Southern Wayne’s Brandon Lark, left, tries to prevent Goldsboro’s Steven Pounds from driving the baseline during first-period play. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Goldsboro’s Markeith Garner (22) gets a hand a shot attempt by Southern Wayne’s Brandon Lark. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Demetrius Elliott (11) takes the ball away from a Goldsboro defender. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jacobe Graham (4) attempts to score against Goldsboro’s Maurice Tyler during their non-conference game Friday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Three games into the basketball season, Southern Wayne head boys’ coach Brian West is seeking little sparks.
He wants to see more.
Saddled with a sophomore-ladened team, the SW alum applauded his team’s fight during the second half of a 66-43 loss Friday evening to county rival Goldsboro.
“That’s what I’ve got work with,” West said. “I’ve got to collectively find four [players] with heart, so that fifth one who is a little weak, we can kind of cover his end and have him grab every ball that we box out on.
“It’s more work at practice. It’s more drills at boxing out. It’s more physicality.”
And patience, too.
Southern Wayne (0-3 overall) started in sporadic fashion after the opening tip and paid dearly. Rushed shots, lack of rebounding and poor transition on defense proved troublesome.
The Cougars scored 11 of the game’s first 12 points and led 11-3 once the buzzer sounded. Demetrius Elliott drained a free throw and Ivory Moore provided the lone bucket for the Saints.
Goldsboro extended its lead to 26-11 by halftime.
“I think that first half our effort, as far as attempts, we really didn’t get a lot of attempts at the basket, didn’t get a lot of drives at the basket,” West said. “We were getting stops. The attempts we were taking were wild and out of control.”
Elliott and varsity newcomer Hayden Stroud ramped up their intensity in the second half. Elliott pumped in a game- and team-high 20 points, while Stroud knocked down five.
Jacobe Graham scored seven, while Dorian Toussaint chipped in five.
Maurice Tyler collected 13 points for the Cougars, who have won nine straight in the series and 26 of 35 meetings overall since 2007. Chris Jones contributed 11 points, while Nyress Williams and Markeith Garner supplied 10 points apiece.
Four Saints watched from the bench in street clothes. West didn’t expand on their absences but noted that illness and off-the-court issues played a factor.
“[In coaching], you describe and understand what you’re working with, find your niche and glitch … figure out how to make this wheel work,” West said. “I’ve got to oil it. It’s not going to change unless the energy I put in with this team and the character building that I continue to speak about shows action over and over.
“I’m willing to take on the challenge, embrace it. When you’re dealing with these young guys, you’ve got to keep building where you can. Little by little we’ll get there, but it’s going to take a lot of work to get there.”
Southern Wayne returns to action next Tuesday at James Kenan. Tip-off is approximately 7:30 p.m. inside Harmon Gymnasium.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
