Wolfpack rules against Evans
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Greenbrier's Eugene Rogers (right) blocks a shot from Evans' Hank McCladdie during Greenbrier's 45-44 win at Greenbrier High School.
Photo by Kevin Martin
Rich Poythress was nothing more than an observer the first two times Greenbrier and Evans played this year.
The junior missed the first 12 games of the season with a knee injury, but has been averaging double figures in scoring and rebounding for the Wolfpack since he returned to action Jan. 4.
Coach Casey Dees said Poythress is just getting back into form and is starting to play his best basketball, just in time for Evans/Greenbrier III.
Poythress scored 19 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as the Wolfpack edged Evans for a 45-44 win this past Tuesday at the Brierpatch.
"We are definitely a different team with Rich Poythress, and I think that was evident tonight," Dees said. "He brings so much to the floor for us and we'd been missing that toughness without him."
While Poythress led the Wolfpack in scoring, it was another Greenbrier forward who won the game.
With the Wolfpack down one with less than 10 seconds to play, guard Eugene Rogers penetrated and found Luther Holmes for a lay-up with three seconds left to give the Wolfpack the 45-44 win in front of a boisterous crowd.
Greenbrier's Michelle Swiec (center) goes up to the basket against Evans' Abby Donnelly (right) as Melissa Lewis, of Greenbrier, looks on during Greenbrier's 55-33 win.
Photo by Kevin Martin
Holmes, who had played only seven minutes despite starting most of the season, was lifted on the shoulders of students in the middle of a mob at midcourt.
"I just had to trust coach Dees," Holmes said. "It was his call on how much to play me. When I got in I just wanted to help the team. Eugene made a great pass and I put it in. No, the whole team scored."
Greenbrier (11-10) has now won four out of five games since its win over No. 9 Baldwin on Jan. 14.
"That win gave us confidence we could play with any team," Poythress said. "We knew we could take a lot from that game and I think we have. Now this win creates a lot of momentum for us, especially winning the way we did over a rival."
Holmes' bucket capped off a chaotic fourth quarter that saw a half-dozen lead changes and the Wolfpack fall behind by four points after leading by as many as 10 in the third quarter.
Evans (12-9) had a chance to ice the game but missed two front ends of one-and-ones. Jerome Manuel grabbed the rebound off the second miss but was called for travelling after he hit the floor with 14 seconds left. Holmes' winning basket came on the ensuing possession.
"That hurt us bad," Evans coach Kevin Kenny said. "We couldn't ever extend our lead."
Evans' Matt Hubbard, right, passes around Greenbrier's Reggie Rice during Greenbrier's 45-44 win over Evans at Greenbrier.
Photo by Kevin Martin
The Knights still hold a 2-1 series advantage this season with the Wolfpack.
Evans already had won the region game over the Wolfpack, 57-53, in early December. Then the Knights beat Greenbrier, 59-54, in the championship game of the Columbia County Christmas Tournament.
"I told my players this game was for fun," Kenny said. "You hate to lose to a rival like that but you won the most important games and that's all that matters, regardless of who played or didn't play. We still won the region game."
The Greenbrier girls also beat Evans, 56-33, and in doing so, equaled the school record with 17 wins.
The Lady Wolfpack (17-5) will have three games left to break the record.
"It would be nice to get that record," said coach Garrett Black.
Melissa Lewis led Greenbrier with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Michelle Swiec rebounded from an injured foot to add 16 points.
"I think we are playing good basketball right now," Swiec said. "But we have a lot of big games to go."