By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
YEATESVILLE — Southside had no answer for Roanoke’s “Big Three” in Tuesday’s Atlantic Conference Tournament opener.
Amos Perkins, Aaron Baker and Aaron Oden combined for 69 points on Tuesday evening as the Redskins shot 62 percent from the field in an 89-63 victory.
The Redskins started the game on an 8-0 run and would never trail. By halftime, Roanoke was up by a dozen as it connected on 17 of 26 shots from the field in the opening half. The Redskins were particularly hot from beyond the arc, as they sank six of their seven three-point attempts in the first two quarters.
The Redskins didn’t cool off much in the second half either as they hit 17 of their 29 field goal attempts and put the game away by outscoring Southside 22-9 in the fourth quarter.
Roanoke finished the contest connecting on 8 of 12 three point attempts, while Southside also was successful from behind the line, hitting 8 of its 15 three-point attempts.
Oden led Roanoke (14-11) with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Perkins added 23 points and Baker finished with 22.
Southside (6-18) was paced by Terrance Windley with 15 points and Willie Ruffin with 13. Curtis Myers added 11 points and team-best eight rebounds.
Roanoke will take on the winner of tonight’s Southside/Williamston contest in Friday’s Atlantic Conference Championship Game.
Lady Tigers top Lady Panthers
Williamston’s girls’ basketball team backed up its No. 5 state ranking on Tuesday night with a dominant performance against Northside in the opening round of the Atlantic Conference Tournament.
The Lady Tigers outscored the Lady Panthers 27-6 in the opening quarter behind 14 first quarter points from North Carolina’s leading scorer Katie Paschal, and didn’t look back as they roared past Northside 76-41.
Paschal finished with a game-high 26 points in less than 14 minutes of play and freshman guard Courtney Wynn added 10 points for the Tigers, who got at least two points from every player on their roster.
Northside (8-14) was led by Rochelle Davis with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Rachel Hollowell added nine points.
Williamston (20-1) will take on the winner of tonight’s Roanoke/Southside battle in Friday’s Atlantic Conference Championship Game.
Southside 19 16 19 9 — 63
Roanoke 24 23 20 22 — 89
Southside (63)
Terrance Windley 15, Willie Ruffin 13, Curtis Myers 11, Green 9, Benston 8, Reddick 5, Williams 2.
Roanoke (89)
Aaron Oden 24, Amos Perkins 23, Aaron Baker 22, Cooper 5, Adams 5, Ta. Sheppard 6, Morning 2, Tr. Sheppard 2.
Girls
Northside 6 9 16 10 — 41
Williamston 27 18 14 17 — 76
Northside (41)
Rochelle Davis 14, Hollowell 9, Bonney 6, Credle 2, Harris 6, Gaynor 4.
Williamston (76)
Katie Paschal 26, Courtney Wynn 10, Knight 2, McCoy 6, Harrell 6, Clemmons 2, Everette 7, Norfleet 3, Armstrong 3, Davis 7, Autch 4.