Hepner's surge leads James Wood

By Tommy Keeler Jr. - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

WINCHESTER -- After suffering an embarrassing defeat to Sherando on Friday night, James Wood was looking for a little redemption Saturday.

The Colonels overcame a slow start before pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 68-63 win over Clarke County in nondistrict girls basketball action.

The Colonels lost to Sherando, 100-68, on Friday and the loss left a sour taste in their mouths.

"It was a tough loss [Friday night]," James Wood senior Erica Hepner said. "We wanted to show that that was just a mess-up, and we are better than that."

Hepner had a lot to do with James Wood picking up the win against Clarke County. The center had a career-high 19 points, including nine in the decisive fourth quarter.

The Colonels were clinging to a 51-49 lead after three quarters, but started the fourth with a 9-0 run to pull away. Hepner scored six points on baskets inside the paint during the stretch.

"I knew we had a slim lead, and I just wanted to do what I could to make sure we kept it," Hepner said.

The Eagles (2-10, 2-3 Bull Run) made a run at the Colonels. Clarke County's Brittany Teasley and Anna-Blue Catlett hit 3-pointers to trim the lead to 60-57 with 3:53 remaining.

The Colonels responded as baskets by Miranda Moore and Hepner helped push the lead back to five. A free throw by Hepner gave James Wood a 66-59 lead with 1:34 left.

James Wood (6-5, 0-1 Northwestern) helped keep Clarke County in the game with some rushed shots in their next couple possessions, but the Eagles weren't able to take advantage as they missed five of their last six field goal attempts in the final 1:20 of the game.

Clarke County came out strong as it took a 13-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game. James Wood responded with a 12-3 run to end the first quarter.

The teams went back and forth in the second quarter, but the Eagles used a 20-6 run to take a 37-33 lead at the half.

James Wood coach Rhonda Slider said she was worried about how tired her team might be after having played the night before. The Colonels came out in a 2-3 zone defense, but after talking to the team Slider switched to a full-court press in the second quarter and it was effective.

"I think it helped pick up the tempo," Slider said. "I think our intensity picked up. We were able to get some momentum."

James Wood finished the third quarter strong, using a 14-4 run to take a 51-46 lead late in the period.

James Wood freshman Danielle Rizarri had 10 points during the third quarter, including going 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Clarke County was hurt throughout the game by foul trouble and had two players foul out.

Catlett led the Eagles with 21 points. Sydney Chrane had 16 points, while Teasley added 11 for Clarke County.

"We're making some progress, but it's the same old story for us -- and it's getting too old," Clarke County coach Tim Lawrence said. "The story of almost every game this season has been we should have won, but we didn't. It's very disappointing.

"The kids gave a good effort. We're just not doing the little things."

Rizarri had 14 points and Sara Callaham had nine for the Colonels.

James Wood started the season off well, but has been up and down the last few weeks. Things won't get easier for the Colonels in a tough Northwestern District, but the win over the Eagles could be just the boost the team needs.

"I think we peaked early in the season," Hepner said. "But, we're not going to give up. We have a young team. Everybody just has to step up and go 100 percent."