead.
Paschal added 11 points in the second, helping Williamston build a 35-12 halftime lead.
She added 14 more in the third, before sitting much of the final quarter.
Paschal said the high ranking in the NCPreps.com Class 1-A poll makes the team want to work that much harder.
“It doesn’t bother us,” Paschal said. “It’s a big honor. We just have to back it up and prove that we should be there.”
While Paschal is a huge reason behind the hot start, players like Zakkeya Morris, Cassie Harrell, Charnell Jones, Courtney Wynn and Shakera Norfleet have certainly helped.
“I really think the key is that as a team we are playing great defense,” Barber said. “Usually we’ll come out in the first quarter and put pressure on teams and force turnovers. Really, the reason we’ve scored a lot of points is generated from our defense.”
Harrell has been out with a stress fracture. Barber is hoping his solid inside presence can return in time for the playoffs.
“We do miss her,” Barber said. “She averages about a double-double and gives us some blocked shots. We’re hoping to hear some good news about her return.”
That would help make Paschal’s ultimate goal a bit more achievable.
“I want to win a state championship and stay undefeated,” Paschal said.
TIGER BOYS FALL
The Williamston Tigers hit a barrage of 3-pointers in the final minutes, but it wasn’t enough to dig out of a hole in a 66-63 loss to the Edenton Aces.
Edenton (8-9) used a 19-9 third quarter to take a 50-42 lead over the Tigers (10-7, 6-3 Four Rivers Conference). The Aces, who got 18 points from Dorian Holley, extended the lead to as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter.
K.J. Brown, who led Williamston with 16 points, hit a pair of triples in the final 35 seconds to make it a five-point game, but the Aces held off the late charge.
Ramalle Lanier added 15 points for Williamston.
Keanan Bond’s triple at the buzzer capped the scoring.
The Tigers play host to Perquimans on Friday.
GIRLS
Edenton 6 6 15 15 — 42
Williamston 17 18 18 9 — 62
EDENTON (42)
Zikia Leary 17, Brittnee Lassiter 16, Duncan 7, Peeler 2.
WILLIAMSTON (62)
Katie Paschal 41, Morris 7, Jones 5, McCray 3, Norfleet 2, Little 2, Rodgers 2.
BOYS
Edenton 12 19 19 16 — 66
Williamston 18 15 9 21 — 63
EDENTON (66)
Dorian Holley 18, Charles Stanley 12, Dezure Nixon 11, Moore 7, Fleming 6, Goodwin 4, Rountree 2, Ford 2, Leary 2, Coston 2.
WILLIAMSTON (63)
K.J. Brown 16, Ramalle Lanier 15, Keanan Bond 10, Coffield 7, L. Speller 4, Moody 3, Andrews 2, McGhee 2, James 2, Griffin 1, Rodgers 1.